Robinson draws viewers to news quiz

Robinson: Penalised both team captains

BBC satirical quiz Have I Got News For You? recorded its second-highest viewing figures on Friday, with Weakest Link host Anne Robinson as guest presenter.

The show attracted 7.3 million viewers, with 27% of the audience share, as viewers tuned in to see how she would fare with the show's regulars Paul Merton and Ian Hislop.

Robinson's one-week tenure follows show regular Paul Merton stepping in to the host's seat, after 12-year host Angus Deayton was dropped by the BBC in the wake of tabloid revelations about his personal life.

Deayton's departure is the first permanent line-up change in the show's history.

The old team: Ian Hislop (L) with Merton (R) with former host Deayton

Opening the show, which also featured BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson and writer John O'Farrell, Robinson said: "I haven't watched the show since 1999 and this was why."

The audience was then shown footage of a previous show where Merton lampooned her trademark wink.

She gave Private Eye editor Hislop a five point lead, despite the fact that no questions had been asked.

But every time Hislop mentioned Robert Maxwell, Robinson's former employer at the Daily Mirror, he was also immediately penalised by losing a point.

Simpson's retort

The Weakest Link presenter also poked fun at Simpson over his "liberation of Kabul" report for the BBC last year.

Simpson told Robinson: "Do you know the burkha covers your entire face? Perhaps you might like to try one."

The show is continuing with guest presenters until a replacement host is found.

BBC political correspondent Andrew Marr, Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman and former ITV political editor John Sergeant have all been tipped to succeed Deayton, but nothing has been confirmed.