Ian Hislop jokes about ‘high point’ of taxi incident mistaken for shooting

Ian Hislop has joked there was one “high point” of being involved in an incident initially thought to be a shooting earlier this week.

The Private Eye editor was travelling in a black taxi near the magazine’s office in Soho, central London, on Tuesday when the rear window of the vehicle smashed.

It was initially believed the cab had been hit by a bullet – but the Metropolitan Police later said there was “no evidence of a firearms discharge at this time”.

Hislop discussed the incident in Friday night’s pre-recorded episode of Have I Got News For You.

In a scene which played before the episode’s opening credits, Hislop could be seen telling the show’s host, panellists and studio audience: “I always say at this point I’m glad to be here, but this week I really mean it.

“There was one high point when a policeman investigating me said ‘this may be a silly question but is there anyone who might have a grudge against you?’.”

As the audience laughed, Hislop’s rival team captain Paul Merton quipped: “I have an alibi.”

The episode was filmed on Thursday evening.

Hislop previously thanked “everyone for their concern” following Tuesday’s incident.

A statement shared on social media by Private Eye read: “[Police] were initially looking into the possibility of a shot having been fired but have now indicated that there may be another more innocent explanation for what happened.”

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The investigation was sparked by a call from the taxi driver, who had said he was “stationary in traffic in Dean Street when a shot was fired towards his vehicle, striking the window and damaging it”.

No injuries were reported.

Hislop has served as editor of the satirical magazine since 1986 and as a team captain on Have I Got News For You since the show debuted in 1990.