Believe it or not, there is a softer, charitable side to Ian Hislop, the brutal panellist on Have I Got News For You and editor of Private Eye.

As Ian Hislop will tell you, there comes a time in every celebrity’s life when your arm gets twisted to help a good cause.

In the Have I Got News For You panellist’s case it was last month, when a neighbour asked him to host a sparkling charity reception in aid of children’s charity VSU Youth in Action.

As editor of Private Eye, Ian is a busy man, but when it comes to raising money for short breaks and fun clubs for disabled children and young carers, you cannot exactly say no, can you? Thankfully, he would have done it anyway.

“I’m being marvellous for charity,” he said, laughing. “It is very nice of them to ask me to speak at this event raising money for a very good cause.

“I shall be talking about something or other in the company of a lot of positive, useful charitable people.

“I know one of the people involved in it very well. I was strongarmed in but it’s in my patch and it is nice to be doing something to help, however small.”

Ian, 50, has lived in Sissinghurst for more than 10 years with his wife, the author Victoria Hislop, who wrote The Island and The Return, and their two children.

Victoria was born in Bromley and grew up in the county, so it was the natural place to move to when they were looking to move out of the city. Ian still enjoys the buzz of Soho though, where Private Eye is based.

“You need to be in London,” he said. “You need to get the buzz. It’s a great meeting place to exchange information and jokes, and the coffee is good.”

Of course, Ian is best recognised as a panellist on Have I Got News For You, and is the only person to appear in every episode of the show since it began 20 years ago.

“It is quite a good gig really,” he said. “I just listen to the news. The joy of it is, you never know what is going to happen. You turn up and it is all new.”

Endlessly repeated on channels like Dave, Ian reckons the repeats do not lose their relevance, even if they are talking about current affairs that are no longer current.

He said: “It is never as good as the first time, but oddly enough the news in this country is very circular so you can often watch something which is five years old and the stories are more or less the same.”

60 seconds with Ian Hislop

Who has been the toughest person to sit beside on Have I Got News For You? I think Neil Kinnock was the hardest because I couldn’t get a word in.

What’s the best restaurant in Kent? Er… ooh… erm… don’t know. I would offend too many people by saying it.

What is your favourite TV show at the moment? Probably Family Guy.

On a scale of one to 10, how well is David Cameron doing as Prime Minister? You need a new scale.

Which is a better book? The Island or The Return? They are both equally brilliant.

Name one of the great lakes. Missouri. Oh no, I’ve said one that is not there (Ian could have had Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie or Ontario).

Is it true that as editor of Private Eye you are the most sued man in English history? It was true. I don’t know if it still is. I held the title for quite a while.

Who is your comedy hero? Peter Cook.

Where did you last take a holiday in the UK? Cornwall.

Which nation in the world do you think is the most friendly? The Indians.

Ian was speaking to Benedict Smith on the Breakfast Show for kmfm West Kent and Maidstone. Tune in from 6am to 10am on 105.5fm for Maidstone and 101.6 for West Kent.