Robinson to host next HIGNFY

Anne Robinson is to host next week's edition of Have I Got News For You.

The Weakest Link host will step into Angus Deayton's shoes for one week while the BBC tries to find a permanent replacement.

Meanwhile, Paul Merton will front this week's show, which was recorded last night, and included Rich Hall and Ross Noble as guests.

The comic made several references to Deayton's dismissal from the programme following a stream of damaging newspaper stories.

At one point, he showed the end of the previous week's show, ending with the dramatic EastEnders' cliffhanger music.

And he said: "I'd like to thank Angus for all his efforts in entertaining vast numbers of the general public over the years - how he found the energy to do this show as well I'll never know."

Merton and ITN political editor, John Sergeant are the bookies' favourites to take over the role permanently.

But in a poll conducted by The Guardian, Stephen Fry was the viewers' favourite, followed by political commentator Andrew Marr and the tub of lard that once stood in for Roy Hattersley. However Marr is said to be uninterested in the role

Published: 1 Nov 2002