Viewers Were Left Confused By Have I Got News For You Lockdown Format

With the UK government and medical experts urging people to stay two metres away from one another, Have I Got News For You looked a little different this week.

Rather than being filmed in front of a live audience, regular panelists Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, as well as the three other guests - host Steph McGovern, comedian Miles Jupp, and journalist Helen Lewis - were all at home, being beamed into a virtual studio via video link.

But while fans were pleased to see the show go on despite the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the world, some just couldn't get their head around its new look.

One viewer wrote: "This is the most surreal episode of Have I Got News For You I've ever watched (and I've watched it for decades!) Odd without the studio audience but as topical and on point as ever!"

BBC

A second commented: "Really taken aback by the Zoom format on Have I Got News For You - the pandemic is so weird in that life feels pretty normal and then something like this comes up and reminds you that life has faced a total seismic change in the space of a few weeks."

"Of all the weird things that have happened in 2020, this episode of Have I Got News For You was the weirdest," said a third.

While another added: "Have I got news for you..... I can't watch this. It's weird."

Despite the teething problems, however, and it's odd appearance, most were just glad to see it carry on, and praised the team.

Commenting on the show, previous guest host Victoria Coren-Mitchell said: "I'm so looking forward to the return of Have I Got News For You tonight. It's an experimental technique and I guess might be bumpy, but *whatever it's like* I think it's so great they pushed through and did it. Proud to live in a country where making jokes is essential work!"

Echoing her comments, another added: "Have I Got News For You with no studio audience and all the panel members on Zoom is certainly a novelty, and no less brilliant. What a weird time we're living in."

I am in total agreement. Keep the weirdness coming.

Let's all bring some positivity, support and fun to anyone who might find themselves in isolation as a result of the coronavirus spread. Need some entertainment? Join Isolation Nation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coronasupport/

Topics: UK News, Funny, Interesting, Coronavirus, UK Entertainment

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom