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.

Roy Wood Jr (Host)

Guz Khan (Panellist)

Kirsty Wark (Panellist)

Born: February 03, 1955 in Dumfries

Best Known For: Presenting Newsnight.

Early-life: Kirsteen Anne Wark was born in Dumfries on February 3, 1955 to Jimmy Wark, a solicitor, and Roberta Wark, a schoolteacher. After studying history at the University of Edinburgh, Kirsty joined the BBC in 1976 as a graduate researcher for BBC Radio Scotland. She made the switch to TV in 1982 when she began producing BBC Scotland's political programme Agenda and current affairs show Current Account.

Career: Wark moved in front of the camera to present Seven Days and Left, Right and Centre for BBC Scotland. Presenter roles followed on Breakfast Time, The Late Show and One Foot in the Past. Since 1993, she has been one of the main presenters of Newsnight. Wark has also hosted The Book Quiz, A Question of Genius, and A Question of Taste. In 2011, she reached the final of Celebrity MasterChef, losing out to eventual winner Phil Vickery.

Quote: 'I'd say that my work requires no cynicism, but a lot of scepticism.'

Trivia: In 1990, Wark set up the production company Wark-Clements with her husband, producer Alan Clements. In 2004, it merged with Ideal World to form IWC Media. A year later, it became part of RDF Media.

Jo Bunting (Series producer)

Jordan Reed (Producer)

Martin Lord (Director)

10:00 pm - 11:00 pm, Wednesday, May 20 on U&Dave (19)

About this Broadcast

Season 69, Episode 9

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