CNN Confirms Season 5 of ‘Have I Got News For You’
Roy Wood Jr. Returns for Season 5 of Have I Got News For You on CNN
Roy Wood Jr. is set to bring his sharp political commentary back to CNN as Have I Got News For You returns for its fifth season. The renewal was announced during today’s Warner Bros. Discovery upfront presentation.
The new season will premiere on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with Wood Jr. hosting. Team captains Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black will also reprise their roles. Viewers can catch the show on HBO Max and CNN’s streaming platforms, including the CNN app and CNN.com.
Producing the series for CNN Originals is Jimmy Mulville’s Hat Trick Productions, which is known for creating the original British format of the show. Executive producers include Mulville, Jim Biederman, and Richard Wilson.
In a joint statement, Wood Jr., Ruffin, and Black expressed excitement about returning, remarking, “We’re thrilled to return for season five and continue covering the nation’s most important stories, most of which still sound made up.”
Since its debut in 2024, Have I Got News For You has quickly become a fixture in CNN’s Saturday night programming, blending humor with current events. The show engages its audience by awarding points for accurately identifying responses while maintaining an entertaining perspective on ongoing issues. The format has appealed to viewers in both the U.S. and the UK, where it has aired for 71 seasons on the BBC.
Insider reports suggest strong enthusiasm within CNN for the series, which achieved its highest cable viewership during Season 4. Nielsen data indicates the show averaged 1.06 million viewers, representing a 246% increase from the previous four-week average. Additionally, the program attracted an average of 172,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic, marking a 153% rise compared to the previous season and exceeding its lead-in by 47%. Following its television debut, the show frequently secured a spot in the top ten on HBO Max.
Season 4 featured notable guests, including U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, Hasan Minhaj, Andy Richter, Kara Swisher, Ari Shapiro, Larry Wilmore, Gianmarco Soresi, Bomani Jones, and Nimesh Patel.
Amy Entelis, Executive Vice President of Talent for CNN Originals, praised the series, stating, “Season four demonstrated just how strongly this series is resonating with audiences, becoming a standout performer across CNN’s platforms and a meaningful part of the weekly conversation online. At a time when people are looking for entertaining ways to engage with the nonstop news cycle, Roy, Amber, and Michael continue to deliver something that feels timely and culturally relevant – and we will continue building on that success with a fifth season this fall.”
