Have I Got News For You - The Very Best Of [VHS] [1990]

This dvd compromises the best of 13 years and 23 series of HIGNFY with over 3 hours of material. It includes all the best moments and I can’t list them all but they include Ian Hislop’s arguments with Paula Yates and Pieres Morgan, Eddie Izzard and the jam, the tub of lard, Boris Johnson’s appearances and the humiliation of Angus Deayton in his final episodes as the host.
It reminds you of some of the funniest clips captured on television too (which are extras in themselves) including Michael Howard been grilled by Jeremy Paxman (“Did you threaten to overrule him!”) and George Bush senior and Jeffrey Archer making fools out of themselves.

The dvd comes with a good selection of extras. The best of these is the commentary by Ian Hislop and Paul Merton which gives background information on clips and at some times can be as funny as the clips themselves. There is also trivi text, trailers, Terry Wogan trying to confine HIGNFY to room 101, a newsnight documentary on why people appear as guests and a selection of celebrities voicing their views on HIGNFY.

Overall one of the best BBC and comedy dvds available and well worth the price. BUY IT NOW!!!

If there's one thing the British do better than everyone else, its satire and Have I Got News For You has quite comfortably been the best in satirical television for over a decade. It's sometimes as subtle as a sledgehammer but who cares? It more than filled the void left by "Spitting Image" at the end of the Thatcher Era and has managed to stay fresh and to keep hitting those targets ever since. The presenters make the show - Angus Deayton, in fairness, doesn't have much to do - but he delivers and manages the show well. Ian Hislop is "Private Eye" personified and Paul Merton is the most fantastically surreal comic I have ever seen on TV. Together they are sharp, witty, biting, slapstick and plain ridiculous, just brilliant.

As for the DVD itself, well it has to cut and paste from 12 years and 23 odd series into 200 minutes and it does so as well as could reasonably be expected. All the funniest bits are there and officionados shouldn't complain if the odd item they like is left out - be reasonable! The manner in which the news has repeated itself over the years is fascinating and maybe quite alarming (Iraq, anyone?) The commentary from Merton and Hislop is fantastic, they are genuinely interested in reminiscing about the old shows, are very insightful and (unintentionally?) hilarious. The other extras (trailers, a Newsnight piece) are fillers but quite worthy nonetheless.

All in all a great buy at a great price - not least to own a piece of TV history from the late twentieth century.

The DVD contains clips from all series upto the end of the Deyton era and you'll be laughing throughout. It's interesting to see how many stories that were featured at the start still seem to be rumbling on now. There all the classic moments here, The Tub of Lard, Boris Johnson's first bizzare appearance and my all time favourite, Ian Hislop doing battle with Paula Yeats.

There is an enjoyable commentary track included with Ian Hislop and Paul Merton giving their comments on things. That's very funny in places and a good extra.

Fans of the show will love this.