Further to this poll, a choice has been made, but as Ananova confirm on this link, the choice of the unfunny Alexander Armstrong has been made. HIGNFY is dead to me... The original campaign from November 2003: Last year Angus Deayton was unfairly and unceremoniously dumped from BBC's popular comedy quiz show "Have I Got News For You" over a matter which would simply have been glossed over in a matter of a couple of weeks had the producers allowed that to happen instead of editing the programme in a way such as to force him out. Many pretenders-to-the-throne have tried their hand, but to me the only ones shown so far to have the nouse for it were Martin Clunes, John Sargeant and Jimmy Carr. Clunes would no doubt be too busy for the job, Sargeant wouldn't get enough votes, and Carr's probably too new to most people although it's that kind of newness that would be able to blend in well to such a job. By far and away the most UNsuitable for the job is twice-tested Alexander Armstrong, but is no doubt the one the BBC are trying to promote, given the extended edition shown on Saturday 15th November 2003 (the only non-Xmas show EVER to have been given the extended treatment), but to me all he can offer is flat delivery and the ability to make funny jokes sound like anything but because he hasn't got the first idea how to present HIGNFY. So, who should get the job? The one person who hasn't even had a crack of the whip yet, despite my ignored suggestion to Hat Trick productions. That person is Adam Shaw, from BBC2's Working Lunch (BBC2, Mon-Fri lunchtimes, times vary). Adam Shaw is a man able to bring comedy out of any situation, he can produce quips aplenty quickly and easily, even on the times when he was subject to presenting an entire hour-long show on his own, he works well in a team environment and would be just right for a relatively-unknown face to make the grade at prime-time.

Screengrabs from Working Lunch on Tuesday 25th November 2003:

Not quite the kind of bike Adam was hoping to ride...

The new face of the Euro?

Adam tests his Spanish...

And roving reporter Rob responds...

On the Water shortage news report (Working Lunch on Wednesday 26th November 2003):

"We're being asked to preserve water by replacing worn out washers and use the Economy cycle on washing machines, and if we all turned the tap off when brushing teeth, we'd save enough water to supply a million people a day... and that's just Esther Rantzen(!)"

Make your comments known at the link below to make Adam Shaw the new presenter of Have I Got News For You!