Have I Got News For You is 'too vicious' for women, says Nadine Dorries
- Published
Nadine Dorries made her appearance on the show in 2012
MP Nadine Dorries says Have I Got News For You is "too vicious" for most female guests, and does not "lend itself to women feeling comfortable".
Ms Dorries appeared on the BBC panel show in 2012 - but said she has turned down all further offers.
She was speaking after team captain Ian Hislop said female politicians were "more reticent" to be the guest host.
Ten male politicians have sat in the host's seat, but Anne Widdecombe is the only female politician to have done so.
Ms Dorries told BBC News: "I just don't think Have I Got News For You is a programme which lends itself to women feeling comfortable. I find it too vicious.
"I know people like that. That's why they love the programme - it's so successful. I just find it too vicious, too abrasive.
"It's all about banter - women don't banter in that way, or very rarely. You might get the odd woman who would, but most women don't banter in that way, don't have that degree of aggression."
'Scoring points by belittling you'
The Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire said her agent had turned down all offers from the show after her original appearance, and she wasn't sure whether any of those had been to host.
Politicians were normally invited after some controversy, when "the only reason they're asking you is to shred you", she added.
"And why would you put yourself up for that? Whereas, men don't seem to mind being shredded most of the time."
Boris Johnson first hosted the show in 2002
The MP, who also appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2012, said she does appear on political programmes where "the debate is fair and the host is fair and it's not just for someone to score points off you by belittling you".
She said: "Women don't like that - women see that as a naturally unjust and unfair way to treat someone even for laughs, whereas I think men think that's fair game."
Her comments come after Hislop and fellow team captain Paul Merton told Radio Times magazine the producers had tried to get more female politicians on the show.
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Merton said: "The producers always ask more women than men. More women say no."
He added that "right from the early days, that's been the case".
Hislop said: "And everyone you think should have been asked has been. Really, they really have."
Boris Johnson, Ed Balls, Nick Clegg, John Prescott and William Hague are among the male politicians who have filled the host's seat over the years.
Left-right: Kirsty Young, Victoria Coren Mitchell and Jo Brand have hosted the show 39 times between them
Hislop told Radio Times: "There was a period when people said, 'Why haven't you had French and Saunders on? Why haven't you had the following people?'
"And you say, 'Well, it's not compulsory.' And on the whole, women are slightly more reticent and think, maybe modestly, 'I can't do that.' Maybe more men in public life say, 'Yes, I can do that."'
Guardian columnist Marina Hyde tweeted that women were not too "modest" to go on the show - but they can see "how women always end up being dealt with".
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Former Deputy Labour Leader Dame Margaret Beckett said she had always turned down requests to appear.
"It's a brilliant programme, it's very, very funny and I watch it when I can," she told BBC News. "Do I wish to be one of its victims? No.
"Being that kind of funny - I don't think it's my skill set. They can be very nice to people, but basically they eat people alive who think they can compete, and I know I can't compete."
'It would be a big mistake'
Dame Margaret accepted that it may be true that women "worry whether they could do something and men don't".
"But on the other hand, not everybody can do everything, and I'm pretty confident that it would be a big mistake for me to say yes and go on that programme."
Conservative MP Anna Soubry tweeted that she had declined to go back on the panel "not because I'm a woman but because I'm a politician & not daft!"
She added: "I offered to present it but he turned me down! I'm still available boys." Former Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short said she had never been asked to chair the quiz.
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A number of female presenters and comedians have hosted Have I Got News For You, including Jo Brand, Victoria Coren Mitchell and Kirsty Young.
The show returns on Friday for a 55th series, with Jeremy Paxman in the hot seat for the first episode.
Ann's 'Arrogance'
In the Radio Times, Paul Merton added that his "worst experience" on the comedy show was when Ann Widdecombe returned to host for a second time, in 2007.
He said the former prisons minister was "telling the producer what jokes will and won't work" after seemingly gaining confidence following her first presenting stint.
He added: "She turned to me at one point and said, 'Come on, be amusing; that's what you're being paid for.' Even as I say it, it sends a shiver through my heart.
"It's like, the arrogance of the woman, you know? Suddenly she thought she was Victoria Wood."
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