Female politicians and comedians have pushed back against suggestions that women are too modest to host the BBC panel show Have I Got News For You. The debate was sparked by comments from team captain Paul Merton and editor Ian Hislop about the lack of female presenters.
Merton described Ann Widdecombe's 2007 hosting stint as his 'worst experience' with a politician, calling her arrogant. However, a review of the episode shows Widdecombe performing well against male panellists who interrupted and undermined her, with jokes about her looks and a sexually transmitted disease. Widdecombe later said, 'I don't think I shall return to this programme.'
Labour MP Diane Abbott, a former panellist, dismissed the idea that female politicians are shy. 'If you are a politician, you are not shy,' she said. 'But not everyone wants to go and get involved with these guys and their quite boisterous sense of humour.' She noted that the show's editing often makes the male comedians look good.
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, who appeared once, said the show was 'vicious' and that belittling behaviour was not appropriate. 'I think men may say “that’s just banter”,' she added. Comedian Jo Caulfield disagreed, arguing that MPs should be held to account and that the show is not harder for women.
Labour MP Angela Eagle, who turned down an invitation, said the show was more daunting than Newsnight. No female MP has hosted since Widdecombe in 2007, while male MPs have outnumbered women in the host's chair.
