Topical show returns to Friday slot

Have I Got News For You is to return to its traditional Friday night slot.

The BBC One quiz was shifted to Thursdays last year after 19 years on a Friday – prompting criticism.

Among those who were unhappy with the move was frequent host Alexander Armstrong, who said the early slot did not give writers enough time to get to grips with the week's news.

He said that since recordings were switched to Wednesday to accommodate the Thursday slot, writers 'are having to spin stuff out of thin air and they have to project a little bit, so I really do think it's crackers'.

However new channel controller Danny Cohen has now vowed to reverse the decision.

He said: 'Have I Got News For You had one very successful series on Thursday nights but we've decided to move it back to Fridays where the whole of the week's news can be discussed and satirised, giving viewers the most entertaining start to their weekend.'

Published: 9 Mar 2011