HIGNFY is a curse, says Merton

Paul Merton has confessed that he earns an enormous sum from Have I Got News For You, but the money makes him lazy.

"Have I Got News For You is a curse in one respect," he says, "because it takes three hours a week for 16 weeks and is so lucrative I could stay in bed for the rest of the year."

"I can't tell you how much I earn. It's an enormous sum, but I know I'm not stretching myself. My knowledge, instinct and luck are wasted on a topical news quiz asking 'Is it Michael Heseltine?'

"I don't beat myself up over it, but I should be doing more."

In an interview for the Christmas edition of the Radio Times, Merton also told said that his wish is to make comedy films, like his hero Buster Keaton.

"If I could swap Have I Got News For You for making a funny film that lasts, I'd do it. That's a proper life, nothing dates quicker than a topical news quiz," he said

Merton, who still regularly performs with The Comedy Store Players, has directed a short film, The Suicidal Dog, and has a draft script for a second, but says: "I've become lazy. It's silly talking about it - I should just do it."

And he also took a swipe at sports quiz They Think It's All Over.

"Gary Lineker has awful jokes, and every week it's the same gags," he said. "It's only a quiz, but it's a handicap to have no sense of humour in that line of work."

Published: 10 Dec 2001