Have I Got a Bit More News for You

Paul Merton (Team captain)

Born: January 17, 1957 in London

Best Known For: Have I Got News For You.

Early-life: Born Paul James Martin in Parsons Green, London, on January 17, 1957. He grew up in Merton, South London, and took his stage name from the district because somebody else called Paul Martin was registered with Equity when he tried to join. His father was a guard on the Underground in Fulham, his mother was a nurse and he has a sister, Angela. Paul was inspired to become a comedian at the age of three following a trip to the circus. After failing his 11-plus he went to a Catholic comprehensive school where he gained two A-levels but decided against going to university.

Career: Merton worked at the Tooting Employment Office while gaining experience at the London Comedy Store before moving onto the cabaret circuit. He made his TV debut in a small role in a 1984 episode of The Young Ones. After 10 years of performing, his TV career took off thanks to Whose Line Is It Anyway? He then wrote Paul Merton, the Series for Channel 4. Have I Got News For You made him a household name. He claims a highlight of his career was performing at the London Palladium. Merton also hosted Room 101 and is a regular on TV and radio. He has filmed travelogues to China and India for Channel 5 and presented various documentaries on the subject of comedy and silent film for the BBC.

Quote: "I don't suffer from pre-show terror or anything like that. I assume if people have paid money to see me they already think I'm funny and that does give you confidence."

Trivia: In 2014, he published his autobiography, Only When I Laugh.

Ian Hislop (Team captain)

Born: July 13, 1960 in The Mumbles, Wales

Best Known For: Being a team captain on Have I Got News For You.

Early-life: Born July 13, 1960, in The Mumbles, Wales, but moved around a lot due to his father's job as a civil engineer. The family spent time in Nigeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Hislop was educated at boarding school before studying English at Oxford, where he performed in revues and edited the magazine Passing Wind. During this time he met Peter Cook for the first time, who then owned satirical magazine Private Eye.

Career: Hislop began submitting articles to Private Eye in 1980, eventually becoming deputy editor. When editor Richard Ingrams, one of the magazine's founders, quit in 1986, Cook offered him his job. Hislop has also regularly contributed to numerous publications, including The Listener, The Sunday Telegraph, The Spectator, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Literary Review and Time Out. Hislop's TV work began in 1983 with an appearance on Loose Talk and scripts for Spitting Image. He became a familiar face thanks to Have I Got News For You, which began its run in 1990. He also co-wrote family sitcom My Dad's the Prime Minister.

Quote: "It is no longer acceptable in British politics to be fat or eccentric or religious."

Trivia: Hislop had a small role in the Greek TV series The Island, which was based on his wife's bestselling novel.

Andy Hamilton (Panellist)

Born: May 28, 1954 in London

Best Known For: His writing partnership with Guy Jenkin, and his appearances on radio and TV panel shows.

Early-life: Andrew Neil Hamilton was born in London on May 28, 1954. He went on to study English at Downing College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge University Light Entertainment Society.

Career: Hamilton is best known for his writing partnership with Guy Jenkin. They have worked together on the TV shows The Kit Curran Radio Show, Drop the Dead Donkey, Outnumbered and Ballot Monkeys, and the film What We Did on Our Holiday (2014). Hamilton has also contributed content to Not the Nine O'Clock News, Who Dares Wins, Alas Smith & Jones, The Two Ronnies and Scotch & Wry, and created Trevor's World of Sport. Hamilton has also appeared regularly on Radio 4 programmes Week Ending, The News Quiz, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Old Harry's Game, which he also created. He also regularly appears on QI and Have I Got News for You.

Quote: "Even in the darkest crisis, what you often remember is the moment of absurd comedy that broke through it."

Trivia: Hamilton is the voice of Dr Elephant, the dentist in children's show Peppa Pig.

Helen Lewis (Panellist)

Clive Myrie (Host)

Jo Maney (Producer)

Paul Wheeler (Director)

Jo Bunting (Series producer)

11:00 pm - 12:00 am, Sunday, December 28 on U&Dave ja vu (74)

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Season 63, Episode 1

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