BBC HIGNFY faces calls to be AXED as Hislop brands Farage 'far-Right' in 'pathetic' attack on Reform UK leader: 'Uncalled for!'

The long-serving panellist pulled no punches with his swipes at the Reform UK leader during Friday's show
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Ian Hislop has irked a number of Have I Got News For You viewers following remarks made about Nigel Farage during Friday's series opener.
The Private Eye editor returned for yet another series opposite fellow team captain Paul Merton. The pair were joined by guest host Victoria Coren Mitchell and guest panellists Miles Jupp and Sheila Hancock.
As always, Ms Coren Mitchell had several topical talking points up her sleeve to put to the two teams for their thoughts.
Inevitably, following the past seven days, Labour's party conference in Liverpool was high on the agenda, as was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's persistent references to Mr Farage and Reform UK during his speech.
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BBC HIGNFY: Ian Hislop returned to the show alongside Sheila Hancock
|BBC
It wasn't just Mr Starmer who spent much of his stage time deriding Mr Farage and Reform UK during the conference in Liverpool, with the likes of Wes Streeting, David Lammy, and several frontbenchers taking digs at the Clacton MP.
In fact, following days of being accused of "racist" policies, Mr Farage hit back with a speech of his own earlier this week, deeming the prime minister "unfit" to lead the country.
The threat Mr Farage and Reform UK appeared to pose to Labour didn't go unnoticed by Ms Coren Mitchell, who kicked off the quiz round about the conference by saying: "Keir Starmer seemed to think the danger is Reform, though."
Mr Hislop weighed in: "All of the party conferences were obsessed by Reform.
BBC HIGNFY: Victoria Coren Mitchell oversaw proceedings
|BBC
"I mean, someone did a count of how many times Reform was mentioned, and the Conservative Party wasn’t mentioned at all, in most of the conferences, including the upcoming Tory party conference."
As laughter emerged from the audience, Ms Coren Mitchell asked: "Do people talk about them too much? We’ll have a look at Ed Davey's conference speech and see."
A compilation of the Liberal Democrats leader repeating Mr Farage's name then played out for 20 seconds or so, prompting comedian Mr Jupp to quip: "Was that the speech, or has it been edited?"
Again, laughter rippled before the HIGNFY host pondered: "Do you think, and I mean, presumably over the course of this series, people will say - they’re already saying - the show is now mentioning Nigel Farage (too much)?"
BBC HIGNFY: Miles Jupp and Paul Merton
|BBC
Mr Hislop hit out: "That is the dilemma. Do you address what he’s saying? Because it seems to be either wrong, or indeed a correction, or dangerous, or incitement, or hypocritical, or whatever.
"I mean, people mispronouncing his name. It’s 'Far-Right'," he remarked, drawing applause and laughter from the BBC crowd.
Mr Hislop then proceeded to say he "liked stories about Farage" before sarcastically criticising the Reform UK leader for the headlines he made earlier this year during Angela Rayner's stamp duty scandal.
But while the audience members appeared to find the "far-Right" remark humorous, it's safe to say social media users watching at home weren't impressed.
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Nigel Farage was the target of several jokes
| PA"Nigel Far-right. Oh dear," one X user said to the show's verified account, followed by an eye-rolling emoji.
Elsewhere, a second blasted: "@BBCOne @haveigotnews As a regular viewer of the show, I was not impressed with tonight’s show. Ian calling @Nigel_Farage 'FR' was uncalled for. I hope next week’s episode sees some improvement."
A third similarly slammed the show: "You're doing exactly the same as you did with Boris. Highlighting Farage all the time. Then whinge when he gets in. Stop doing it. I agree with several of Reform policies but several I don't."
"Five minutes of attacking the worst UK government in history, then straight onto Farage and Trump. Quite pathetic," a fourth criticised.
BBC HIGNFY: Ian Hislop's comments didn't go down well with everyone
|BBC
While a fifth hit out at the show's theme, sarcastically typing: "TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. FARAGE. FARAGE. FARAGE. FARAGE. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. TRUMP. FARAGE."
Others complained the formula felt "tired", while a sixth mocked: "Cutting edge comedy with Sheila Hancock. Time to axe this Guardianista drivel."
However, there were some who applauded the show's return, particularly with Ms Hancock and Mr Jupp on the panel.
"Great start to another new series. Hislop is a national treasure. Sheila Hancock said it as it was. Miles Jupp and Paul witty as ever... #hignfy," one X user argued. (sic)