Editing Have I Got News for You (section)

===Participants===
{{Main|List of Have I Got News for You presenters}}
The format of ''Have I Got News for You'' is derived from the comedy that can be generated by each guest that participates in the programme, whether as a panellist or as a host. Although the show features a variety of comedians, it has also included politicians, television personalities, actors and news media personalities, several of whom have appeared more than once. As of 16 October 2020, [[Alexander Armstrong]] had appeared most often, mainly as guest host and also as a panellist, while [[Andy Hamilton]] had appeared most often as a guest panellist.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

On rare occasions, the programme has had a participant cancel or otherwise be unable to appear. Production staff try to find a replacement, but this is often challenging at short notice. For an episode in 1993, nobody could find a suitable replacement for [[Roy Hattersley]] (then an MP, having recently stepped down as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party) after he pulled out at the last minute; he had cancelled on two prior occasions. He was replaced by a tub of [[lard]]; the programme's host compared Hattersley to the tub of lard, claiming that "they possessed the same qualities and were liable to give similar performances".<ref>{{Cite magazine| magazine= [[The Spectator]]| title= I prefer the tub of lard| author= Leo McKinstry| date= 13 September 2003| url= https://www.spectator.co.uk/2003/09/i-prefer-the-tub-of-lard/}}</ref>

Accounts vary as to how much panellists are paid to appear on the show. Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Parliamentary register of interests showed him earning £1,500 for a claimed four hours' work,<ref>{{Cite web|title=House of Commons - The Register of Members' Financial Interests (161121: Rees-Mogg, Mr Jacob )|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/161121/rees-mogg_jacob.htm|access-date=2021-12-06|website=publications.parliament.uk}}</ref> while Nick Clegg was paid £15,000 to host an episode.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-03|title=4 Things Nick Clegg Could Buy With His *Surprising* 'Have I Got News For You' Pay|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nick-clegg-have-i-got-news-for-you-payment-revealed_uk_581b62afe4b08315783de1da|access-date=2021-12-06|website=HuffPost UK|language=en}}</ref>