Angus Deayton is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and television presenter. He is best-known as the presenter of the satirical panel game Have I Got News for You, a job from which he was sacked in October 2002 after a second round of tabloid revelations about his personal life.

The youngest of three sons to a Prudential plc insurance broker/manager and a home economics school teacher, Deayton was brought up in Caterham, Surrey and attended Caterham School.

The foundation of Deayton's career was a parody of British radio stations, Radio Active, transmitted on BBC Radio 4 between 1981 and 1987, which he both co-wrote and performed in. It transferred to television as KYTV between 1989 and 1993.

During this period, Deayton was also frequently seen appearing as a straight man alongside Rowan Atkinson. He starred with Atkinson in one of the earliest episodes of Mr. Bean and appeared opposite Atkinson in the Black Adder episode "Born to be King" (1983) as one of the Jumping Jews of Jerusalem, a kind of mediaeval variety act. He also appeared regularly in comedy sketches on Alexei Sayle's Stuff.

In 1990 Deayton was cast as the Meldrews' neighbour Patrick Trench in the British suburban sitcom One Foot in the Grave and was selected as the host of Have I Got News for You.

Deayton's suave manner as host of Have I Got News for You and a tabloid kiss-and-tell story by an ex-girlfriend led to him being nicknamed "TV's Mr Sex" in 2002. He was much in demand as a presenter of television specials including the BBC's New Year's Eve show and the BAFTA Awards. He also featured in a series of advertisements for credit cards and the films Savage Hearts and Elizabeth. He was in one episode of Coupling where he appeared in a fantasy sequence alongside Mariella Frostrup.

In May 2002, the News of the World newspaper published allegations of his (adulterous) use of a prostitute and illegal drugs. He was ridiculed mercilessly by Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, (as well as Ken Livingstone and comedian Dave Gorman) in the following episode of Have I Got News For You, but was allowed to continue as presenter.

After a second round of allegations emerged in the papers the following October, Deayton was fired as presenter two episodes into the new series of Have I Got News for You.