This is up there with "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" as Britain's most purely enjoyable comedy panel show. In fact, HIGNFY probably has even greater prestige because it's the longer running of the two and has managed to survive the loss of a permanent presenter without too much damage being done. If we're honest, then Buzzcocks is gamely trying, but it will never reach the heights of old without Mark Lamarr. "News" has always lived and died on the quality of the rapport between its guests and regular show members, so as long as you have a strong figure in the hot-seat you're guaranteed plenty of laughs even if it's been a slow week for headlines.
Apart from the witty team captains, the genius of this show is that it brings politics into everyone's front room, and the disingenuous cheaters liars and back-stabbers in the media are never allowed to wriggle off the hook like they so often do on "Question Time". I'll never forget, for example, when Piers Morgan was left humiliated and sulking like the big baby he is after one particularly memorable appearance. Public figures either get the chance to permanently destroy their reputation, or else come across as genuinely likable human beings - either way we can sit at home enjoying all of it. It's the modern equivalent of a spectacle like the Christians being thrown to the lions, and it provides consistently top-notch viewing. Bravo to the regulars, and of course the BBC for being brave enough to stick with it all this time. May it have many future runs ahead of it.
Apart from the witty team captains, the genius of this show is that it brings politics into everyone's front room, and the disingenuous cheaters liars and back-stabbers in the media are never allowed to wriggle off the hook like they so often do on "Question Time". I'll never forget, for example, when Piers Morgan was left humiliated and sulking like the big baby he is after one particularly memorable appearance. Public figures either get the chance to permanently destroy their reputation, or else come across as genuinely likable human beings - either way we can sit at home enjoying all of it. It's the modern equivalent of a spectacle like the Christians being thrown to the lions, and it provides consistently top-notch viewing. Bravo to the regulars, and of course the BBC for being brave enough to stick with it all this time. May it have many future runs ahead of it.