War threat proves good for satire

The impending war in Iraq has sent sales of satirical magazine Private Eye soaring.

Its circulation has topped the 200,000 mark for the first time in a decade, according to new figures.

And in the past two years it has added 25,000 readers - a hike of about 15 per cent.

"People seem to be more interested in politics, more receptive to stories told without spin and more amused by jokes about the failings of the government," editor Ian Hislop, pictured, told the Guardian. "Either that or we've fiddled the figures."

Published: 19 Feb 2003