Join broadcaster Lorraine Heggessey, in conversation with Ian Hislop, arguably Britain’s most Hogarthian satirist. 

Find out how the eight paintings in A Rake’s Progress by William Hogarth have inspired Ian Hislop and discover the questionable political practices exposed in Hogarth’s later series The Humours of an Election (both series of paintings collected by Sir John Soane).

Hislop will reveal how Hogarth invented many of the jokes still used today and how his humour and satire influences many contemporary cartoonists, from Steve Bell to Nick Newman.

A precursor of the modern box set, Hogarth’s hugely popular prints were mass produced and available widely. He was a pioneer in copyright for artists and was instrumental in creating an act of Parliament to ensure artists got paid for their work – also ensuring his own work became lucrative. Unusually for a satirist, Hogarth also devoted many years to charitable causes to improve the lives of abandoned children, including as an influential governor of the Foundling Hospital.

Ian Hislop is a writer, journalist and broadcaster – and knowledgeable Hogarth enthusiast. He has been editor of Private Eye since 1986. He is probably best known for his role as a regular team captain on the BBC show Have I Got News for You. He has appeared on BBC Question Time, written and presented many documentaries for television and radio. Ian has also written award-winning stage plays and in 2018, curated an exhibition at the British Museum, I Object: Ian Hislop’s Search for Dissent.

Lorraine Heggessey was the first woman to run BBC1, where she brought Strictly Come Dancing to our screens and was named by GQ as the third most influential woman in the UK. She has since run talkbackThames and The Royal Foundation. Lorraine is currently advisor to Channel 4’s Growth Fund and is Chair of The Grierson Trust and Pitzhanger’s Development Board.

Tickets £12 (£7 for Members)

Online Event.