HIGNFY

But you are not forced by law, as we were, to buy that product.

GN of course the guest presenter/host has a script to follow and jokes. That was obvious tonight especially (as I said wooden) but are you suggesting that Paul Merton and Ian Hislop and their guests are scripted?

I doubt it or some of the guests just wouldn't appear, especially those who get a roasting, like Nigel Farrage the other week. And there are weeks when one of the team leaders are not 'on form' as it were.

Humour, like music, is very individual and what can have one person chuckling can leave another cold.

I like HIGNFY. Some weeks are funnier than others but I thought tonight was quite good.

As for the BBC being funded by the licence payer, other TV channels are indirectly funded by everyone, whether they have a TV or not, because the cost of advertising is built in to the cost of the product.

Why watch it? Well, because I have often found it witty and amusing (although obviously not all spontaneous) and therefore sometimes do watch it, but not regularly.

But I find some of the guests quite tedious (tonight's in particular) and I do think Merton has lost his sparkle. I think there is a difference between edgy and offensive and the two guests crossed that line.

I enjoy HIGNFY but agree that John Cooper Clark had no place on it. Kirsty Young didn't seem quite herself. She looked puffy, her hair was lank and she seemed to have missed out on make-up.

I haven't watched it yet and I don't know now whether to be apprehensive or excited

I never used to find Ian Hislop funny and could never work out why he was even on the show (other than to be the fall guy for Paul Merton) but when Merton seemed to lose interest, Hislop came into his own and he can be quite amusing. I also like it when he holds politicians to account on the show.

I still like HIGNFY and others, of a similar ilk, never seem to last very long so it must have something going for it.

"...releasing of excerpts of the "scripts" for HIGNFY by Punch magazine (the main rival of Private Eye) makes one appreciate the intense level of detail that goes into the planning - nearly every factual point about each question has an optional gag the host can throw in. Furthermore, on a past Christmas video the programme sent itself up re: the level of scripting, so it was old news by the time this "revelation" came about."

I remember my MiL, saying the same thing about TWTWTW in the 60s.

DH had it on with sound and sub-titles, I was on here but multi-tasking unintentionally.

And why should I make excuses - surely one is allowed to watch a programme then form a view about it? Critics do it all the time. As do Gransnetters.

[sigh]

This is a good programme and there is no reason for it to be withdrawn. In fact Paul Merton was exceptionally funny tonight, but some of his best humour went over the head of the audience while I was nearly choking at his audacity.

Of course it's not scripted!

I do have to admit that the presenter, Kirsty Somebody, was very wooden reading the autocues.

I did switch it off, Merlot. 5 minutes in.

Why watch HIGNIFY if you find it nasty and unfunny? You could have switched over to Gogglebox and seen the same Jeremy Paxman interview - complete with F word.

I don't see what the start of half-term has to do with anything. If parents allow young children to stay up later than 9pm it's their responsibility to find something suitable to watch.

Perhaps they need to start spending more money on good programme-making and less on themselves. The BBC I mean.

Did anyone watch The Fast Show Special on BBC2 tonight? Now that really was past its sell-by date and cringeworthy, IMO.

I know it is, but there are limits - especially at the start of half-term week. There is so much political correctness these days but ordinary members of the public are fair game, apparently, and nasty, unfunny remarks par for the course.

Yes, Merton does look as if he is just there for the money, Hislop can be quite witty, but really the programme itself is definitely past its sell-by date.

Something new and original please - and funny not cringeworthy.

I enjoy it most weeks, but tonight was poor. John Cooper Clark? Why?

There's no "quick wit", it's scripted.

I also found it boring and I read somewhere that - with social media and the speed with which everything is circulated nowadays - it is all HIGONFY. (old news). I agree. Time it folded up its tatty old tent and left town.

I always enjoy HIGNFY and tonight was no exception. We need those who are willing and able to poke fun at the establishment. Lampooning politicians has been gong on for hundreds of years. I would be outraged if they were gagged.

If Gillian Duffy sets herself up by giving interviews then she must expect some come back, and I'm not sure that Gorden Brown was too far out in his description of her.

xd posts, merlot - what are they on about...?

Well, it is on after the watershed!

The watershed is 9pm. What's the problem?

Merton.

Sorry to disagree, I still thoroughly enjoy HIGNFY although I do feel the attack on Gillian Duffy should have been cut. The opportunities to have a good laugh are reducing very quickly. I admire Paul Murton's speedy wit and I think Ian Hislop makes a good foil, although I suspect he wouldn't thank me for saying that.

Some of the guests should be better controlled perhaps being reminded about the Watershed although it would seem only BBC are controlled by it these days, the other 700 channels get away with ignoring the watershed.

Murton doesn't even try to disguise his boredom now and I am now as bored as he is. The insulting digs are anything but funny. Another good programme bites the dust!

I think a programme like this broadcast just after the watershed is typical of BBC arrogance.