Sphere launches new collectible series with Have I Got News For You quiz book

Sphere has signed Have I Got News For You: The Quiz of 2022 and a second quiz book for publication in November 2022 and 2023 respectively. 

Emily Barrett, Sphere publishing director, acquired world rights to the books, which are the first in a new collectible series, from Hat Trick Productions.  

The publisher’s synopsis of the first book reads: “After a long uncharted year of chaos on the home and world stages, readers can challenge themselves to live through it all one more time, with rounds in the 2022 book including London’s Hottest Party Venue, Backbench MP or Charles Dickens Character?, It’s a Royal Cock-up and ’Have I Got News for You’ regular features: the Missing Words and Odd One Out rounds.  

“An ideal Christmas gift which will feature over 1,000 questions and plenty of gags on everything from politics to pop culture, Have I Got News For You: The Quiz of 2022 (and 2023) will keep readers entertained for hours and serve as timeless souvenirs of their respective rollercoaster years.” 

Barrett said: “‘Have I Got News For You’ has been running for over 30 years with each episode in its prime-time Friday night slot being watched by millions; it’s a coup to be bringing such a powerhouse of a brand to the Sphere list and we’re delighted to be working with Hat Trick.

“The ideal gift for fans of the show and other quizzers besides, I have no doubt this book will be one of the biggest quiz titles this Christmas and will have a suitably special campaign to establish and support it." 

Since the comedy quiz show about the news began in 1990, comedian and television personality Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, broadcaster, satirist and editor of Private Eye, have been the show’s regular team captains. 

Richard Wilson, head of comedy and entertainment at Hat Trick, added: “After 32 years of making a TV news quiz, someone had the brilliant idea of doing it in book form. I can’t believe we didn’t think of it before.”