Have I Got News for You season 68: release date and guests

Have I Got News For You season 68 - team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop wearing suits and posed facing camera.

Have I Got News For You season 68 - heralds the glorious return of team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. (Image credit: Matt Crockett)

The nights are drawing in, there’s a chill in the air and TV magazine editors everywhere are planning their double Christmas issues. Which means it’s time for us to turn on the telly and tune into BBC1 on Friday nights, as Ian Hislop and Paul Merton return with a new series of their satirical news show, Have I Got News for You season 68.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new 10-part series…

Please note: This is a live document and will be updated regularly as new guest panellists and presenters are announced/denounced…

Have I Got News for you season 68 — release date

Have I Got News For You season 68 returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 9 pm for a new weekly 10-part series. Episodes are available on iPlayer after transmission.

The slightly longer version Have I Got a Bit More News For You will air weekly on Monday nights on BBC1 (at various times depending on your viewing region). Episodes will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Have I Got News for you season 68 — episode guide

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 1

Airdate: Friday, October 04, 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Comedian Kevin Bridges. This marks his seventh appearance on the programme, but his first time as guest host and first time on the show since 2016.

Guest panellists: Journalist Helen Lewis makes her 10th appearance on the programme. The second panellist is comedian Chloe Petts, who makes her second appearance on the programme.

On hosting the show for the first time, Kevin said: "An honour to be asked to host an iconic and long running show. My Mum is especially excited to see me on her screen again as she can only work Freeview. The show should be a hoot. I’m off to buy a paper."

From the press release: “With Keir Starmer now in number 10 and the US election just around the corner, Have I Got News For You returns for its 68th series on Friday 4th October. Available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.”

Helen Lewis on a previous series of HIGNFY. — Helen Lewis has been announced as the first guest on the new series of HIGNFY. (Image credit: Hat Trick)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 2

Airdate: Friday 11 October 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: University Challenge presenter and BBC journalist Amol Rajan hosts the show for the first time.

Guest panellists: Comedian Miles Jupp makes his 17th appearance on the programme. Former Conservative MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns makes her first appearance on the programme.

Amol was set to host an episode of HIGNFY in the last series, but had to withdraw due to BBC impartiality rules after the general election was announced.

On hosting HIGNFY for the first time, Amol said: "Well I think it’s about time I put all the news in my head to work in the world of satire. I am honoured, obviously, to join the extended HIGNFY family, and will do my utmost to ensure Ian and Paul obey the rules. My main objective is to avoid saying 'fingers on buzzers, here’s your starter for ten'. If I can do that, it will be a triumph."

University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan. — University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan will make his HIGNFY hosting debut. (Image credit: BBC/Lifted Entertainment, Part of ITV Studios/Ric Lowe.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 3

Airdate: Friday 18 October 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Mathematician, author and presenter Professor Hannah Fry. This is her eighth time on the programme and her third time as host.

Guest panellists: Comedian Phil Wang, making his 13th appearance, and broadcaster Carol Vorderman, making her sixth appearance on the programme.

Hannah Fry presenting HIGNFY. — By our calculation Hannah Fry's HIGNFY hosting talents add up. (Image credit: BBC/Hat Trick.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 4

Airdate: Friday 25 October 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Charlie Brooker.

Guest panellists: Artist Grayson Perry making this his sixth appearance on the show, and comedian Angela Barnes, who is making her HIGNFY debut.

Artist, writer and broadcaster Grayson Perry on a previous episode of HIGNFY. — Artist, writer and broadcaster Grayson Perry. (Image credit: BBC/Hat Trick.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 5

Airdate: Friday 01 November 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Jo Brand, making her 35th appearance on the show.

Guest panellists: Comedian Nabil Abdulrashid and The Times' parliamentary sketch writer Tom Peck, marking their third and first appearances respectively.

Presenter, comedian and writer Jo Brand on a previous episode of HIGNFY.

Presenter, comedian and writer Jo Brand. (Image credit: BBC/Hat Trick.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 6

Airdate: Friday 08 November 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: The host of CNN's new US version of Have I Got News For You, Roy Wood Jr. is crossing the pond to guest host an episode of the BBC's British original... In the week of the US election.

Guest panellists: TV presenter and author Richard Osman (his 18th appearance) and comedian and actress Roisin Conaty (her 14th appearance).

On guest hosting the UK episode Roy said: "Thank you to the HIGNFY team for giving me gainful employment as a TV presenter in England, a country that I hear has no issues whatsoever with immigration. To seek asylum in England, one must have left their country of origin due to a well-founded fear of persecution. Depending on which way the Presidential election goes in America, I might be hanging around England for a while..."

The host of HIGNFY in America Roy Wood Jr. makes his HIGNFY UK hosting debut. (Image credit: BBC/© 2024 Hat Trick, Inc. All Rights Reserved/Duane Cole/Courtesy of CNN.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 7

Airdate: Friday 22 November 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Lorraine Kelly hosts for the second time in the show's history, making this her fourth appearance on the series overall.

Guest panellists: Comedian Maisie Adam and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Matt Chorley, marking their eighth and third appearances respectively.

Speaking about her upcoming appearance, Lorraine said: "I'm really looking forward to hosting Have I Got News For You again, for the second time. The first time I did it was nearly 20 years ago back in 2005, when Paul and Ian were young whippersnappers! It’s a chance for me to be unleashed - I can’t wait!"

Maisie Adam on a previous series of HIGNFY. — Maisie Adam is returning to HIGNFY. (Image credit: BBC/Hat Trick.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 8

Airdate: Friday 29 November 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Victoria Coren Mitchell - making this her 20th time in the presenter's chair and 28th time on the show overall.

Guest panellists: Presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley and comedian and writer Andy Hamilton join as guest panellists, making their second and 27th appearances respectively.

Victoria Coren-Mitchell presenting HIGNFY previously. — Victoria Coren-Mitchell makes a welcome return to HIGNFY. (Image credit: BBC/Hat Trick.)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 9

Airdate: Friday 06 December 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: TV presenter Mel Giedroyc will guest host episode 9 of Have I Got News For You, making this her sixth time in the host's chair.

Guest panellists: Originally rumoured to be on the panel - writer and director Armando Iannucci, making what would have been his 11th appearance, and ITV's deputy political editor Anushka Asthana, making her first appearance on the programme. However, journalist Anushka was joined by comedian Jamie MacDonald as a guest panellist instead.

Mel Giedroyc takes the HIGNFY chair for her sixth spin. (Image credit: Hat Trick)

HIGNFY season 68 — episode 10

Airdate: Friday 13 December 2024, BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm.

Guest host: Actor Stephen Mangan guest hosts the series finale of Have I Got News For You. This will be his 15th appearance on the programme, 14 of which he has been the guest host.

Guest panellists: Initially Dawn Butler MP was believed to be appearing on the panel with the second guest TBA. However, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and comedian Rachel Parris have now been confirmed as panellists for the series 68 finale, with both making their HIGNFY debut.