Heidi Allen has been erased from highlights of the cancelled episode (Hat Trick Productions) Have I Got News For You has poked fun at BBC regulations following the cancellation of an episode featuring Change UK acting leader Heidi Allen. The episode was pulled before airing due to rules around the European election, with the BBC stating it was “inappropriate to feature political party leaders” during an election period. Have I Got News For You has mocked the decision, and the latest episode features highlight clips from the cancelled instalment. Allen has been visually and audibly erased from the highlights reel, with a blacked-out area appearing next to team captain Ian Hislop instead. BREAKING: We're actually on this week! Catch all-new #HIGNFY, hosted by @rhodgilbertshow, with panellists @tomallencomedy and @Emmabarnett. Tonight at 9pm - Only on BBC One. pic.twitter.com/7sus1KuaDg — Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) May 17, 2019 The latest show opens with host Rhod Gilbert saying: “Good evening and welcome to Have I Got News For You, back on air and eager to cover the European elections within BBC guidelines. “I’m Rhod Gilbert, leader of Plaid Cymru… oh bugger.” Broadcaster Emma Barnett and comedian Tom Allen joined regular team captains Hislop and Paul Merton as panellists. Guests discuss Theresa May’s fourth vote on her Brexit deal and Robert De Niro joining a Warburtons advertising campaign. Have I Got News For You airs on BBC One at 9pm tonight. PA Media<doc-sep>The long-running BBC topical quiz Have I Got News For You was pulled from the air last night in an apparent wrangle over the appearance of Change UK leader Heidi Allen MP. A BBC spokesman said last night: “The BBC has specific editorial guidelines that apply during election periods. “Because of this it would be inappropriate to feature political party leaders on entertainment programmes during this short election period, which does not allow for equal representation to be achieved. “So we will not broadcast the scheduled episode of HIGNFY featuring Heidi Allen, leader of Change UK. We will look to broadcast this episode at a later date.” A message on the programme maker’s Twitter feed said: “Sorry everyone. The BBC have pulled tonight’s edition of #HIGNFY - no, we didn’t book Danny Baker. “We booked Heidi Allen, a member of a party no-one knows the name of (not even the people in it), because the Euro elections, which nobody wants, may or may not be happening. Sorry.” Trying to see the funny side, the programme added: “BBC issues urgent advice not to look at pictures of Heidi Allen in case she influences Euro election result.” And then: “Tune in on Monday for Have I Got Less News For You.”<doc-sep>Heidi Allen has called on the BBC to explain their decision to pull Friday night’s episode of Have I Got News for You just 20 minutes before it was due to air over fears her appearance would breach election impartiality rules. The pro-remain leader of Change UK, who resigned from the Conservative party in February over its Brexit policy, quipped “maybe I’m just not as funny as Nigel Farage” after the BBC pulled the show because it would be “inappropriate” to feature political leaders on entertainment shows in the European election period. Allen retweeted social media posts highlighting that Farage appeared on the BBC comedy show in the build up to the 2014 European elections, calling for an explanation of the decision to drop the comedy programme. Viewers were first notified that the show would not air as planned at 9pm on Friday by Hat Trick, that production company that makes the programme. The statement said: “Sorry everyone. The BBC have pulled tonight’s edition of # HIGNFY - no, we didn’t book Danny Baker. We booked Heidi Allen, a member of a party no-one knows the name of (not even the people in it), because the Euro elections, which nobody wants, may or may not be happening. Sorry.” Sorry everyone. The BBC have pulled tonight’s edition of #HIGNFY - no, we didn’t book Danny Baker. We booked Heidi Allen, a member of a party no-one knows the name of (not even the people in it), because the Euro elections, which nobody wants, may or may not be happening. Sorry. — Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) May 10, 2019 The BBC said: “The BBC has specific editorial guidelines that apply during election periods. Because of this it would be inappropriate to feature political party leaders on entertainment programmes during this short election period, which does not allow for equal representation to be achieved. “So we will not broadcast the scheduled episode of HIGNFY featuring Heidi Allen, leader of Change UK. We will look to broadcast this episode at a later date.” Maybe I'm just not as funny as Nigel Farage eh #hignfy @haveigotnews !? He's so funny, he seems to be on the BBC all the time! An explanation would be appreciated, not least to acknowledge the hard work of the entire crew who worked diligently to put the show together. https://t.co/lV6ZDa90qr — Heidi Allen MP (@heidiallen75) May 10, 2019 Reacting to the decision to pull the show, the Pointless presenter Richard Osman said he thought it was “incorrect”, but “comedy shows find impartiality and ‘equal screen-time’ laws far trickier than news programmes in the lead-up to all elections”. It had “always been that way”, he added.<doc-sep>
Friday's episode of Have I Got News For You was pulled moments before it was due to air over fears it would breach election impartiality rules. The BBC said the decision was taken because it was "inappropriate" to have Change UK leader Heidi Allen as a guest on the comedy quiz show ahead of the European elections. In a tweet just 20 minutes before the programme was due to air on BBC One, Have I Got News For You's official account said: "Sorry everyone. The BBC have pulled tonight's edition of #HIGNFY - no, we didn't book Danny Baker. "We booked Heidi Allen, a member of a party no-one knows the name of (not even the people in it), because the Euro elections, which nobody wants, may or may not be happening. Sorry." Image: Ian Hislop is a panellist on Have I Got News For You The BBC said the episode, featuring regular panellists Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, will be broadcast "at a later date". European Parliament elections will take place in the UK on 23 May. Ms Allen, who left the Conservative Party earlier this year to join Change UK, said an explanation on the BBC's decision was needed. The MP for South Cambridgeshire tweeted: "Maybe I'm just not as funny as Nigel Farage eh #hignfy @haveigotnews !? He's so funny, he seems to be on the BBC all the time! "An explanation would be appreciated, not least to acknowledge the hard work of the entire crew who worked diligently to put the show together." :: Listen to the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker What have I done......?! pic.twitter.com/7AtrUf25gG — Heidi Allen MP (@heidiallen75) May 9, 2019 A BBC statement said: "The BBC has specific editorial guidelines that apply during election periods. "Because of this it would be inappropriate to feature political party leaders on entertainment programmes during this short election period, which does not allow for equal representation to be achieved. "So we will not broadcast the scheduled episode of HIGNFY featuring Heidi Allen, leader of Change UK. We will look to broadcast this episode at a later date." :: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Friday's episode of Have I Got News For You was replaced with Would I Lie to You?, which had been due to air afterwards.