Deayton: This week's loser is me

The most keenly-awaited edition of Have I Got News For You began last night with host Angus Deayton announcing: 'Welcome to the show. This week's loser is presenting it.'

The 45-year-old anchorman, revealed last weekend to have snorted cocaine and had sex with a prostitute, then added: 'The words pot, kettle, smug, git, good and kicking all come to mind.'

The teams, chaired by Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, were asked to look at pictures of the meeting between Tony Blair and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Merton interrupted, saying: 'The story I'm interested in Angus - you and this prostitute, how did you get away without paying her?'

Hislop then pulled out a copy of the News of the World and started reading it out. "'He made me groan all night." What were you doing, reading the autocue?' he asked Deayton.

Merton, who wore a T-shirt showing the front page, then said: 'I am surprised you had the nerve to turn up, you knew what it would be like.' Deayton replied: 'I did, because of you two.'

Guest Ken Livingstone joked: 'This is a day that Stephen Byers could have leaked more bad news.' Deayton added: 'All week.'

Deayton, who has a girlfriend and baby, continued to squirm - at one point keeping score of how many jokes had been made at his expense.

The show will be shown at 9pm on BBC1 tonight.

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