MovieChat Forums > Have I Got News for You (1990) Discussion > Rate HIGN4U? out of ten: now vs Deaton’s...

Rate HIGN4U? out of ten: now vs Deaton’s Days…


I noticed that at the time of this post the show has an impressive 8.7/10.

However, I just wondered if people had to rate HIGN4U? during Angus’ time in the chair, would they rate it differently to how they might rate it nowadays?

Personally, I think it misses the ‘bite’ that Angus provided (although the tabloid ‘outing’ he got was brilliant).

I’d rate Deaton’s days 10/10

Now, 8/10.

What does everyone else think?


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It was definitely better when deayton was the host but its still good now. I wasn't a fan of what happened to him mind you and recently paul merton has really been getting on my nerves. Still hilarious though!!

With Angus 10/10

Without Angus 7.5/10

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Yeah, I still watch it religiously, it's just when you look back on the olden (Deaton) days, you can see it was much better.

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It'll sound like a cop-out answer, but I think it really does depend on who the Guest Presenter is.
Someone the likes of Jack Dee, or Armstrong, or even Kirsty Young were brilliantly deadpan and could be quite cutting with their adlibs. People like John Prescott, Eamonn Holmes or Gordon Ramsey just read the autocue and were dull.
Some of the 'stunt' casting has been atocious(Anne Widdecome???!!!) but some has been inspired-Tom Baker, Brian Blessed and of course the legend Boris.

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I agree that some of the guest presenters were good, bad and excellent. It's just, on the whole, when Deaton was there, the show had a darker tone to it.

I got the feeling it was a case of 'we can't choose who we work with.' Just like in most jobs, there was genuine tension between work colleagues and it spilled over into the recording, making it quite different.

Now Paul (and Ian to some degree) know it's 'their' show and whoever is presenting will only be there a week, so there's no point in rocking the boat.

The episode that came closest to the 'Deaton'days' was the one with William Hague as presenter - again, the tension showed.

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True, but then again I think it's not just HIGNFY that could be said that's getting 'tamer' As Stephen Fry said this week, the entire BBC is now scared of being dark, and edgy for fear of reprisal.
I can't say I miss Angus. If he were to come back, great! If not, no worries. Maybe it's just because I've gotten used to the rotating Chairperson, but I don't think theshow has suffered for losing Angus. As you say, the dynamic between Captains and host is different, but sometimes it has been better than the old days. Clarkson 'stabbing' Hislop stands out as an example, and although he was a poor host, the savagery of Hislo and Merton towards Gordon Ramsey made the episode!

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I agree with both of you: it really depends on the guest presenter and the BBC in general is becoming more annoyingly pc by the day.

Some of the shows were hilarious because the presenter was excellent & brought out the best (i.e. funniest) in the teams & captains, some were hysterical because of the animosity between presenter & team captains.

I loved last night's show with Benedict Cumberbatch but equally enjoyed the one with bloody awful Gordon Ramsay, just for different reasons ;)



De gustibus non est disputandum.

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Deayton 10/10
Now - dunno - stopped watching it in the middle of the previous series

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In the old days it was essential viewing. Nowadays I can take it or leave it. There have been a few good presenters on it, but Deayton was an integral part of the show.

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Deatons days - 10/10
Now days - 5/10

Kid on bike "Where you going?"
Charlie Bright "Somewhere".

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