A year after viewers complained he was treated unfairly

Jamie MacDonald is making a return to Have I Got News For You – a year after viewers complained that the show made no concession to his blindness.

The Scottish comic made his debut on the BBC One show last November, when host Steph McGovern asked panellists to explain what was going on in video clips featuring Liz Truss.

While there were several jokes about how hard it was for MacDonald to take part, not every viewer was happy.

One tweeted: ‘Am I missing something? Why've they not changed the format to make it inclusive for the guest panelist who is blind!!???’

However McDonald explained he didn’t want any concessions made on his behalf, saying: ‘I really appreciate how concerned everyone has been on my behalf but at no point did I feel excluded in any way.’

And the BBC said they had discussed ‘all aspects of the show, including the visual rounds’ with the comedian, adding: 'He wanted to use the situation for humour and we simply respected his wishes.’

The comic will return for the sixth episode in the current series, to air at 9pm on November 10, and hosted by Richard Ayoade, making his 11th appearance in the chair.

And MacDonald will once again be reunited with McGovern, who will be  the other panellist – soon after the news broke that her Channel 4 show Steph's Packed Lunch will end in December. 

McDonald was not the first blind comedian to appear on Have I Got News For You, as Chris McCausland had appeared several times. He too said that he didn’t want concessions made for his disability, even though fans get frustrated on his behalf.

He  told the BBC’s Access All podcast: ‘That’s what the show is, and I want to do that show.’

Published: 24 Oct 2023