When a guest cancels their appearance on a show at the last minute, you’d assume there’d be a mild state of panic as producers decided what to do next.
But Have I Got News For You made it look easy tonight by replacing former cabinet minister and panellist drop-out Nicky Morgan with a large leather handbag.
It was even mic’d up and everything.
Guest host Gary Lineker introduced the bag by saying: “Because of a falling-out at Downing Street over Theresa May’s £1,000 trousers she decided not to come. So please welcome, Nicky Morgan’s £1,000 leather handbag.”
Paul Merton added: “It hasn’t done much yet… I am hoping it will justify its appearance fee at the end of the programme.” He later quipped: “So far it’s doing better than some of the people I have been sitting next to recently.”
Morgan became embroiled in the embarrassing *trousergate* row when she criticised the PM for wearing leather trousers worth almost a grand – despite owning a handbag much to the same value.
People thought the stand-in was an absolutely hilarious move and they could surprisingly see a lot of potential in it.
Nicky Morgan's handbag is the best guest ever 😂😂😂 on #hignfy
— Kate Eastham (@KateEastham9) December 16, 2016
So amused by Nicky Morgan being replaced with a handbag😂 #hignfy
— Becki Curzon (@beckicurzon) December 16, 2016
Let's be honest, the handbag has got far more personality than @NickyMorgan01. #HIGNFY
— Bob Hodson (@RealBobHodson) December 16, 2016
I suspect that handbag would make a better of being Minister of Education than Nicky Morgan #HIGNFY
— Martin Kelly (@disableddaddy) December 16, 2016
However, there were some who didn’t think it was that original, as a similar gag was used with a tub of lard in place of former Labour politician Roy Hattersley when he pulled out back in 1993.
The trouble with these tub of lard/handbag gags on #HIGNFY is they're funny for 12 seconds but then make the rest of the episode more boring
— Steven (@steviefm) December 16, 2016
I miss the tub of lard #hignfy
— Guy (@POWMIADOA) December 16, 2016
That handbag has got nothing on the tub of lard, frankly #hignfy
— James Calbraith (@eadingas) December 16, 2016
But in a true sign of our times, the bag is proving so popular that it’s even got its own Twitter account.
In case you are wondering, I am female as all BBC panel shows must have one lady present #HIGNFY #TrouserGate
— Nicky Morgan Handbag (@NickyHandbag) December 16, 2016
Good work all round.
