Gordon Angus Deayton (/ˈdiːtən/; born 6 January 1956), known professionally as Angus Deayton, is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian, and broadcaster. He was the original presenter of the satirical panel game Have I Got News for You, a job from which he was dismissed in October 2002 after a second round of tabloid allegations about his personal life. He also played Victor Meldrew's long-suffering neighbour Patrick Trench in the comedy series One Foot in the Grave, and George Windsor in the final three series of Waterloo Road.

Biography

At Oxford, Deayton was in a relationship with actress Helen Atkinson-Wood (a co-star on Radio Active and KYTV). While touring with the HeeBeeGeeBees in Australia in the 1980s, Deayton saved Atkinson-Wood's life when he rescued her after she was caught in a rip tide while swimming off Sydney’s Manly Beach.
Deayton later lived with 1970s singer/songwriter Stephanie de Sykes.
From 1991 to 2015, he was in a long-term relationship with scriptwriter Lise Mayer.

Deayton is a Manchester United supporter.


Tabloid allegations and reaction
In May 2002, the British tabloid newspaper News of the World published allegations about Deayton's affair with a woman who later claimed she was a prostitute and about his use of cocaine. In October there were further reports of another affair, and he was asked to step down as the quizmaster of Have I Got News For You on 29 October 2002. Deayton was dismissed. One online poll, on the BBC's own website, showed over three-quarters of respondents wanting Deayton to stay on as the programme's host. Stephen Fry supported Deayton by refusing to appear on the show again.