Now this is exactly how to respond to right wing bullsh**. Just state the facts!!
Ian Hislop tears Andrea Jenkyns a new a-hole. #HIGNFY pic.twitter.com/2ARzgE6Bdj
— Richard Scribbles (@RichardScribbl1) October 11, 2024
Ian Hislop: Attacking pompousness, dishonesty, and corruption
Ian Hislop, one of Britain’s most prominent satirists, has established himself as a significant figure in British media and public life. As the long-serving editor of Private Eye and a regular team captain on Have I Got News for You (HIGNFY), Hislop’s wit, sharp commentary, and biting satire have defined a generation of political and social criticism. Hislop’s satire has consistently targeted political corruption, hypocrisy, and the absurdity of public life, using humour to expose uncomfortable truths.
Born on 13 July 1960 in Mumbles, Swansea, Ian Hislop spent his early years in Nigeria, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia due to his father’s work as a civil engineer. These formative experiences gave him a broader understanding of the world, which later informed his keen observation of international affairs. Educated at Ardingly College and later at Magdalen College, Oxford, Hislop immersed himself in history and became involved with the Oxford University magazine, a precursor to his satirical career. It was here that Hislop began honing his talent for sharp, biting humour, producing satirical pieces that caught the eye of media figures outside of the university bubble.
Upon graduating, Hislop joined Private Eye, a satirical magazine founded by Peter Cook and a few others in 1961. The magazine had built a reputation for its irreverent humour, investigative journalism, and mocking of public figures. Hislop’s first contribution to Private Eye was published in 1980, and by 1986, he had become the magazine’s editor. Hislop’s tenure at the helm of Private Eye has been nothing short of transformative. He has now served as the editor for over 30 years, and his leadership has seen the magazine navigate several decades of social, political, and cultural change.
Private Eye, under Hislop’s stewardship, has maintained a firm tradition of attacking pompousness, dishonesty, and corruption in British public life. Hislop’s biting satire has never discriminated when it comes to targets—be they politicians, the monarchy, media moguls, or business tycoons. His talent lies in the precise skewering of powerful figures, often combining humour with a depth of investigative journalism that many conventional publications might avoid. He has faced numerous legal threats due to Private Eye’s relentless pursuit of corruption and deceit, making him one of the most sued men in British legal history.
One of Hislop’s early and most notable legal battles was with Robert Maxwell, the media tycoon. Maxwell sued Private Eye several times during the late 1980s, a period when the magazine was consistently exposing his financial misconduct. Hislop’s determination to continue publishing pieces that criticised Maxwell’s financial dealings demonstrated his commitment to holding the powerful to account. In the aftermath of Maxwell’s death in 1991, which led to revelations about the widespread theft of employees’ pension funds, Hislop famously remarked, “No wonder he left no stone unturned—he had half of Fleet Street under one of them.” This cutting remark captured Hislop’s ability to distill complex issues into pithy, memorable quips.
Hislop’s satire extends far beyond the realm of investigative journalism. Since 1990, he has been a team captain on Have I Got News for You, a British television panel show that uses humour to discuss current events. The show quickly became a cornerstone of British popular culture, with Hislop and his co-panellist, comedian Paul Merton, providing viewers with a mix of acerbic wit and topical commentary. Hislop’s approach on Have I Got News for You mirrors his work at Private Eye—always seeking to puncture the inflated egos of politicians, journalists, and other public figures.
Hislop’s ability to mix humour with scathing criticism of the establishment is on full display on Have I Got News for You. His comments often reveal the underlying absurdities of public life, such as when he famously remarked, during the expenses scandal of 2009, “It’s hard to think of a Parliament more completely detached from what everyone thinks of as morality.” Hislop’s remarks throughout this period were filled with contempt for politicians on all sides of the political spectrum, reflecting his belief that political satire should remain bipartisan and focused on scrutinising those in power, irrespective of their party.
Hislop’s disdain for hypocrisy and corruption has also manifested in his ongoing critique of the British press. Private Eye has been a relentless critic of tabloid culture and unethical journalism, frequently targeting Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. Hislop was a key figure during the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press, which followed the News International phone-hacking scandal. Hislop’s testimony before the inquiry demonstrated his conviction that journalism should be about exposing the truth rather than pandering to the rich and powerful. He described phone hacking as a “classic case of the press going too far,” a reflection of his belief that the press has a duty to serve the public by holding those in power to account, not by invading personal privacy.
One of Hislop’s sharpest and most consistent targets has been the British political class. His criticism of politicians extends beyond mere mockery of their personalities or policies; Hislop often tackles the structural issues that underpin British politics. During the Brexit debates, Hislop was vocally critical of both sides. While Private Eye consistently mocked the incompetence and chaos surrounding the Brexit negotiations, Hislop’s personal position was one of dismay at the dishonesty and misleading claims made by both Remain and Leave campaigners. He once quipped, “The Brexit referendum was like asking the passengers whether they’d prefer to be thrown into the sea or thrown off a cliff—then calling it democracy.”
Hislop’s satirical style is not one that seeks easy laughs but rather seeks to challenge the audience to think more critically about the issues at hand. His satire frequently engages with the complexities of modern life, and his cutting remarks often leave a lasting impact on public discourse. He has taken aim at issues as diverse as the financial crisis of 2008, the Iraq War, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, each time using satire to expose failings in leadership and governance. Hislop’s critique of Tony Blair’s government during the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003, for instance, was particularly scathing. He characterised Blair’s justification for the war—based on the now-discredited intelligence about weapons of mass destruction—as “one of the most blatant examples of misleading the public ever seen.” Hislop’s critique extended to the broader media’s failure to challenge the government’s narrative adequately, further illustrating his frustration with institutions that fail in their duty to question authority.
However, while Hislop’s satire is undoubtedly sharp, it is not motivated by malice. There is an underlying seriousness to his humour, a desire to expose hypocrisy, incompetence, and corruption rather than merely mock for the sake of ridicule. Hislop himself has spoken about the moral dimension of satire, explaining that it can act as a form of resistance to those in power who abuse their positions. In a 2016 interview, he said, “The point of satire is to point at people who are going wrong. You hope they might change. It doesn’t always work, but it’s still worth doing.”
Hislop’s cutting remarks have not been without personal consequence. His refusal to shy away from controversial topics and his relentless pursuit of powerful figures have made him many enemies over the years. Private Eye has been involved in numerous libel cases, some of which have been costly. Yet, Hislop’s commitment to free speech and his belief in the importance of satire as a tool for challenging authority have remained steadfast. He has defended Private Eye’s right to publish even when faced with significant legal and financial pressures.
One example of this was the magazine’s decision to publish stories about Jeffrey Archer, the Conservative politician and author. In 1987, Private Eye published allegations about Archer’s involvement in a prostitute’s perjury trial. Archer successfully sued the magazine for libel, resulting in a large financial settlement. However, in 2001, Archer was imprisoned for perjury and perverting the course of justice, vindicating Hislop’s decision to publish the original allegations. After Archer’s conviction, Hislop memorably stated, “I suppose I’m allowed to say: ‘Told you so.’” This quip not only demonstrated Hislop’s sense of vindication but also his belief that satire, no matter how risky, serves a higher purpose in exposing wrongdoing.
While Hislop’s satire has often focused on the political and media classes, he has also taken aim at the British monarchy. Private Eye has been one of the few publications willing to consistently criticise members of the royal family. Hislop’s stance is not one of outright republicanism, but rather a belief that the monarchy, like any institution, should be held to account. One of his most famous jibes came after Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview with the BBC regarding his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hislop described the interview as “the most car-crash interview I’ve ever seen.” The remark epitomised Hislop’s ability to distil a complex scandal into a sharp, incisive observation, highlighting the absurdity and damage caused by Andrew’s ill-advised media appearance.
Despite his often scathing remarks, Hislop is not without a sense of humility. He has, on occasion, expressed surprise at the influence Private Eye and his role on Have I Got News for You have had on public life. In interviews, he has acknowledged that satire alone cannot change the world, but he believes it plays an essential role in highlighting the absurdities and injustices that might otherwise go unchallenged. He once said, “You don’t set out to change things, but you hope that by pointing things out, someone else might pick it up.”
Hislop’s contribution to British satire is profound. Through Private Eye, he has kept alive a tradition of investigative journalism that challenges the powerful, and through his appearances on Have I Got News for You, he has brought political and social issues to a wider audience through humour. His satire has never been superficial; instead, it digs deep into the heart of British society, questioning its values and institutions with a blend of wit and moral seriousness.
Over the decades, Ian Hislop has carved out a unique position in British culture. His cutting remarks, whether on television or in the pages of Private Eye, have consistently exposed the hypocrisy, corruption, and absurdity of public life. His commitment to using humour as a tool for social and political criticism has made him one of the most significant satirists of his generation. In a media landscape that often prioritises entertainment over substance, Hislop’s brand of satire serves as a reminder of the power of humour to challenge authority and provoke meaningful reflection on the state of society.
KEEP US ALIVE and join us in helping to bring reality and decency back by SUBSCRIBING to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1Ll1ylCg8U19AhNl-NoTg AND SUPPORTING US where you can: Award Winning Independent Citizen Media Needs Your Help. PLEASE SUPPORT US FOR JUST £2 A MONTH https://dorseteye.com/donate/
