@Kidsgrove49 I completely agree. Without the guest format, we would have never seen in my opinion one of the best and funniest hosts ever, Brian Blessed!
I say... i here that Angela Merkel never liked the Euro from the start...
That's why her knickers are full of Deutschmarks.
Yadda da daaa da da daaaaaaaaaaaaaaarn.
I've been pcvideogayhamerrr and you've been my little reader...look at you with your eyes and brains... hmmm yes I'm as stoned as a goose right now... oh please MI5 legalize the ole herb gov...please, yeah ripped to the tits i be... I've been man-handled... well thats not a euphemism i was actually... but anyway i dye cress... cya
@pcvideogamer "i here..." should of been "i hear..." see getting runcorned on the old holy-herb doesn't do the spelling any favors, it's the next morning, I'm not paranoid but when an over-weight 50+ something man in 80's spiv-clothing knocks on your door with a leaflet saying "got any gold son" you feel like... another joint perhaps, now if i could hibernate for a bit say... 10 years or so, come out and it's a new world currency and iphone v10 and tablet devices filled with garbage..hmmm joint
@Xoij He fucked some prostitues (and I think neglected to pay them) and snorted cocaine and, once again, News of the fucking World decided to leak everything and interview the whores, which didn't go down too well with the BBC and after new allegations emerged in October 2002 he was fired as host of HIGNFY. After basically being bullied out by Merton and Hislop. Google it.
I know it doesn't matter now and happened ages ago but I do have a couple of things to say about the whole Deayton thing. 1. How can you not like him? He's not a snob, it's called a sly sense of humour for want of a better word. I liked it. 2. Not anyone can read, there's more to it than that. 3. It's nice to have one presenter for a show rather than a different one every time. 4. While I understand their reaction I think Hislop and Merton took things too far with their bullying of Deayton.
@EmmyNeander 5. Deayton obviously made a huge mistake but he's only human and, more importantly, it's his PRIVATE life, so I really don't see how this is any of the public's business. And not like anyone else in showbiz has ever done anything of the like, noooo. (see Janet Street-Porter's article from the time). And 6. apparently, more than 3/4ths of BBC viewers voted for Deayton to stay in a BBC poll, so honestly, why fire him if he was so popular? I should add though, I don't like Merton.
@EmilyDNelson See: watch?v=tK2IUNjsZfg . Perhaps you'll change your mind, perhaps you won't. In any case, worth taking a look. (I share Stephen Fry's opinion on the matter: I feel that Angus was treated rather badly by Paul and Ian.)
People need to grow up. Angus was great but fucked up immensly, hurting his family and the show, and the BBC. Yes Merton was harsh but what Angus did was wrong and he deserved it. Had Angus done nothing wrong Paul wouldn't have said any of it and he would still be the host.
I don't see how anyone can defend Angus. He did what he wanted to do but he was punished for it, that's life.
I think the guest presenter format works better. Deayton's departure effectively revamped the show. Who can forget the Boris Johnson's episodes ? Paul Merton is quite right (as usual)
Actually i dont think paul mertons a complete dick hes an extremely funny guy but your right 100 percent who gives a fuck if someone chooses to do cocaine we are all grown men u get one life shame his wife was hurt tho thats the only sad thing mate
Why would Angus' or anyone's sexual/private life be the cause of losing one's job? He didn't hurt anyone by snorting drugs or screwing a prostitute, did he? Merton helped with the idiotic witch hunt, no doubt about it.
Did you even watch the interview? You cant rip the piss out of people that have been caught up in scandals if they can just turn it round on you. It simply wouldn’t work.
@SnoopyChicken I saw the interview. It's a pathetic excuse. If "HIGNFY" was like tabloid journalism, with its focus on sexual scandals and generally abt the private lives of celebrities, that excuse COULD (possibly) have some merit. But the show was way smarter than that. And its audience was not "The Sun" audience. All that the firing of Angus proved was that even supposedly fearless comedians and supposedly acerbic commentators, as are Ian and Merton, can be at times downright scared prudes.
@sternumagnum I'm sure his long term partner and child were hurt by the affair, and to say taking illegal drugs hurts nobody is naive. There is blood on every ounce of cocaine that comes into this country. People are trafficked to produce it more cheaply, there are constant bloodbaths over 'turf wars' People are forced or duped into being mules (I know plenty do it deliberately),+ end up in prison for a long time. Some are used as bait to deflect attention from larger shipment. The list goes on
@katmac75 ...which is why recreational drugs should be legalised. All that "blood on every ounce of cocaine" is on account of keeping drugs illegal and thus in the hands of criminals.
When alcoholic drinks were outlawed in the US by a constitutional amendment, people kept drinking the stuff, even though there was blood in "every drop of alcohol". Angus was demonized and punished for his personal choices as an adult. For shame, I say, to all those who hunted him down.
@sternumagnum I DO agree that if they legalised drugs there'd be no blood on them, and you are right about Prohibition. I still think opiates are very dangerous and to legalise them again would cause all the problems that they banned them for in the 1st place. I know alcohol/ tobacco can be just as dangerous+ cost the NHS billions. In a perfect world there'd be no addictions + folk could take any substance without ill effects. The BBC only took him off HIGNFY, he still works for them.
@cupomash2 No offense mate but you and your friends are in the minority. A sad, unwanted minority. Paul Merton has been respected all throughout his career and has often been praised by fellow comedians. Angus Deayton was all but forgotten as soon as he left the show. Make a guess who's more talented
@amanfromhell being respected isnt the same as being talented. Deyton chose to leave, he wasnt sacked because, although there was the 'scandal', it was too much talent to let go. Deyton was funnier.
@shariotoflove Deayton was/is v funny but the vast majority of his work on the show was scripted, unlike Merton + Hisliop who are only there on day of filming and are given an 'heads up' on the topics which will be mentioned, they are the true comedic genius' in the show. If the show had been axed it would have affected their careers, it IS the thing they are best known for + they both have mortgages to pay etc, also they're friends with Deayton's partner.If it had been1 story he'd have stayed.
Ian Hislop was PERSONALLY chosen by Peter Cook to run Private Eye. As Peter Cook considered most 'intelligent' people to be not intelligent at all, I would say that his respect for Ian Hislop carries more authority than the stupid comments of people on here. Paul Merton has a unique and surreal style, rather than the 'samey' humour of all the so-called 'stand-ups' today. The fact that the show continues to suceed proves that Angus Deayton's position on it was irrelevent. Get over it
@ipolson Can we praise someone without disparaging someone else? It is boring reading so many times "Artist X is the genuine article - unlike artist Y who is clearly inferior" (and somewhere else reading the inverse!). Why can't we say that, by most accounts, Merton and Hislop were/are brilliant in the show (I also happen to enjoy Merton's work as a comedian and I sub to the P.Eye) AND that Angus was brilliant?? If Angus' position/contribution were irrelevant he'd have been replaced soon enough.
@sternumagnum: Not being disparaging at all. I was merely pointing out that reading an autocue hardly competes with the wit of the contestants. Its a FACT. Anyone can do it (even John Prescott). I like Angus Deayton. I was just pointing out a fact, which has been since proved by all the guest presenters. If you cannot deal with a fact, then its your problem
@ipolson What you are calling a 'fact' is actually your opinion and very weakly supported at that. Presenters of shows, especially ones like HIGNFY, cannot be merely 'autocue readers'. If they lack wit, spontaneity and quickness of mind they bomb. There is a reason some guest presenters have been invited back (some of them many times over) and there's a reason Boris Johnson was a huge 'success'/laughing stock. If you think all Angus was doing was reading the autocue, then you do have a problem.
With Angus HIGNFY used to be the funniest show on tv for its improvisation only whose line with clive anderson came close [ the u.s one is crap] The chemistry was unique it brought the best out of paul and Ian the new formats have been a disaster few exceptions have been boris and jeremy clarkson. Its now like some unfunny cosy middle class after dinner party. The ultra talented merton was hysterically funny with some out of touch politician next to him and Ian cornering him.
I liked all three. Angus was brilliantly rude and paul and ian brilliantly ruthless to angus. The episode after the scandal has to be one of the best tvs panel shows ever. Fair play to angus for being a sport and going on. He had a wife so i feel sorry 4 her and the bbc i guess were under pressure to sack him, but hardly n e i know one including parents family think that snorting some lines of coke in ur private life, warranted his sacking and people judging the guy like that.
Regarding sniffing some lines We are all grown ups and someone enjoying how to spend their money [ when they work hard and r gud at their job] is ridiculous for people to get high and mighty about it including paul who im afraid comes across as a square. I accept cheating on ur wife wen hosting a show exposing this kind of thing is hypercritcal and angus is a twerp for doing that but 90 per cent of the people on the show get on with each other too much to retain that edge it used to have. SHAME.
I just watched this infamous episode of HIGNFY on Dave, it is cringeworthy television. Angus took a right beating, it seemed a bit ridiculous at the end, almost like Clive Anderson's infamous Beegee interview.
Paul Merton also had a major problem with Kilroy on the show who is another conservative TV personality, and treated him with equal viciousness. So no, I don't think it was in Merton's words a comedic dilemma, just a political thing. The Mirror was most vociferous in wanting Deyton sacked for example. Deyton raised HIGNFY to another league and the show was a pearl in the BBC's oyster, but since his removal HIGNFY is just another quiz show, and everybody knows it.
While it was Angus that undoubtedly got himself fired off HIGNFY I've always maintained that Paul was a bit of a sr*sehole for what he did. I'm not saying he shouldn't have gone after Angus but he took it too far, the fact that he admits that he didn't like him in the first place just says it all. Would have he been quite as aggressive had it been someone he liked? It took guts for Angus to appear on that show knowing he'd get attacked. He could have taken the cowards way out but he didn't.
@CitizenAngel There's a clip around here somewhere of Paul going absolutely mental at Robert Kilroy Silk on the show, shouting at him to "shut the f*** up". I know that Kilroy can rub people up the wrong way with some of his views, but TBH I think Paul Merton goes way over the top in the way he speaks to him.
It makes me think that he has a slightly spiteful streak, attacking people who are in an unfavorable position with the audience, knowing that he'll get away with it.
Deayton has gone on to be canned from two other jobs since this whole fiasco, which itself followed a previous string of similar charges in the papers. The guy is a huge risk for the BBC, ITV or anybody who hires him. I can't get past him being the little puppy who played straight man to Rowan Atkinson all those years ago. He's a minimal talent who, because he has a good agent, got tons of money for doing nothing. Despite my favourite Stephen Fry not guesting, the show is Hyslop and Merton.
Is it me or does Paul have a slightly more upper class accent when he is being himself? Obviously he hardly speaks in a 'common' way on HIGNFY, but he is slightly softer and slower sounding here, and fully pronouncing every syllable where he normally would cut them short, to me anyway.
@StraitKnopfler Well on HIGNFY Ian is supposed to represent the privately educated "Upper-class" and Paul the "blue-collar-workers". Which is why Ian wears a shirt and tie and Paul just wears casual. Although this wasn't the case in the earlier episodes.
Hmmm,it was well reported that Ian and Paul didn't like Angus because of his profile and also his salary of £50k per show - compared to their much smaller salaries. For a role they considered to be just reading out loud. So really they behaved like envious school boys. And then tried to act all superior saying it was just down to his position being untenable. Ian and Paul had their knives out for him and were disgusting in their behaviour.
@jackd36 of course thats the easiest asuumption but to be honest they had every right to as should anyone when a work college has done something unexceptable and you can't just use salary as an excuse ahh there just jealous.....you know your right lets forget that you cheated on your girlfriend while she was pregnant lets forget that you had casual sex with a prostitute lets forget all that and just assume there jealous and finally lets ignore the nature of the program which is to take the piss
@jackd36 Well said. Hislop is a small baldy public schoolboy dwarf whom thinks he's also clever and laughs at his own jokes. As for Merton he just a slime ball - all laughs and jokes with Angus then when the guy is down kicks him hard in the balls. As usual Merton thinks he is funny by saying he stabbed Angus in the front - it's not dignified ,but I wouldn't expect anything less from Merton the boring bastard. This show has run it's course it's old and boring - just like Merton and Hislop.
Paul is a great comedian, but ive lost all respect for him. Yes Angus shouldnt have stayed on the show, but Paul took full advantage of a man lying on the ground and kicked him. As he said he didnt like him, and "stabbed him in the front". Thats not okay and thats not dignified. Comedians take it far for the shock value, but they also know when its a no-go zone. Stephen Fry refuses to go back on HIGNFY for a reason. A good reason.
@GauntV Couldn't agree more. I expected them to take the piss out of Angus but it turned into something that I felt uncomfortable watching. It wasn't funny or entertaining in any way.
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@mtheadedwally I should think so too, nasty little people like you are responsible for making Youtube comment pages such a hostile and unwelcoming environment these days. Next time you have a 'bad day' do us a favour, keep it to yourself.
@TheOptimod I never meant to be unpleasant and I'm not a nasty person, honestly. I was just having the mother of all bad days and didn't mean to take it out on anyone. I have apologised and I shalln't let it happen again. Sorry
@daedralord1 Yes but that's the part 2 they mean. What this video is is one clip from a Merton interview and then the BBC found another clip from a different interview and decided to stick them together under the banner of 'Paul Merton on Parkinson' as parts 1 and 2. For this particular interview there is no part 2, you'll have to find the full version somewhere.
Guest episodes can be hit/miss but there have been some real gems. Having Angus there every week did somewhat flatline the experience although he was perfect for the job.
@Kierandaboff you dont have to be from a well to do family & talk like a toff to be a snob, you fuck wit, fuck off and go and play with your play station you clueless cunt
It's all very well for Paul to sit there and say "we didn't lose anything", but if you watch HIGNFY now and compare it to ones in the late 90s and early noughties, the show just isn't as funny anymore. Since Angus was sacked, most of the humour comes from gimmicks related to guest presenters.
I somewhat wonder whether the time hasn't come to welcome Angus back. Surely enough time has gone by?
@MurrayTheMac totally agree...in fact paul was alot funnier back then too because of the animosity between him and angus sparked him alot more....angus was great because of his straight man act, thatd sometimes crack
basicly it was a big sex scandle he was photoed with prostitutes snorting coke, the storey went o and on, with people selling there stories and every week something new came out...
@Gosu117 he confuses me big time Paul Merton, because he praises Angus for taking all the rubbish he gave him over the years, and says 'you can't keep talent like that down' referring to Angus, then when asked whether he liked him, he replies 'no'
@Gosu117 but what I mean is that he never really showed that he thought Angus was clever or talented on HIGNFY, he seemed to really be very harsh to him, under the guise of being funny - like he says once something like (drawing a line) that's your career. with a dip there, then it keeps going down.' Also Paul has been very mean to Ian on the programme, but they're best friends
lost a bit of respect for merton after seeing how ruthless he was with deaton. shame. a jokes a joke but he went a little too far in purpoesly ruining a career
I don't think you can blame Merton for ruining Angus' career. When you're the host of a comedy program like HIGNFY and you make yourself a joke, your position is no longer tenable. I agree Paul was pretty ruthless in making fun of him, but I think any comedian would be....it's unavoidable in that situation.
@xVancha To be honest, Merton became so boring by the 4th episode of ripping Deayton though. It was getting pretty boring by the end of the first. He was clearly sending the message it's him or me to the producers. Having said that I think Angus has done alright out of it anyway so no great problem.
@xVancha right, he ruined his own career by making his position on the show untenable. He couldn't make certain jokes and was constantly open to criticism from guests.
The fact that Zeppo COULD be filled in for by different "guest" characters each time shows that he was fairly easily replaceable.
This parallels the use of guest presenters on HIGNFY after Angus left, something that I was opposed to at the time but I now view as having reinvigorated the show.
The episodes hosted by Brian Blessed, Boris Johnson, Tom Baker etc. are absolute classics.
"And all he can do is shrug" at 2:55 isn't true. Angus actually delivered the snappy comeback, "but I haven't spend the last seven years moralising about family values", which she didn't like at all.
Losing Zeppo actually was a big deal to the Marx Brothers, he was the only 'straight man' and they needed a similar character for every subsequent film. Plus Zeppo decided to leave the act himself, he wasn't forced out by the rest of the team...
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
'my instinct is to make things funny...'
lol, who is he trying to convince ?
watch the episode - it is pure unadulterated spite and the ONLY reason it was 'difficult' to do the show was because of MERTON *constantly* making not-all-that-funny spiteful comments.
the show, the formula, would have been fine if Ian and Paul had contained their venom. or at least kept it to *genuinely funny comments only* ... Paul is a wanker and was gunning for him.
you should also check Angus' last episode, where a member of the audience shouts 'leave him alone' ...and merton turns on her. not comedy, not gags, just mean-spirited spite.
well 'part 2' is linked up there and the beard is gone!
creadcharles 1 week ago
Merton looks like a paedophile with that beard.
karezza6 1 month ago
@Kidsgrove49 I completely agree. Without the guest format, we would have never seen in my opinion one of the best and funniest hosts ever, Brian Blessed!
lapyancantona 1 month ago
I say... i here that Angela Merkel never liked the Euro from the start...
That's why her knickers are full of Deutschmarks.
Yadda da daaa da da daaaaaaaaaaaaaaarn.
I've been pcvideogayhamerrr and you've been my little reader...look at you with your eyes and brains... hmmm yes I'm as stoned as a goose right now... oh please MI5 legalize the ole herb gov...please, yeah ripped to the tits i be... I've been man-handled... well thats not a euphemism i was actually... but anyway i dye cress... cya
pcvideogamer 2 months ago 2
@pcvideogamer "i here..." should of been "i hear..." see getting runcorned on the old holy-herb doesn't do the spelling any favors, it's the next morning, I'm not paranoid but when an over-weight 50+ something man in 80's spiv-clothing knocks on your door with a leaflet saying "got any gold son" you feel like... another joint perhaps, now if i could hibernate for a bit say... 10 years or so, come out and it's a new world currency and iphone v10 and tablet devices filled with garbage..hmmm joint
pcvideogamer 2 months ago
@pcvideogamer "should of been" should be "should have been"
imogenrowena 1 month ago
@imogenrowena oh god... yeah thanks, its my fingers... brain disconnect.
pcvideogamer 1 month ago
where can i find the have i got news for u episode plzzzzzzz
lvl85HumanMage 2 months ago
I like the show better with the guest presenter format. Deyton was good, but his lines had become very predictable.
Kidsgrove49 5 months ago
@Xoij He fucked some prostitues (and I think neglected to pay them) and snorted cocaine and, once again, News of the fucking World decided to leak everything and interview the whores, which didn't go down too well with the BBC and after new allegations emerged in October 2002 he was fired as host of HIGNFY. After basically being bullied out by Merton and Hislop. Google it.
EmmyNeander 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@EmmyNeander We sort of all do that shit. On our bad days. Yet prospective employers don't consider that.....
It was an accident. Misspent youth. I swear to God. That's it.
MohammedTheBabyRaper 5 months ago
I know it doesn't matter now and happened ages ago but I do have a couple of things to say about the whole Deayton thing. 1. How can you not like him? He's not a snob, it's called a sly sense of humour for want of a better word. I liked it. 2. Not anyone can read, there's more to it than that. 3. It's nice to have one presenter for a show rather than a different one every time. 4. While I understand their reaction I think Hislop and Merton took things too far with their bullying of Deayton.
EmmyNeander 5 months ago
@EmmyNeander 5. Deayton obviously made a huge mistake but he's only human and, more importantly, it's his PRIVATE life, so I really don't see how this is any of the public's business. And not like anyone else in showbiz has ever done anything of the like, noooo. (see Janet Street-Porter's article from the time). And 6. apparently, more than 3/4ths of BBC viewers voted for Deayton to stay in a BBC poll, so honestly, why fire him if he was so popular? I should add though, I don't like Merton.
EmmyNeander 5 months ago
Paul has such a reputation for being horrible to Angus in this interview, and I just don't think it's deserved. He seems forthright and tactful.
EmilyDNelson 6 months ago
@EmilyDNelson See: watch?v=tK2IUNjsZfg . Perhaps you'll change your mind, perhaps you won't. In any case, worth taking a look. (I share Stephen Fry's opinion on the matter: I feel that Angus was treated rather badly by Paul and Ian.)
nonindividual 5 months ago
People need to grow up. Angus was great but fucked up immensly, hurting his family and the show, and the BBC. Yes Merton was harsh but what Angus did was wrong and he deserved it. Had Angus done nothing wrong Paul wouldn't have said any of it and he would still be the host.
I don't see how anyone can defend Angus. He did what he wanted to do but he was punished for it, that's life.
rockermanmatt 7 months ago 4
Parkinson: Did you like him?
Paul: No.
Short, straight, simple. Love it!
Sandheaver 7 months ago 6
The Marx Bros films they did after Zeppo left were never as good.
whyteay 7 months ago
I think the guest presenter format works better. Deayton's departure effectively revamped the show. Who can forget the Boris Johnson's episodes ? Paul Merton is quite right (as usual)
Kidsgrove49 8 months ago 8
Roy Keane
Mattmurr150 8 months ago
He's a dick, if you ask me.
Cry me a fucking river, Mr. Merton. I mean, did anyone really care what Angus Deayton did?
wootlanter 8 months ago 2
>Did anyone really care what Angus Deayton did?
Did you actually watch the video, or did you just click the link, pause the video and leave this comment? That was actually addressed in the video.
GiantSandles 7 months ago
Actually i dont think paul mertons a complete dick hes an extremely funny guy but your right 100 percent who gives a fuck if someone chooses to do cocaine we are all grown men u get one life shame his wife was hurt tho thats the only sad thing mate
Ryang403 3 months ago
He didn't mention what Angus did in fact respond with regarding he Christine Hamilton situation:
When Hamilton said "if he's discraced then what are you...?!"
Deayton replied "...discraced."
then added: "...but the difference is I haven't been banging on about family values for the last 15 years...."
This sentence summed up the whole situation for me, I liked him before, I liked him when he was found out and I still like him now he's disgraced.
Merton is a legend though....
E101ification 8 months ago 3
He looks like Roy Keane with that beard
NurceeAss 8 months ago
Merton was a twat about this!!
CalumnMcAulay 8 months ago 2
Oh, this fella does come across as an asshole. Come on. Yes, Angus fucked up, but that looked more like jealousy talking.
derdriui 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@derdriui this fella is a legend and a genius, angus is good at reading.
DaddyCalls 9 months ago
Angus has watched this 51 times
hairyneil 9 months ago 3
@hairyneil haha. Yes.
Benvoyevsky 9 months ago
Why would Angus' or anyone's sexual/private life be the cause of losing one's job? He didn't hurt anyone by snorting drugs or screwing a prostitute, did he? Merton helped with the idiotic witch hunt, no doubt about it.
sternumagnum 10 months ago
@sternumagnum Agreed.
FranBMan22 10 months ago
@sternumagnum
Did you even watch the interview? You cant rip the piss out of people that have been caught up in scandals if they can just turn it round on you. It simply wouldn’t work.
SnoopyChicken 10 months ago
@SnoopyChicken I saw the interview. It's a pathetic excuse. If "HIGNFY" was like tabloid journalism, with its focus on sexual scandals and generally abt the private lives of celebrities, that excuse COULD (possibly) have some merit. But the show was way smarter than that. And its audience was not "The Sun" audience. All that the firing of Angus proved was that even supposedly fearless comedians and supposedly acerbic commentators, as are Ian and Merton, can be at times downright scared prudes.
sternumagnum 10 months ago
@sternumagnum I'm sure his long term partner and child were hurt by the affair, and to say taking illegal drugs hurts nobody is naive. There is blood on every ounce of cocaine that comes into this country. People are trafficked to produce it more cheaply, there are constant bloodbaths over 'turf wars' People are forced or duped into being mules (I know plenty do it deliberately),+ end up in prison for a long time. Some are used as bait to deflect attention from larger shipment. The list goes on
katmac75 8 months ago
@katmac75 ...which is why recreational drugs should be legalised. All that "blood on every ounce of cocaine" is on account of keeping drugs illegal and thus in the hands of criminals.
When alcoholic drinks were outlawed in the US by a constitutional amendment, people kept drinking the stuff, even though there was blood in "every drop of alcohol". Angus was demonized and punished for his personal choices as an adult. For shame, I say, to all those who hunted him down.
sternumagnum 8 months ago 4
@sternumagnum I DO agree that if they legalised drugs there'd be no blood on them, and you are right about Prohibition. I still think opiates are very dangerous and to legalise them again would cause all the problems that they banned them for in the 1st place. I know alcohol/ tobacco can be just as dangerous+ cost the NHS billions. In a perfect world there'd be no addictions + folk could take any substance without ill effects. The BBC only took him off HIGNFY, he still works for them.
katmac75 8 months ago
merton has turned out to be a sanctimonious twat, well done paul.
yatter1 10 months ago
Paul Merton is badass.
WelshDegenerate 11 months ago
Just for a sec I thought it was Roy Keane!
AndImIrish 11 months ago 2
doing drugs and prozies isnt really a scandal in Britain.
shariotoflove 11 months ago
@cupomash2 No offense mate but you and your friends are in the minority. A sad, unwanted minority. Paul Merton has been respected all throughout his career and has often been praised by fellow comedians. Angus Deayton was all but forgotten as soon as he left the show. Make a guess who's more talented
amanfromhell 1 year ago 5
@amanfromhell being respected isnt the same as being talented. Deyton chose to leave, he wasnt sacked because, although there was the 'scandal', it was too much talent to let go. Deyton was funnier.
shariotoflove 11 months ago
@shariotoflove - How on earth could you know more about this than Merton?
WillShakespeare2007 11 months ago
@shariotoflove Deayton was/is v funny but the vast majority of his work on the show was scripted, unlike Merton + Hisliop who are only there on day of filming and are given an 'heads up' on the topics which will be mentioned, they are the true comedic genius' in the show. If the show had been axed it would have affected their careers, it IS the thing they are best known for + they both have mortgages to pay etc, also they're friends with Deayton's partner.If it had been1 story he'd have stayed.
katmac75 8 months ago
Ian Hislop was PERSONALLY chosen by Peter Cook to run Private Eye. As Peter Cook considered most 'intelligent' people to be not intelligent at all, I would say that his respect for Ian Hislop carries more authority than the stupid comments of people on here. Paul Merton has a unique and surreal style, rather than the 'samey' humour of all the so-called 'stand-ups' today. The fact that the show continues to suceed proves that Angus Deayton's position on it was irrelevent. Get over it
ipolson 1 year ago 2
@ipolson Can we praise someone without disparaging someone else? It is boring reading so many times "Artist X is the genuine article - unlike artist Y who is clearly inferior" (and somewhere else reading the inverse!). Why can't we say that, by most accounts, Merton and Hislop were/are brilliant in the show (I also happen to enjoy Merton's work as a comedian and I sub to the P.Eye) AND that Angus was brilliant?? If Angus' position/contribution were irrelevant he'd have been replaced soon enough.
sternumagnum 8 months ago
@sternumagnum: Not being disparaging at all. I was merely pointing out that reading an autocue hardly competes with the wit of the contestants. Its a FACT. Anyone can do it (even John Prescott). I like Angus Deayton. I was just pointing out a fact, which has been since proved by all the guest presenters. If you cannot deal with a fact, then its your problem
ipolson 8 months ago
@ipolson What you are calling a 'fact' is actually your opinion and very weakly supported at that. Presenters of shows, especially ones like HIGNFY, cannot be merely 'autocue readers'. If they lack wit, spontaneity and quickness of mind they bomb. There is a reason some guest presenters have been invited back (some of them many times over) and there's a reason Boris Johnson was a huge 'success'/laughing stock. If you think all Angus was doing was reading the autocue, then you do have a problem.
sternumagnum 8 months ago 2
@sternumagnum: Cannot believe I am arguing over this ! Whatever......
ipolson 8 months ago
Anybody else think "Obi-Wan Kenobi"?
FrontSideBus 1 year ago 40
With Angus HIGNFY used to be the funniest show on tv for its improvisation only whose line with clive anderson came close [ the u.s one is crap] The chemistry was unique it brought the best out of paul and Ian the new formats have been a disaster few exceptions have been boris and jeremy clarkson. Its now like some unfunny cosy middle class after dinner party. The ultra talented merton was hysterically funny with some out of touch politician next to him and Ian cornering him.
Ryang403 3 months ago
I liked all three. Angus was brilliantly rude and paul and ian brilliantly ruthless to angus. The episode after the scandal has to be one of the best tvs panel shows ever. Fair play to angus for being a sport and going on. He had a wife so i feel sorry 4 her and the bbc i guess were under pressure to sack him, but hardly n e i know one including parents family think that snorting some lines of coke in ur private life, warranted his sacking and people judging the guy like that.
Ryang403 3 months ago
Regarding sniffing some lines We are all grown ups and someone enjoying how to spend their money [ when they work hard and r gud at their job] is ridiculous for people to get high and mighty about it including paul who im afraid comes across as a square. I accept cheating on ur wife wen hosting a show exposing this kind of thing is hypercritcal and angus is a twerp for doing that but 90 per cent of the people on the show get on with each other too much to retain that edge it used to have. SHAME.
Ryang403 3 months ago
@FrontSideBus Or his older brother.
Polskipowers88 2 months ago
is that roy keane?
AtotheLLY 1 year ago
@ohugitmeueffingc So you have got less than two GCSEs? Where did you get the idea I am working class, Prince?
EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago
wud lyk to see part 2 of this interview
lurch010908 1 year ago
this has to be the only time i've seen him with a beard. this makes me strangely uncomfortable.
elgoorf123 1 year ago 4
Well we stabbed him in the front :L :L ahahaa Merton you legend.
EskimoAce 1 year ago
I just watched this infamous episode of HIGNFY on Dave, it is cringeworthy television. Angus took a right beating, it seemed a bit ridiculous at the end, almost like Clive Anderson's infamous Beegee interview.
spamel 1 year ago
Paul Merton also had a major problem with Kilroy on the show who is another conservative TV personality, and treated him with equal viciousness. So no, I don't think it was in Merton's words a comedic dilemma, just a political thing. The Mirror was most vociferous in wanting Deyton sacked for example. Deyton raised HIGNFY to another league and the show was a pearl in the BBC's oyster, but since his removal HIGNFY is just another quiz show, and everybody knows it.
EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago 5
The charge that Deayton could never have dug his way out of the tabloid scandal is absolute rubbish. Richard Bacon managed it.
EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago
@EnglandWeWinWars but Bacon couldn't stay doing Blue Peter could he?
sodoffpinches 1 year ago
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EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago
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EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago
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EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago
the beard suits you
multitudinal 1 year ago
/media/2003/apr/11/broadcasting.bbc
(put guardian dot co dot uk in front of the 1st slash. I cant post links
This is a transcript of the interview. I know it's not the same but hopefully you'll find it informative
Jenkoins 1 year ago 2
HIGNFY has been funnier since the annoying twat Deayton left. Merton is an absolute genius.
wonderbhoy1967 1 year ago
@wonderbhoy1967 You can't have two GCSE's to rub together if you think Merton is a genius.
EnglandWeWinWars 1 year ago 2
@EnglandWeWinWars a GCSE is just a piece of paper :)
Stiletto92 1 year ago
part 2??? anybody know?
liffu84 1 year ago
part 2 anywhere?
larry149 1 year ago
I understand the point that Merton makes here, but I disagree with the "Zeppo" comment. Angus was the most consistently funny thing on that show.
sgoodacre 1 year ago
Personally I loved the fact that Paul ripped into Angus. I think that anyone of us would have done the same if we were as quick as Paul is.
Itsaliarromeo 1 year ago
While it was Angus that undoubtedly got himself fired off HIGNFY I've always maintained that Paul was a bit of a sr*sehole for what he did. I'm not saying he shouldn't have gone after Angus but he took it too far, the fact that he admits that he didn't like him in the first place just says it all. Would have he been quite as aggressive had it been someone he liked? It took guts for Angus to appear on that show knowing he'd get attacked. He could have taken the cowards way out but he didn't.
CitizenAngel 1 year ago 3
@CitizenAngel There's a clip around here somewhere of Paul going absolutely mental at Robert Kilroy Silk on the show, shouting at him to "shut the f*** up". I know that Kilroy can rub people up the wrong way with some of his views, but TBH I think Paul Merton goes way over the top in the way he speaks to him.
It makes me think that he has a slightly spiteful streak, attacking people who are in an unfavorable position with the audience, knowing that he'll get away with it.
97channel 1 year ago 2
@97channel To be fair, that clip followed Kilroy Silk interrupting Merton and trying to talk all over him, which is pretty rude.
leglesstheelf 1 year ago
roy keane anyone?
ohvalencia 1 year ago
@ohvalencia i'm having that, without doubt
just browsed the first few pages of comments to see if anyone else thought so, and there it was
TheTommiesTheBand 1 year ago
Paul Merton + Beard = Better Paul Merton
CheesyBelgrade 1 year ago 2
as we saw.
InnocenceExperience 1 year ago
Deayton has gone on to be canned from two other jobs since this whole fiasco, which itself followed a previous string of similar charges in the papers. The guy is a huge risk for the BBC, ITV or anybody who hires him. I can't get past him being the little puppy who played straight man to Rowan Atkinson all those years ago. He's a minimal talent who, because he has a good agent, got tons of money for doing nothing. Despite my favourite Stephen Fry not guesting, the show is Hyslop and Merton.
WreckedBroadpot 1 year ago
"WELL, WE STUBBED HIM IN THE FRONT". MEGA!!!
neil865 1 year ago
Is it me or does Paul have a slightly more upper class accent when he is being himself? Obviously he hardly speaks in a 'common' way on HIGNFY, but he is slightly softer and slower sounding here, and fully pronouncing every syllable where he normally would cut them short, to me anyway.
StraitKnopfler 1 year ago 4
@StraitKnopfler Well on HIGNFY Ian is supposed to represent the privately educated "Upper-class" and Paul the "blue-collar-workers". Which is why Ian wears a shirt and tie and Paul just wears casual. Although this wasn't the case in the earlier episodes.
Sidowse 1 year ago
Is it me, or does Paul Merton resemble a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in this? It's the beard.
Destro7000 1 year ago 13
He looks like Obi-Wan Kenobi here
orichalcoshotmailcom 1 year ago
Hmmm,it was well reported that Ian and Paul didn't like Angus because of his profile and also his salary of £50k per show - compared to their much smaller salaries. For a role they considered to be just reading out loud. So really they behaved like envious school boys. And then tried to act all superior saying it was just down to his position being untenable. Ian and Paul had their knives out for him and were disgusting in their behaviour.
jackd36 1 year ago 5
@jackd36 of course thats the easiest asuumption but to be honest they had every right to as should anyone when a work college has done something unexceptable and you can't just use salary as an excuse ahh there just jealous.....you know your right lets forget that you cheated on your girlfriend while she was pregnant lets forget that you had casual sex with a prostitute lets forget all that and just assume there jealous and finally lets ignore the nature of the program which is to take the piss
metalfreakenwierdo 1 year ago
@jackd36 Well said. Hislop is a small baldy public schoolboy dwarf whom thinks he's also clever and laughs at his own jokes. As for Merton he just a slime ball - all laughs and jokes with Angus then when the guy is down kicks him hard in the balls. As usual Merton thinks he is funny by saying he stabbed Angus in the front - it's not dignified ,but I wouldn't expect anything less from Merton the boring bastard. This show has run it's course it's old and boring - just like Merton and Hislop.
cupomash2 1 year ago
Paul is a great comedian, but ive lost all respect for him. Yes Angus shouldnt have stayed on the show, but Paul took full advantage of a man lying on the ground and kicked him. As he said he didnt like him, and "stabbed him in the front". Thats not okay and thats not dignified. Comedians take it far for the shock value, but they also know when its a no-go zone. Stephen Fry refuses to go back on HIGNFY for a reason. A good reason.
GauntV 1 year ago 3
@GauntV Couldn't agree more. I expected them to take the piss out of Angus but it turned into something that I felt uncomfortable watching. It wasn't funny or entertaining in any way.
HoosierMF 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
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peterdhilluk 1 year ago
he has, imo, the best timing in british comedy
karoolta 1 year ago 2
Paul is epic with a beard.
grobo11 1 year ago 4
The treatment of Angus is pretty harsh i n my view. Paul you dirty bird. No need.
1989graham 1 year ago
where's part 2 BBC???......im flagging this for mis advertisment.....there is a part 2 on the right..but a differnt interview
daedralord1 1 year ago
Comment removed
mtheadedwally 1 year ago
@mtheadedwally get a life?...im just messing around
bbc blocks shows from utube...and bbc has fecked up os im doing wat bbc does...flagging for misleading title
daedralord1 1 year ago
@daedralord1 Sincere Apologies. Having a bad day. Comment withdrawn and sincere apologies again.
mtheadedwally 1 year ago
@mtheadedwally no need to apologise for bud
I hope you have a great day tomorow :)
daedralord1 1 year ago
@mtheadedwally I should think so too, nasty little people like you are responsible for making Youtube comment pages such a hostile and unwelcoming environment these days. Next time you have a 'bad day' do us a favour, keep it to yourself.
TheOptimod 1 year ago
@TheOptimod I never meant to be unpleasant and I'm not a nasty person, honestly. I was just having the mother of all bad days and didn't mean to take it out on anyone. I have apologised and I shalln't let it happen again. Sorry
mtheadedwally 1 year ago
@mtheadedwally Sorry, it's not actually any of my business so I shouldn't be spouting off really.... !!! I was twattish to write that comment really.
TheOptimod 1 year ago
@daedralord1 Yes but that's the part 2 they mean. What this video is is one clip from a Merton interview and then the BBC found another clip from a different interview and decided to stick them together under the banner of 'Paul Merton on Parkinson' as parts 1 and 2. For this particular interview there is no part 2, you'll have to find the full version somewhere.
EmmyNeander 5 months ago
@EmmyNeander just bugs me, cbs and nbc do the same :)
daedralord1 5 months ago
Guest episodes can be hit/miss but there have been some real gems. Having Angus there every week did somewhat flatline the experience although he was perfect for the job.
sparkprimeprime 1 year ago
he looks cool with a beerd xD
2003jackb 1 year ago
'well we stabbed him in the front' never get tired of that!
4evainter 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Twat, AD is so much funnier than Merton, he's such a talentless snob
sniper120mm 1 year ago
@sniper120mm Merton's a snob? hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa, ok.
Kierandaboff 1 year ago
@Kierandaboff you dont have to be from a well to do family & talk like a toff to be a snob, you fuck wit, fuck off and go and play with your play station you clueless cunt
mikemanu01 1 year ago
@mikemanu01 When did i ever say that, you retard?
Kierandaboff 1 year ago
It's all very well for Paul to sit there and say "we didn't lose anything", but if you watch HIGNFY now and compare it to ones in the late 90s and early noughties, the show just isn't as funny anymore. Since Angus was sacked, most of the humour comes from gimmicks related to guest presenters.
I somewhat wonder whether the time hasn't come to welcome Angus back. Surely enough time has gone by?
MurrayTheMac 1 year ago
@MurrayTheMac I disagree. I think the episodes with Angus are shite.
Arran64 1 year ago
@MurrayTheMac totally agree...in fact paul was alot funnier back then too because of the animosity between him and angus sparked him alot more....angus was great because of his straight man act, thatd sometimes crack
tiarnan76 1 year ago
Did you like him?
'No'
yerty2000 1 year ago 2
the show has got better since he left...
garylssk 1 year ago 2
@garylssk Correct sir!
Coruscant98 1 year ago
Paul is just fantastic. No chance he ruined Angus's career. Angus did that. And like Paul says here, it would be impossible to continue with him.
Fubs 1 year ago 23
hes a bully
NistleDC1 1 year ago
its Roy Keane
rikyb 1 year ago
@rikyb haha
Joshalidina 1 year ago
He never did like Angus anyway.
chrisofnottingham 1 year ago
one of the most under-rated comedians imo
matais1 1 year ago 4
@matais1
Who underrates him?
dincz 1 year ago
He reminds me somewhat of D.H. Lawrence with that beard.
18exiled 1 year ago 3
to hell with adverts...f5 forever
unspokenscene97 1 year ago
With a beard, he looks like a Jedi!
mrchrisdavis09 1 year ago 5
'A good friend is one who stabs you in the front'
trekkwik 1 year ago 5
@Xoij search "angus deaton scandal" on youtube, its hilarious
wr3ck 1 year ago
paul merton joined freemasonry after being harassed by them
rocksoliddude1 1 year ago
@rocksoliddude1 Eh?
WhamBamThankYouMadam 1 year ago
The thing I hate about the scandal is that it resulted in that Ann Widdecombe episode. :(
foetus4all 1 year ago
basicly it was a big sex scandle he was photoed with prostitutes snorting coke, the storey went o and on, with people selling there stories and every week something new came out...
monkeymrk 1 year ago
"we stabbed him in the front" classic merton
TruthThanks 1 year ago 25
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Paul merton is such a prick how can anyone find him remotely funny ?? hes a moody fucker who tells shit jokes
MsBlindinglights 1 year ago
don't watch it then.
blackthorns92 1 year ago 3
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lmao ...fuck off
MsBlindinglights 1 year ago
I can't believe how handsome Paul Merton is with a beard! 8-]
EenvoudigGek 1 year ago 4
Angus should come back as a guest presenter for one week.
e55exeagle 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Don't they say there are only 7 jokes?, at least Merton knows 2 of them. HIGNFY used to be barbed and cutting, now it's fuckall but a lovie-fest.
tojoconfused 1 year ago
Paul Merton is one of the funniest and smartest men on tv, what a genius
20079 1 year ago 12
I like how honest Paul seems.
Gosu117 1 year ago 59
@Gosu117 "we stabbed him in the front"......lol
adcashmo 1 year ago
@adcashmo Lmao indeed.
Gosu117 1 year ago
@Gosu117 he confuses me big time Paul Merton, because he praises Angus for taking all the rubbish he gave him over the years, and says 'you can't keep talent like that down' referring to Angus, then when asked whether he liked him, he replies 'no'
Sutchy0401992 1 year ago
@Sutchy0401992 I think he thought Angus was a clever/talented person, but I don't think that instantly means he likes him.
Gosu117 1 year ago
@Gosu117 but what I mean is that he never really showed that he thought Angus was clever or talented on HIGNFY, he seemed to really be very harsh to him, under the guise of being funny - like he says once something like (drawing a line) that's your career. with a dip there, then it keeps going down.' Also Paul has been very mean to Ian on the programme, but they're best friends
Sutchy0401992 1 year ago
@Sutchy0401992 The nature of comedy I guess.
Gosu117 1 year ago
@Sutchy0401992 You can respect someone and think they're good at their job without necessarily liking them.
r1c0ch3t211 1 year ago
Stephen Fry disagrees
pancho8721 2 years ago 9
Needs a good shave
piedpiperpianos 2 years ago
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lost a bit of respect for merton after seeing how ruthless he was with deaton. shame. a jokes a joke but he went a little too far in purpoesly ruining a career
cristoff3 2 years ago
I don't think you can blame Merton for ruining Angus' career. When you're the host of a comedy program like HIGNFY and you make yourself a joke, your position is no longer tenable. I agree Paul was pretty ruthless in making fun of him, but I think any comedian would be....it's unavoidable in that situation.
xVancha 2 years ago 96
no one gives a crap anymore. I prefer the new format but I don't think it would of ruined the show if he stayed, people would of moved on.
pancho8721 2 years ago
@xVancha Merton didn't ruin his career, Angus did.
vandal2k6 1 year ago 8
@xVancha To be honest, Merton became so boring by the 4th episode of ripping Deayton though. It was getting pretty boring by the end of the first. He was clearly sending the message it's him or me to the producers. Having said that I think Angus has done alright out of it anyway so no great problem.
TomMackio 1 year ago
@xVancha right, he ruined his own career by making his position on the show untenable. He couldn't make certain jokes and was constantly open to criticism from guests.
InnocenceExperience 1 year ago
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paul merton really is shit how the fuck has he got on tv
KIDSTALLION1 2 years ago
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Paul is probably too boring in private life to do cocaine and go to prostitues.
bundleHastings 2 years ago
That's probably a good thing
thomasimon 2 years ago 9
he looks like roy keane
drere14 2 years ago 3
The fact that Zeppo COULD be filled in for by different "guest" characters each time shows that he was fairly easily replaceable.
This parallels the use of guest presenters on HIGNFY after Angus left, something that I was opposed to at the time but I now view as having reinvigorated the show.
The episodes hosted by Brian Blessed, Boris Johnson, Tom Baker etc. are absolute classics.
neemz2000 2 years ago 4
True. If Angus was still there we would not have had the Brian Blessed episode (my favourite by miles).
arumme1 2 years ago 7
Holy crap! It's Roy Keanes twin!
Mesnesl 2 years ago 3
Friends and family of Angus are on the site. The show's managed to continue with other cue readers hasn't it? It's the impro that makes this show.
johnanthonyp 2 years ago 2
"And all he can do is shrug" at 2:55 isn't true. Angus actually delivered the snappy comeback, "but I haven't spend the last seven years moralising about family values", which she didn't like at all.
Angus you are not forgotten!
ogzz00 2 years ago 4
Losing Zeppo actually was a big deal to the Marx Brothers, he was the only 'straight man' and they needed a similar character for every subsequent film. Plus Zeppo decided to leave the act himself, he wasn't forced out by the rest of the team...
KidMillions 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
'my instinct is to make things funny...'
lol, who is he trying to convince ?
watch the episode - it is pure unadulterated spite and the ONLY reason it was 'difficult' to do the show was because of MERTON *constantly* making not-all-that-funny spiteful comments.
the show, the formula, would have been fine if Ian and Paul had contained their venom. or at least kept it to *genuinely funny comments only* ... Paul is a wanker and was gunning for him.
d33pS3Ad1v3r 2 years ago
you should also check Angus' last episode, where a member of the audience shouts 'leave him alone' ...and merton turns on her. not comedy, not gags, just mean-spirited spite.
d33pS3Ad1v3r 2 years ago
Angus was good , no doubt but ian and paul are gen