Flipping brilliant agony-aunt and R4 bookworm Mariella Frostrup has hit out at the makers of Have I Got News For You, claiming the panel game is a “disgrace”, only featuring female guests so that the “testosterone-driven” captains can poke fun at them. Having appeared on the show twice, despite considering herself “a very suitable candidate”, she then had to suffer the ignominy of an absolutely unnecessary and rather bitchy aside. From one Germaine Greer.

Now, I love Germaine, partly because of her no-nonsense, Aussie big-mouthing. That Greer, she a good thing. But I’m not sure comments like "She's not known for being amazingly witty, is she? I thought she was best known for her sexy voice” aren’t helping any. Surely the worst thing about HIGNFY is that it’s just not as firebrand hot or funny as it once was. Will Self, who’s earned the most comedy caps having appeared ten times, has already said he wouldn’t appear again, feeling that the quiz has had its satirical teeth blunted in recent years. And even I was rather uncomfortable when Jimmy “I’m not offensive, I’m just saying all the bad things you’re secretly thinking” Carr was horribly rude to Anne Widdecombe. Now there’s something I never thought I’d say. Sympathy for Anne Widdecombe? Imagine!