This week sees the return of my favourite tv programme, Have I Got News For You? When I was invited to take part last October I was both excited and nervous; Paul and Ian enjoy taking MPs apart during the show - what would happen to me?

HIGNFY is made in a tower block down river from the London Eye, and is recorded the evening before transmission, so that it is topical, but the producers have time to edit it and include all the best bits in the final programme.

I got there about six and was taken to a little dressing room, where I was told my red suit would disappear into the set, but my African shirt would be fine. Then to make-up, met Paul and Ian, and into the studio, where we were told exactly where to sit, when to answer, when we could but in, and so on.

Some food - a salad in my dressing room - and finally it was time for the show to start. I was on Paul's team opposite Ian and Trisha Goddard, with po-faced Jack Dee in the chair. The chairperson’s pieces are scripted, but all the rest is off the cuff.

The questions began rather quietly, and to my surprise I got some points; I had expected Ian and Paul to know all the answers and reel them off. They were superbly quick and spontaneous, but the pressure wasn't nearly as bad as in Mastermind, and this was much more fun. I was glad I had read a few newspapers during the previous week – probably the best preparation.

Although I had half-expected to be torn apart, I could not have been more wrong. Both Paul and Ian were charming and friendly; they weren't even rude to me, and the whole evening was a good laugh.

Worried that Trisha and I would not say much; the producers got Jack to ask several supplementary questions, which meant we were in the studio for more than an hour, but the audience did not seem to mind.

After the show we all celebrated in the bar on the top floor, with a superb view over the lights of London. My only regret was that I failed during the show to get in my prepared joke: my critics say that all I do is testiculate - wave my arms about while talking bollocks.