As Johnson’s premiership draws to a close, the satire recorded a special episode, titled I’ve Got News For Boris: A Very Special Feature, which aired on Friday (September 2). In true Have I Got News for You style, the BBC series didn’t hold back from grilling Johnson. Near the start of the episode, panelist Paul Merton noted how the BBC had billed the episode as a “tribute”, with Ian Hislop joking: “Tribute? Funny way of spelling ‘good riddance’.’ When guest Janet Street Porter said: “I hope it will be balanced,” Merton replied: “Yes, absolutely. Yes.” Many viewers couldn’t get enough of the episode, which one person called a fitting send-off.” However, others found the Jack Dee-hosted episode disrespectful and called it “a very flawed program idea”. “Whoever lit Boris’ ultimate unironic ROAST on Have I Got News For You is my new hero,” one viewer tweeted, while another added: “The Have I Got News For You #HIGNFY roasting Boris Johnson as departing gift. it is absolutely outstanding. Brutal. Wild. Merry.” Another person said: “I admit I didn’t like the idea of a Johnson expert on Have I got news for you #hignfy but I should have trusted the team. A screening should be required for Tory members before any future vote.” There was plenty of negative reaction, too, with one person complaining: “I see the BBC has now hit the lowest of lows. A full program aimed at disrespecting the outgoing Prime Minister. Whether you like Boris or not, it is not the BBC’s job to sink to this level of disposable broadcasting. I’m referring to Have I Got News For You.” Janet Street-Porter and Paul Merton on Have I Got News for You’s special episode of Boris Johnson (BBC) Another said they “didn’t like the tone” of the episode, with others calling it “disgraceful”. Johnson is due to formally tender his resignation on Monday (September 5), after which he will step down as prime minister. He will be replaced by either Rishi Sunak or Lizz Truss.
