Has He Got News for You? ; Comedian Alexander Armstrong, Set to Take Over As Host of Have I Got News for You, Also Stars in a New Itv Drama, Life Begins. Andrew Wilson Meets a Man of Many Parts

Summary

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Alexander Armstrong could soon be handed what one critic described as potentially the most poisoned chalice in television: Angus Deayton's old job as presenter of Have I Got News for You. 'All those hookers and all that cocaine will just have to be consigned to the bin,' jokes Armstrong.

This, of course, is a reference to the much-publicised sex scandal involving Deayton and a prostitute, which contributed to the BBC's decision to sack him in October 2002. 'I wasn't that shocked,' says Armstrong, whose friends call him Xander. '"Star goes on coke binge" I think, well, yes, they probably did.'

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Has He Got News for You? ; Comedian Alexander Armstrong, Set to Take Over As Host of Have I Got News for You, Also Stars in a New Itv Drama, Life Begins. Andrew Wilson Meets a Man of Many Parts

Was the BBC right to sack him? 'I've never met Angus, but as a fan of his I think I would have been prepared to have given him a few more chances. But I can't answer disingenuously and say, "Oh, how terrible [of the BBC]," because think how delighted and excited I'll be if I get the job.'

The 33-year-old actor and comedian best known for TV series such as Beast, TLC, I Saw You, and the Channel 4 sketch show Armstrong and Miller is a busy man at ...

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