Ian Hislop laughs off mistaken black taxi ‘shooting’ incident on Have I Got News For You
Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye, was caught in an incident that initially raised fears of a shooting in central London earlier this week. Hislop was in a black taxi when the rear window of the vehicle shattered near the magazine’s Soho offices on Tuesday morning.
Police were called to the scene after the driver, halted in traffic on Dean Street, reported hearing what sounded like a gunshot. With fears heightened, it was believed the damage to the rear window might have been caused by a bullet. The Metropolitan Police, however, quickly clarified that there was “no evidence of a firearms discharge at this time”.
Hislop addressed the incident during the pre-recorded episode of Have I Got News For You, aired on Friday night. Speaking before the opening credits, he joked about his fortunate survival, telling the audience, “I always say I’m glad to be here, but this week I really mean it.”
The studio audience laughed as he recounted a police officer’s question: “Is there anyone who might have a grudge against you?” Hislop’s fellow panellist, Paul Merton, chimed in with a quip, declaring he had an alibi.
Despite the initial alarm, police investigations have since taken a different turn. No evidence of a shooting has been found, and a mechanical fault is now being considered as the potential cause of the shattered window. CCTV footage is under review, and forensic tests are ongoing to determine exactly what led to the sudden breakage.
For now, the incident remains unresolved, though no injuries were reported. Police officers continue to investigate, having seized the taxi and taken detailed recordings.
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