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Current affairs comedy programme Have I Got News For You has been hit by government threats over the years accusing it of “enormous bias”, says Ian Hislop.

The panel show, which has been running since 1990, features Hislop and the comedian Paul Merton as they captain two teams to answer questions on topical news stories. The satirical BBC series was considered innovative when it first debuted, and its success led to various imitations of its format.

However, comedian and Private Eye editor Hislop has revealed that it has not always been smooth sailing for the team, as their irreverent approach has led to warnings and complaints by successive governments over the years.

“Most of the threats over the years have been that various governments have leant on the BBC and told them this programme is appallingly leftwing or appallingly rightwing, depending which government it is,” he told The Guardian.

“They’ve managed to find enormous bias against themselves when they’re in office. That has always struck me as the more likely end.”

Hislop finds this a marker of the show’s health.

“There aren’t many other comedy shows left like ours,” he continued. “We’re the last bed by the door. I expect it’s just a matter of time.”

Commenting on the topics covered by the programme and the juxtaposition of Hislop’s and Merton’s style, he said: “Most comedy in Britain is about class. We think we’re obsessed by sex. We’re not really.”

He continued, “The pairing of Paul – who’s still cross that people went to Oxbridge – and me was a very good bit of casting because it meant there are two completely different styles. I care about the news. He doesn’t. That dynamic was very clever. Paul thought I was a stuffed shirt and I thought he was an oik.”

Meanwhile, Merton said he hoped to bring an element of “anarchy” to the panel.

“I wore a T-shirt because everybody wore suits and ties,” he said. “I thought we looked like a parole board, and it needed an element of anarchy. I also wanted some rudeness.”

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He added that he would continue working on the show until the end of time, “The news agenda always changes… But we’ll keep going until the sun explodes and consumes the Earth, which will be the top story the following week.”

MAFS fans have been left horrified by Sacha’s commitment ceremony confession after a huge row with Ross.

Ahead of the commitment ceremony, it was revealed that Sacha and Ross had had yet another row.

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And they revealed what they’d argued about as they sat down with experts Paul, Mel and Charlene during Tuesday night’s episode.

But viewers of the hit reality show were horrified as Sacha explained what had happened, telling the three experts that her beau Ross had “thrown his food.”

She said: “When Ross gets a temper he has an attitude and tone, food gets thrown at the wall, I get called names.

“He was calling me a little fake b****.”

“He doesn’t feel remorseful when he reacts how he reacts.”

Ross responded: “It can’t be just me, I’m not flipping for no reason.”

To which Sacha told the room: “He picked up his food and threw it at the wall.”

Ross admitted: “When it comes to an argument we don’t know when to stop. I’ve had enough of it honestly.”

The experts gave the couple their advice, but Mel was quick to add: ““No throwing themes, no name calling, no disrespectful behaviour at all.”

And fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their disbelief that Ross had thrown his food.

One person penned: “Don’t need advice from experts to know not to throw food at the wall, that’s terrible Ross.”

Another said: “Why is everyone ignoring Ross’ behaviour? Throwing food at the wall is not normal.”

A third penned: “So Ross breaks things and throws food at the wall? Get out Sacha.”

Another viewer echoed: “It doesn’t matter what Sacha does or doesn’t do, it’s on Ross to not throw food at the wall.”

The pair tied the knot just seconds after meeting each other down the aisle as part of the E4 show.

It appeared that the experts made a perfect match at the start of the experiment, but in recent weeks, the two have clashed a number of times.

During home stay week it was apparent that neither of them want to move away from their friends and family.

Sacha is based in Birmingham, while Ross lives in Manchester.

This evening’s episode of Married At First Sight saw the remaining couples sit in front of the experts one last time for the last ceremony.

And it was definitely an emotional one between Sacha and Ross.

Mel pointed out that the two didn’t look happy – and Ross told her that the moving situation has been affecting them both.

During their emotional chat, Sacha broke down in tears as she spoke about how much she valued their relationship.

She said while sobbing: “One of the questions you [Ross] asked me was ‘do you fall in love easy?’

“I said ‘absolutely not!’

“But when I met you, you were everything that I wanted.

“So I thought the universe had blessed me and I really wanted to so everything I could to make you happy.

“You do make me happy.”

Sacha continued to sob as she said: “

“I do feel like I’ve bent over backwards in this process to do everything that I can for you.

“And I’ve never done that for anyone like I am with you.

“I’ve never been that way.”

At the end of the chat, Ross wrote stay, while Sacha decided to pick leave.

The two agreed that they will work on their relationship.

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Sam Quek, the latest Strictly Come Dancing star to be eliminated, was left “gutted” by the result, which has been branded a “travesty” by viewers.

With the 20th series of the BBC dancing competition at its halfway mark, certain celebrities who were expected to make it far are now finding themselves being sent home.

After an emotional episode that saw professional dancer Amy Dowden in tears over her temporary replacement’s show-stopping performance with JB Gill, Sunday’s results show episode (3 November) saw Gladiators star Montell Jordan end up in the bottom two alongside hockey player Sam Quek.

However, it was Quek and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin who were sent home by all four judges after performing the dreaded dance off.

Quek couldn’t hide her disappointment, telling host Tess Daly after that she was “gutted” by her elimination. Explaining precisely why this was, she added: “I’m gutted because I do feel like I still have more to give.”

In a follow-up post discussing her departure from the show on Facebook, Quek continued: “Losing a dance off isn’t great. In fact, the competitor in me hates it, but Montell is a better dancer than me and this is a dance competition after all – so fair do’s.”

She credited the show with bringing “that spring in my step back” after what she said has been a “quiet” few years, but said it “was tougher than I imagined” as she “sacrificed everything I needed to and still ended up towards the bottom of the leaderboard” each week.

Quek wrote: “I must stress, I knew what I was signing up for. And when I commit to something, I give it everything I have for as long as I have to. I have no regrets about what I put into this process. That’s why I cannot be too sad about leaving. I gave everything I had. I fell short and that’s ok, because there was nothing more I could have done.”

During the results show, Quek also pointed out what she has admitted was a misconception she previously had about the show when she was watching along as a viewer, telling Daly: “I’m guilty of watching the competition and thinking ‘how do they have that relationship as a celebrity and a dancer?’

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“All I can say is, the time you spend with each other and what you bring out in each other. It really is, and it sounds dead cheesy, magical.”

Quek’s elimination follows the departures of Dr Punam Krishan, footballer Paul Merson, singer Toyah Willcox, presenter Nick Knowles and Olympian Tom Dean.

With the 20th series of the BBC dancing competition at its halfway mark, certain celebrities who were expected to make it far are now finding themselves being sent home.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday 9 November on BBC One.

MARRIED At First Sight fans were left heartbroken after fan favourite couple Kieran and Kristina choose to LEAVE after the final commitment ceremony.

The pair, who said ‘I Do’ just moments after meeting, left the experiment during tonight’s instalment of the E4 show.

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Kieran and Kristina hit it off immediately when they first locked eyes on the aisle.

The animal carer luckily found the mechanic’s practical joke funny as he surprised her with a set of false teeth on their wedding day – so it seemed they were the perfect match.

But as the weeks have gone on, cracks started to appear in their relationship.

Last week Kieran sobbed in the corner of the room after their marriage imploded, days after they locked horns in an explosive argument after he expressed fears he was “wasting” his time in their marriage.

Fans were previously quick to call out Kieran for “making excuses” after admitting he did not want to be “intimate” with his spouse.

Today the pair decided that enough was enough and called it quits – and there was not a dry eye in the room.

Kieran told Kristina: “I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving this your all.

“I just genuinely wish you the best for the future.

“Don’t change for anyone.”

Kristina replied: “Thank you for the most magical, amazing day of my life at our wedding.

“I’m gutted but I do only wish you the best.

“You’ll be in my life. Don’t worry.”

Those watching at home were also left in tears.

One wrote on X: “Not Kristina & Kieran. Love these guys!! So glad they have stayed friends. Was rooting for them.”

Another brutally said: “Kieran has known for weeks how he feels about Kristina. He’s just finding it hard to admit it to himself, Kristina, and his friends and family.”

A third chimed in: “Not sure Kieran knows what he wants anymore. This PMDD has really put him off and he’s making every excuse under the sun not to just say it’s that. Kristina deserves better.”

Cracks started to appear when Kristina was left devastated when Kieran gave co-star Polly a big kiss on the lips – after saying he didn’t want to be intimate with her because of a cold sore.

Days before Kristina was in tears when Kieran admitted he was struggling in their relationship.

Asked by the experts why his behaviour towards her has changed, he said:  “I am really questioning at the minute if I am able to sustain a relationship with someone who suffers with PMDD.”

Kristina suffers from Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which causes extreme emotional and physical symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.

VIEWERS of The Great British Bake Off were left red-faced after the show broadcast its rudest episode ever.

The latest episode of the Channel 4 programme was jam-packed with explicit innuendos and comments that led to fans reaching for the mute button.

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It was dessert week on the programme with Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood deciding to challenge the bakers with a British classic, Spotted Dick, for the technical challenge.

It led to show hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding making a series of close to the wire comments that left many watching at home flabbergasted.

During one ear-popping scene, Alison could be heard saying to the bakers: “You have two and a half hours to get your dicks ready.”

Before one of the show contestants quipped: “I need a finger, that’s what I have a husband for, it’s his only use,” as they tied up the suet pudding with a piece of string.

Littered amongst an array of other shock comments, viewers of the baking contest were quick to have their say with one insisting it was “absolute filth”.

They wrote online: “Absolute filth on #gbbo this week. Deary me.”

Another commented: “Alison and Noel are unhinged with these innuendos.”

A third said: “So many jokes right now I’d get us banned… #GBBO.”

Others were left gasping by one of the contestant’s comments saying: “What did Gill just say about her husband?!”

As someone else shared a GIF of an overtly shocked face along with the caption: “Literally every thirty seconds on #GBBO tonight.”

Throughout the nine-minute long segment, a series of rude comments and jokes were said much to the shock of fans.

Looking over the recipe, one baker reacted: “I’ve never seen a spotted dick, I’ve never tried it,” prompting another to chime in: “My boyfriend told me that spotted dick is very nice.”

A third added: “I know what spotted dick is, but it’s something that I would make a pass on.”

At the end of the challenge, it was revealed that fan favourite Dylan had the spotted dick that had impressed Paul and Prue the most.

His bake went down a storm with the panel and he later went on to be awarded Star Baker at the end of the episode.

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Great British Bake off cast 2024

The Great British Bake Off is back for another series of the heartwarming Channel 4 show.

Legendary judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back to give their expert opinion, while hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond are on hand to lift the bakers spirits.

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Here are the amateur bakers all taking part in 2024.

• Andy, 44, car mechanic.
• Christiaan, 33, menswear designer.
• Dylan, 20, retail assistant.
• Georgie, 34, paediatric nurse.
• Gill, 53, senior category manager.
• Hazel, 71, former nail technician.
• Illiyin, 31, birth trauma specialist midwife.
• Jeff, 67, former university lecturer.
• John, 37, NHS directorate support manager.
• Mike, 29, farmer.
• Nelly, 44, palliative care assistant.
• Sumayah, 19, student.

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Dr Phil McGraw has revealed that his appearance at Donald Trump’s controversy-laden New York City rally in late October came as “an act of rebellion” against Kamala Harris.

While speaking on a recent episode of Piers Morgan’s Uncensored talk show, the popular TV personality and former psychologist, 74, walked back on his apparent endorsement of Trump.

“I’m just not here to endorse Donald Trump. I do not like celebrity endorsements,” McGraw said in a teaser clip posted to X.

The Dr Phil host went on to tell Morgan that he doesn’t like a lot of what the former president says or does, explaining that his speech at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally was more so “an act of rebellion on my part.”

“I requested 25-plus times to speak to Kamala Harris,” he claimed. “I offered to give the identical speech at a Harris rally.”

The Independent has contacted the Harris campaign for comment.

When asked by Morgan if he had decided who he was going to vote for, McGraw responded: “I think I have, but I’ll never tell.”

Last month, McGraw joined Trump on stage at his Madison Square Garden rally. There, he spoke passionately to thousands of attendees, saying that he was “not here just to stand up for Donald J Trump. Lord knows he doesn’t need me to stand up for him. He’s tough as an old army boot. He’s got lots of enemies, different groups that are scared, and between them, they have impeached him, indicted him, raided him, railroaded him, shot him and sued him. And where is he? He is still standing.”

McGraw used much of his speech to defend Trump supporters who he claimed are being “cancelled, intimidated, marginalized, excluded or even fired or boycotted” and then used his professional opinion to declare that Trump isn’t a “bully.”

He argued that Trump couldn’t be a bully because “there has to be an imbalance of power, and when there’s not, it’s just called a debate, and he’s just better at it than anybody else.”

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“No human is perfect,” he added. “We don’t strive for perfection. We strive for excellence. But you don’t have to love everything about someone in order to love them, and the last thing he needs is some celebrity endorsement.”

He also used a portion of his speech to attack the likes of Beyoncé, Lizzo, George Clooney and Robert De Niro, celebrities he claimed hadn’t received any backlash from the media for endorsing Harris.

“Watch what happens tomorrow morning when people find out I came here to talk to you,” McGraw said.

Elsewhere at the controversial rally, a long list of Trump allies hurled insults and racist comments at their political opponents.

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe also sparked backlash when he insultingly likened Puerto Rico to a “pile of garbage.”