Angus Deayton insists no one will ever really know what happened when he got fired from Have I Got News For You-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Angus has spoken about his sacking (Picture: PA/BBC)

Angus Deayton has revealed the real reason behind his sacking from Have I Got News For You will remain shrouded in mystery.

The 66-year-old helmed the popular current affairs show, captained by Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, for 12 years between 1990 and 2002.

But the Waterloo Road actor’s tenure was brought to an abrupt end when the News of the World published details of his private life, including his alleged use of cocaine and prostitutes while his now ex-partner Lise Mayer was pregnant.

Shortly after the news broke, Angus presented the long-running BBC programme and addressed the reports, saying: ‘There is, by the way, no need to adjust your set, my face is this red.’

The One Foot in the Grave star lasted two more episodes, which featured relentless mocking from Ian, 62, and Paul, 65, before getting the chop from the BBC amid the media scandal.

Opening up about his dismissal, the Surrey-born performer said he doesn’t ‘think anyone will ever find out what happened because it’s too long ago’.

‘It’ll just go down in history as the way in which it’s always been regurgitated,’ he told The i newspaper. ‘I’m not going to start digging it all up again in order to try and set the record straight. It’ll just be a record that’s never set straight.’

Ian, Angus and Paul on HIGNFY (Picture: BBC)

Angus revealed he was ‘resigned’ to the fact the narrative around the events of his sacking will never be changed, although he admitted he wasn’t ‘particularly happy’ about it.

He added: ‘But I’ve had 20 years to get used to it. That’s what history is. History is written by the victors, isn’t it?’

Last year, HIGNFY’s creator Jimmy Mulville said he believed Angus had ‘served his time’ and wants him to return.

Jimmy, who is the managing director of Hat Trick Productions, told BBC Radio 4: ‘I think it’d be very nice for him [to come back to Have I Got News For You].

‘We’re all a little older now. He’s definitely served his time, and he was a very good host.’

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Since being booted off the panel show, Angus has kept himself busy with acting roles, starring in Matchmakers and Death in Paradise

He is also about  to star in a fourth series of the Radio 4 sitcom Alone.

Have I Got News For You will return to BBC One.

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