Angus Deayton

Deayton's suave manner as host of Have I Got News for You led to his being nicknamed "TV's Mr Sex", by a Time Out listings writer.[6]

In May 2002, the British tabloid newspaper the News of the World reported he had taken cocaine and had sex with prostitutes.[7] He was ridiculed by Paul Merton and Ian Hislop in the following episode of Have I Got News For You but continued as presenter. Deayton began the episode with: "Good evening and welcome to Have I Got News For You, where this week's loser is presenting it." He added later, "There is, by the way, no need to adjust your set, my face is this red."[8] After more allegations in October, Deayton was dismissed two episodes into the new series. One online poll, on the BBC's own website, showed over three-quarters of respondents wanted Deayton to stay on as the programme's host.[9] In April 2003, Stephen Fry supported Deayton by refusing to appear on the show again.[10]

After his stint on Have I Got News for You ended,[11] Deayton's work included a reunion of the Radio Active cast in a new episode in December 2002. In 2003, he guest-starred as Downing Street's spin doctor in an episode of the BBC comedy Absolute Power, starring Stephen Fry and John Bird. In January 2004, he starred in the BBC comedy Nighty Night. Deayton had a cameo role as a hotel receptionist in the 2004 film Fat Slags. A few months later, he presented the quiz Bognor or Bust. In January 2006, he hosted an ITV show based upon self-help videos called Help Your Self.

Deayton is associated with Comic Relief/Sport Relief and featured in its broadcasts. He co-presented the Sport Relief charity programme Only Fools on Horses in July 2006. Deayton appeared for the England team as a second-half substitute in the Soccer Aid match in support of UNICEF on 27 May 2006. He returned as a starting player for England in a 7 September 2008 rematch.

In 2007, he was in Casualty, playing an exaggerated version of himself in a Comic Relief-related story. In June 2007, Deayton returned to the BBC to host panel show, Would I Lie to You?. In November 2007, he was censored by the BBC for making a "pungently personal" joke about Jimmy Savile and his mother on the show.[12] Deayton left the show in 2009 and was replaced by Rob Brydon.[13] On 3 September 2007, Deayton hosted the third series of Hell's Kitchen, but was dismissed in 2009 after arguments with chef Marco Pierre White[14] and was replaced by Claudia Winkleman.[15]

In 2008, Deayton also presented Comedy Sketchbook, a nostalgic look at classic comedy sketches, on BBC1. On 6 December 2008, he presented the 2008 British Comedy Awards, after host Jonathan Ross stepped down because of controversy surrounding The Russell Brand Show prank calls row.[16]

His feature film appearances include the mysterious, all-knowing man in That Deadwood Feeling (2009, co-starring Jack Davenport, Dexter Fletcher and David Soul), Swinging with the Finkels (2011, written and directed by Jonathan Newman, with Mandy Moore and Martin Freeman),[17] and Playing the Moldovans at Tennis (2012). He returned to BBC Radio 4 in 2011 to host the panel show It's Your Round.[18]

On 12 December 2012, Deayton joined the BBC drama series Waterloo Road as a cynical teacher and for a further series as deputy head, George Windsor. He made his first appearance in episode 27 of the eighth series in 2013.[19] In December 2012, he appeared on the BBC Two programme World's Most Dangerous Roads, in which he and Mariella Frostrup were filmed driving along the east coast of Madagascar.[20] He co-starred with Anna Chancellor in the BBC sitcom Pramface (2013).

In August 2016, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Deayton wrote and performed in a revival of Radio Active.[21]

In 2017 he featured in Moray Hunter's radio sitcom Alone on BBC Radio 4 playing as Mitch, a widower and part-time therapist.[22]