HIGNFY S44E03 Alexander Armstrong, Victoria Coren and Lord Conrad Black

26 October 2012
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, KSG (born 25 August 1944) is a Canadian-born British former newspaper publisher, a writer, a non-affiliated life peer, and a convicted felon in the United States for fraud.

[@N.I.R.A.T.I.A.S.]

"Were you hoping our answer would be funnier than this?" Victoria is a treasure.

[@rbzvncnt]

"The Black calling the kettle a crook" is pure word magic!

[@jimmyholloway8527]

Victoria looks so uncomfortable and even says how awkward it is at one point. But, after the first row between Ian and his lordship peters out, she's like, "Wait, wasn't there some question about..." Killer instinct for comedy.

[@seanys]

I love how Ian doesn’t let him off the hook!

[@martinjones5965]

it's in his DNA and is delightfully predictable in general and a wonderful surprise in detail.

[@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists]

best man surely √√√√

[@markloveless1001]

Still, I admire Conrad's guts for coming on the show knowing full well that would be the case.

[@globalwarmhugs7741]

It's the only reason I could watch without puking. Black is terrible guy.

[@globalwarmhugs7741]

​@@markloveless1001It wasn't guts. It was a smug attempt at bragging rights for his incredible bravery. Don't fall for that type of nonsense.

[@beenaplumber8379]

The Dalai Lama would never fake something in a speech, but I've seen him talk in person and listened to the Q&A afterward, and I'm sure if there was a way he could ham it up and get a laugh he would, especially if he could get people to laugh at him for something. He told my group (neuroscientists) we should be working on a pill that could make people happy. During Q&A someone pointed out that we've got a wide variety of such pills, mostly illegal. No one laughed more than he did! He clarified that he meant happiness with no negative consequences. He is the Buddha of happiness, and that's his mission.

[@50zcarsman]

There is a painfully detailed Wikipedia article on Lord Conrad Black.

[@RIXRADvidz]

wholly smoldering upload buttons Bowman !!!!! thanks billions

[@MrKiwifruit2011]

Simpler times... when the big issues were badgers and train tickets.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Nothing simple about either.

[@beenaplumber8379]

Not really simpler times - more like the people were more simpletons and the powerful could get away with anything without anyone being the wiser. Now people are the wiser, but the powerful are still able to get away with anything. It's a step I guess.

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

Hislop has a perfect show. Brilliant

[@barkebaat]

Victoria ; gorgeous, intelligent and funny.

[@asterix811]

David Mitchell is definitely the luckiest man in Britain.

[@downundanow5569]

@@asterix811 Pretty much anywhere really.

[@danisehetland3576]

I’m no fan of Conrad Black, but he took the ribbing far, far better than did Piers Moron, Morgan, I mean Morgan

[@shmookins]

Is it Ian's birthday? Because I think he enjoyed this one due to the guest. :p

[@TSKseattle]

In 2019 Trump issued Black a full pardon, again taking care of his rich friends.

[@ROOKTABULA]

And part of receiving a pardon requires the criminal to ADMIT their crimes which Black denies here.

[@cuzned1375]

Victoria’s look at 38:46 😅

[@hawkpaul8735]

Seeing Trump then is spooky now that we know what we know.

[@jamielatty5740]

What do we know?

[@imjustsomeguy72]

Cross over storyline - guess who actually pardonned Conrad for his fraud charges? I know you know.

[@bradleybarnett9545]

Seeing 45 now is spooky.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@jamielatty5740That he is dangerous, lunatic and fascist.

[@beenaplumber8379]

Was there something you know now about Trump that you didn't know then? A moronic, corrupt, amoral, spoiled man-child who craves power and has no self-control, regardless of the law? Ok, let's give him the nuclear codes. The one thing I didn't know then was that the American people would ever take him seriously.

[@christymclaughlin618]

Put Ian and Paul on the one team sometime.

[@peterbrophy3478]

Conrad Black had a lot of balls to come on this

[@williamparker1085]

same personality type as trump

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

I think they shrank.

[@beenaplumber8379]

@@williamparker1085 People often come to this show to rehabilitate their public image, right? I think he did a great job taking all those hits (well deserved, I'm sure) from Ian and Alexander. Maybe he's horrible, but he's also a good sport. Trump would never have the cool to sit through that. He's VERY easily wound up.

[@dewaynewoods4788]

Bob Hope HAD to be Alexander's father.

[@brucemckay6615]

Interesting view on Trump... given where we are now....

[@GreatDayEveryone]

Can Ian Hislop come to the US and talk to the GOP??

[@calibrazxr750]

only if you agree not to send him back.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@calibrazxr750No way, your view there is in the minority.

[@lindahart6049]

Just came across this episode, what a corker!

[@kathowed]

Aw-kward! (Yet somehow strangely endearing… ) Thanks BH.

[@redchthonic]

[@bradleybarnett9545]

@23:18 A few people in the audience hear this. Bit Lordly, doncha reckon?

[@Uatu-the-Watcher]

When Black called Ian a banana, what did he mean? I don’t understand the slang.

[@distinguishedflyer]

Years ago, after Private Eye lost a court case, Ian said, "If that's justice then I'm a banana."

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Ian is far from perfect but boy he has cajones. Respect.

[@beenaplumber8379]

He never backs down if he has a reasonable case. He'll look power in the eye and never flinch, which has cost him, but we need more of that.

[@pressureworks]

Paul Merton was very uncharacteristically expressionless and silent during portions of this show.

[@pizzapielemon]

I think he knows when to let Ian do some grilling and not try to force a joke. Bloodsports are as entertaining as comedy.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Careful is the word.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

@@pizzapielemonif they’re on deserving humans, for sure.

[@beenaplumber8379]

I think he was holding his nose more than his tongue.

[@richardmaze5778]

I'm petty enough to point out that it is Conrad Lord Black or more simply Lord Black - not Lord Conrad Black.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Well, you are English.

[@whiteshadowmausu3044]

What was wrong with watching a DVD?? By the way, I could watch these repeats during lockdown.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

If you don’t know, leave it to the adults.

[@justinbelshe]

My first exposure to Baron Black, but I have to say that I like his style.

[@justinbelshe]

I wonder what he thinks of Drumpf these days...

[@ripdbtpoo1441]

I hope he was assaulted in the showers, but very much doubt it.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Criminality and arrogance?

[@beenaplumber8379]

Some people prefer integrity to style.

[@ROOKTABULA]

You being a fan of a sociopath doesn't bode well for people in your life.

[@michaeldoyle6702]

Conrad Black is completely off his game here. That's why it is a riot. Conrad has plenty of wit and humour, but it comes out at a cocktail party or an interview with a tv host like Steve Paiken (check youtube. A Canada reference).

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Not so good when facing actual accountability for his compounded criminality

[@krileayn]

I love how they all mock Trump and make fun of him and yet he showed all of them.

[@Kirsten_is_cursed10]

Showed them what? That he’s a worthless, hateful idiot who golfed whole 500k Americans died of COVID? Cool story.

[@jamesm9995]

Showed them what ?

[@krileayn]

@@jamesm9995 have you been living under a rock. IS Biden blowing you all away with his success.

[@patharasown]

@@jamesm9995 How right they were.

[@Ryattt81]

Yea...showed us all his ass...

[@patriciaapetrone]

Black has a strange, uppity-Canadian accent. Definitely not American accent, even though the Brits probably can't tell.