Ian Hislop

Ian David Hislop (born 13 July 1960) is a British journalist, satirist, writer, comedian, broadcaster and editor of the magazine Private Eye. He has appeared on many radio and television programmes, and is a team captain on the BBC quiz show Have I Got News for You.

Family and early life

Hislop was born on 13 July 1960 in Mumbles, Swansea, to a Scottish father, David Hislop, from Ayrshire and a Channel Islander mother born in Jersey, Helen Rosemarie née Beddows.

Hislop did not know his grandparents. His paternal grandfather, David Murdoch Hislop, died just before he was born. His maternal grandfather, William Beddows, was originally from Lancashire.

When he was five months old, Hislop's family began to travel around the world because of his father's job as a civil engineer. During his infant years, Hislop lived in Nigeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. When Hislop was 12 years old his father died; his mother, who was born in Jersey and had left for Wales in her late teens, died when he was 32 years old. On his return to Britain he was educated at Ardingly College, an independent boarding school, where he became Head Boy, and began his satirical career directing and appearing in revues alongside Nick Newman.