Roger Moore to become the oldest host of HIGNFY

Sir Roger Moore is to become the oldest ever guest to host Have I Got News For You next month.

The 85-year-old will chair the BBC One show for the first time on November 23. Previously, the oldest host was Bruce Forsyth, who was 82 at the time. William Shatner, was also 82 when he appeared for a second time; and Nicholas Parsons was 81.

The youngest host has been Charlotte Church, at 17.

Sir Roger said: ‘I’m really looking forward to appearing on one of my favourite shows and just hope Ian and Paul will treat this old English actor gently. If not, I’ll press the button which releases their chairs into a piranha-filled pool below and will cackle wildly like Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Who said I wasn’t a ham?’

Guests on his show will be Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Johnson, the journalist and sister of London Mayor Boris.

The show is about to celebrate a decade of guest presenters. On the anniversary show, November 9, Damian Lewis will take the hot seat for a fifth time. This will be the 178th episode with a guest host, not counting Paul Merton who stepped in the week after Angus Deayton lost the presenting job amid tabloid revelations about his private life.

Published: 31 Oct 2012