Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4320 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-11-25
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 217 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Presented chronologically, The Very Best of Have I Got News for You is a massive three-and-a-quarter-hour compilation of many of the funniest and all the most famous moments from the first 12 years of the BBC comedy satire quiz show. From host Angus Deayton's witty 1990 hairstyle to his double introduction for the DVD and video versions of this compilation, revel in the ribald rivalry as "TV's Mr Sex" struggles to control team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. Relive such highlights as Paula Yates dubbing Hislop the "sperm of the devil", Roy Hattersley's stand-in, a tub of lard, and Germaine Greer and the infamous "F-me shoes" incident. See Boris Johnson get well and truly "stitched up" over an ill-advised phone call, Mr & Mrs Neil Hamilton accept their fees in brown paper bags and Piers Morgan totally fail to understand what makes the word "jam" hilarious. Other great moments include the controversy over John Birt's attempt to gag the BBC referring to Peter Mandelson's private life, John Simpson's good-natured account of his jungle trip, and Merton desperately trying to keep awake as Sir Rhodes Boyson droned on, and on, and on about, err... something or other. It's quite simply, TV comedy at its best.

On the DVD: Have I Got News For You features a commentary with Ian Hislop and Paul Merton in which, rather than play for comedy, they talk interestingly about their memories of the various episodes. Nevertheless there are still some laughs to be had. Optional onscreen text provides a wealth of background to half-forgotten news stories, as well as usefully identifying the more obscure guests. Seven minutes of trailers are often hilarious, while a Newsnight feature intriguingly analyses why politicians go on HIGNFY. Terry Wogan tries to get the show into Room 101 in an extract from that show, and various politicians offer their views on the programme. The sound is functional stereo and the excellent picture is encoded to switch automatically from 4:3 to anamorphic 16:9 when HIGNFY moved to widescreen. --Gary S Dalkin

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU is the hilarious quiz programme that focuses on news and politics. This collection presents highlights from the long-running show hosted by Angus Deayton.

Customer Reviews

AnGuS iS gOd
I heart Angus Deayton. Best tv host ever during that time period. He's so much funnier than Paul Merton it isn't even a contest, and he manages to be more articulate than Hislop as well. BBC made a mistake by letting him go.

Good, but would like more!
This DVD is very entertaining. The extras are great especially the commentary with Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. I felt the clips were often cut short though and would have liked it to be a bit longer. Obviously there is a large amount to choose from after so many series but still, in places it did seem very abruptly cut.

Still would highly recommend!

Classic British Institution
When a genius of surrealism, the King of satire and TV's most smug, sarcastic host got together to present a news programme taking a satirical look at the week's news, the result was 'Have I Got News For You', which thanks to Paul Merton, Ian Hislop and Angus Deayton, has been making news funny for nearly two decades.

Private Eye editor Ian Hislop is frequently scathing, with a sharp wit and a forked tongue, whilst Paul Merton is uniquely surreal, with an even sharper wit and a humour which excels in it's randomness. Angus Deayton's wry snideness adds the perfect balance to this comedy great.

This DVD is filled with some truly hilarious comedy, but for those who are up up to date with current affairs only. This is comedy with intelligence, for those who have intelligence, and I have often noticed that those with feeble minds laugh only half-heartedly at it. Despite this, I find it incredibly riveting to watch the vast array of people who have appeared on it, from Stephen Fry to Salman Rushdie to Charles Kennedy and the iccorigible Boris Johnson, all of whom have something unique to bring to the show. What is particularly spectacular to watch is the show which was filmed shortly after Angus Deayton's drugs and prostitution scandal. Watching Ian Hislop and Paul Merton tear into him is nothing short of TV gold.

Those of you who love comedy with brains: buy this!