HIGNFY interrupted for breaking Andrew Mountbatten news as Jason Manford halts show

BBC panel show Have I Got News for You was interrupted tonight (October 31) with a major announcement about Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Comedian Jason Manford was presenting the topical comedy show when he was forced to bring proceedings to an abrupt halt in a preview clip released ahead of tonight's episode, which airs at 9pm.

The show was recorded last night (October 30), but mid-recording the news broke that Andrew had been stripped of his Prince title, with a member of the production staff rushing on-set to inform Manford of the new bulletin. There was chaos on set of the show as Jason told viewers: "We've got some breaking news... This is the news that Andrew is no longer a Prince."

Cheers erupted from the studio audience as Paul Merton couldn't resist joking: "The bad news is he's become King..."

Jason quizzed his co-stars: "What else is he losing?" as Paul said: "Is it the house?" and Ian Hislop quipped: "And he's losing the love of the public."

The host clarified: "Yeah, he's losing his lease on Royal Lodge. I've heard Rachel Reeves has got a place to rent though," he added in a savage jab at the Chancellor.

Ian joked: "Where's he going? Siberia's nice this time of year," as Jason explained: "He's actually moving to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk."

Ian left the audience in hysterics as he fired back: "What have the people of Sandringham done?"

Jason concluded: "This is the news that Andrew has lost all of his titles. It's humiliating, I've got tins of tuna chunks in the cupboard that can still legally call themselves Princes. According to the statement from Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew has been forced to give up all of his Styles, Titles and Honours. However he does get to keep his Pizza Express loyalty card."

Series 70 of Have I Got News For You continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight from 9.00pm, guest hosted by Jason Manford.