Ian Hislop hopes President Donald Trump will appear on the new series of ‘Have I Got News For You’.
The comedy news show will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, and the 60-year-old team captain is hoping the President of the United States will lose the upcoming election and will have time to make an appearance on the show.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I would like Ex-President Donald Trump to be guest host of the show next series. I have an awful feeling this may not happen."
The long-running politics panel programme – which first aired on TV in 1990 – stars Ian and fellow team captain Paul Merton as they quiz celebrity contestants on the latest news, alongside former chairman Angus Deayton before he left the show in 2002.
Since then, the BBC show has continued to have a guest host each week including the likes of Anne Robinson, current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Jeremy Clarkson.
Hislop’s highlights of the show include former ‘Top Gear’ presenter Clarkson making him bleed by throwing a pen at his face, whilst Merton’s favourite guest presenter was the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, when he hosted for the first time in 2003, throwing in references to his own game shows, including ‘Play Your Cards Right’ and the ‘Generation Game’.
Merton recalled: "He brought so much fun to the set and made it so unlike any other episode for its light entertainment values. I find it funny that the show I liked the most is probably the one Ian hates the most."
Hislop can’t believe they will be celebrating 30 years on air, admitting his mother did give him a vote of confidence after they filmed episode one.
The Private Eye editor said: "I can’t believe we have been going for 30 years. That’s half my life.
"When we made the pilot 30 years ago my late mother came to see it and I asked her what she thought of it. Her verdict was, ‘Never mind dear.’ "