BBC Radio 4 LW

Meeting Myself Coming Back

Factual: Life Stories

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive and use it as a basis for a re-examination of their lives

Meeting Myself Coming Back 

Meeting Myself Coming Back: Ian Hislop

Ian Hislop

BBC Radio 4 - Meeting Myself Coming Back, Ian Hislop

Private Eye editor and satirist Ian Hislop meets his younger self in the BBC archives.

Ian Hislop, satirist and editor of Private Eye magazine, meets his younger self in the sound archives in conversations with John Wilson.

Ian Hislop, satirist and Editor of "Private Eye" magazine, meets his younger self in the sound archives in conversation with John Wilson

Ian Hislop has been called the most sued man in Britain, keeping lawyers busy with a steady stream of writs from those whose public and private failings  have been exposed in the pages of Private Eye. He became the magazine’s youngest editor at the age of just 26 in 1986, and 35 years later is still in charge.  He's also become well-known through his appearances as a team captain on the comedy quiz show "Have I Got News For You". 

In this programme,  where the guests don't know what they're going to hear, John takes Ian back through a variety of archives to trace how his life and career have developed.  We hear the young Ian on stage in a school production of "Oliver" , get a glimpse of his early forays into standup comedy. hear how he planned to avoid libel writs as the new Editor of Private Eye and how that plan was scuppered with regular appearances in court and a record damages award against the magazine to Sonia Sutcliffe, the wife of the Yorkshire Ripper. 

Ian and John also discuss his role on "Have I Got News For You", his thoughts on press freedom and regulation and his career as documentary-maker and dramatist. 

Producer: Emma Kingsley

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Meeting Myself Coming Back

Ian Hislop

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4