Birmingham Born Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Ready to Host American Version of British Comedy Panel Show ‘Have I Got News for You’

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Almost a year since he left the popular show that made him a household face, comedian Roy Wood Jr. is gearing up to host an exciting new production. Known as a prominent standup comic who flourished during his eight years as a correspondent on “The Daily Show”, the Birmingham-born comedian is now primed to host the American adaptation of the quirky BBC panel show “Have I Got News for You”.

American Adoption of British Comedy Format

The British version of the show, which first aired in the UK in 1990, was applauded for its clever blend of comedy and current affairs. The American adaptation of the show has been commissioned as a 10-episode limited series. It will feature a panel of comics and other personalities humorously interrogating the day’s happenings.

Wood humorously commented on the new venture saying, “For far too long immigrants have been coming to America and taking black jobs, kudos to CNN and the immigrants at Hat Trick Productions for bringing a Black job to the States. It is an honor to be a part of such a hallowed British institution to help make sense of the American institutions of chaos, name-calling, disinformation, reality television and the 8-hour news cycle.”

A Break from “The Daily Show”

Roy Wood Jr., a proud graduate from Ramsay High School, left “The Daily Show” last October after serving as a correspondent for eight years. His departure came amid speculation that he was being considered for the top job, succeeding former host Trevor Noah.

Speaking on NPR’s “Morning Edition”, Wood affirmed his decision to leave “The Daily Show” and explore new creative interests, “There’s no sense in me doing what I’ve been doing for the last eight years while concurrently trying to think of a new thing to do,” he revealed, “The job of correspondent, it’s not really one where you can really juggle multiple things, and I think eight years, I’ve earned the right to just take a quick break before starting something new.”

Anticipated Premiere

Audiences will be able to tune into the new show starting September 14th. The show is scheduled to air every Saturday on CNN. Following the comedic trend of its British counterpart, viewers can expect a fresh and humorous take on the daily news cycle. Details surrounding the panel members and format of the show are yet to be disclosed.