BBC bosses plan to launch a sports spin-off from satirical Have I Got News For You.
The panel show – Have I Got Sport For You – is in development with “high profile comedic and sporting talent attached”, according to TV trade website Broadcast. It is being made by Hat Trick Productions, which also makes the long-running irreverent news quiz.
Sporting personalities including Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, 63, and pundit Gary Neville, 49, have featured as guest presenters on the news show. Broadcast said the sport version is due to launch at the end of the year, although the BBC declined to comment.
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The news comes after the Beeb cancelled A Question of Sport after 53 years amid plummeting ratings. Audience numbers dropped below one million with 50-year-old Paddy McGuinness as host.
(Image: BBC/Hat Trick/Ray Burmiston)
Viewing figures had been around five million under previous presenter Sue Barker, 67. Hat Trick made an episode of Have I Got Sport For You for BBC Radio 4 to coincide with the London Olympics in 2012, with They Think It’s All Over’s Nick Hancock as host.
The panellists for that special were comedians Paul Merton, Andy Hamilton and Mark Steel along with badminton star Gail Emms. The BBC admitted it was struggling to keep the sports programme alive due to funding issues.
(Image: BBC/Vishal Sharma)
The BBC told the Mirror: “Due to inflation and funding challenges, difficult decisions have to be made, therefore Question of Sport is currently not in production at the moment.”
Ian Hislop and Paul Merton front Have I Got News For You. The witty programme has been running since 1990 and has featured a ton of guest presenters.
(Image: BBC/Hat Trick/Ray Burmiston)
Hosts have included David Tennant, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Richard Ayoade, Alexander Armstrong, Jo Brand, an Brian Blessed. Controversial politicians such as Boris Johnson have also presented the programme.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
