Zoe Lyons had the perfect payoff after HIGNFY’s most awkward moment, Ian Hislop taking on Tory MP Johnny Mercer

John Plunkett. Updated June 21st, 2019

It’s been dubbed Have I Got News For You’s most awkward moment after team captain Ian Hislop took Tory MP Johnny Mercer to task over his alleged links to a company that went bust owing millions of pounds to savers.

A pretty awkward two minutes it made for two, relieved only by the fellow panellist Zoe Lyons’ brilliant payoff which really did say it all.

Rule #1 of #HIGNFY: think *hard* about whether you really want the exposure.

Rule #2: don't try and mix it with Ian Hislop. pic.twitter.com/W1LTQgTLiI

— LittleGravitas 🇪🇺 🎗 – Révocateur (@LittleGravitas) April 26, 2019

Boom!

‘This is like all of my Christmas dinners with my family’

I fucking love when Ian Hislop gets stuck in to someone. #HIGNFY

— Grumpyoldtroll (@pjnall) April 26, 2019

And it got people wishing that the Friday night panel show wasn’t the only BBC1 show to feature Hislop in a prominent role.

Woosh. Ian Hislop has just become the most effective BBC journalist in weeks with his take down of Jonny Mercer. Bravo the Hislop #hignfy

— Elizabeth McMahon (@LizzieCMcMahon) April 26, 2019

Ian Hislop questioning Johnny Mercer on #HIGNFY is phenomenal- how is it that comedy shows are better at holding politicians to account than current affairs programmes?

— Andy Jolly (@andy_jolly) April 26, 2019

Ian Hislop vs Johnny Mercer #HIGNFY pic.twitter.com/Qd99viFF09

— Greeney Greene (@greeneygreeney) April 26, 2019

Ian Hislop just murdered the squirming weasel Johnny Mercer on #HIGNFY

Would @BBCPolitics consider hiring Hislop to front #PoliticsLive every once in a while? Coz THAT'S HOW YOU DO AN INTERVIEW WITH A CORRUPT POLITICIAN.

— Seb-Alex (@SebAlexT) April 26, 2019

Someone has already updated @JohnnyMercerUK's wikipedia page… #HIGNFY pic.twitter.com/erTXiYnivz

— Dom Gane (@DomGane) April 26, 2019

Some people thought the show might have been lacking something else, though.

Where has the comedy gone tonight? Very awkward! #hignfy

— Andrew Rees (@AndrewRees14) April 26, 2019

And in the interests of balance and all that …

I actually feel sorry for Mercer. He does a job, it's over paid, but it is what it is. If you can earn it, why not earn it? He isnt responsibile for a company 4 away from him. He seems to be giving quite legit and honest answers about all sorts of things here #hignfy

— GW (@legion_quest) April 26, 2019

To conclude …

Most uncomfortable #hignfy ever?

— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) April 26, 2019

Well, maybe.

I couldn’t actually look at the screen. Hislop is incredible.

— Jessica Martin (@wegotmonobaby) April 26, 2019

Up there with Angus Deatons last appearance!!!!

— Úna Heron (@Missunaheron) April 26, 2019

Back in the day it was like this all the time. It’s great.

— Kat (@KatKyns) April 26, 2019