Angus Deayton found himself on the receiving end of merciless ridicule from his Have I Got News For You co-stars over a sex scandal.

The host became the butt of jokes and admitted he was a "loser" when the show was broadcast on Friday.

Welcome to the show - this week's loser is... presenting it

Angus Deayton

The satirical news quiz was competing head-to-head for viewers with the new series of Big Brother on Channel 4.

The host looked clearly uncomfortable when filming his first show since a Sunday newspaper claimed he had sex with a prostitute and snorted cocaine in front of her.

The show normally attracts six million viewers - but that figure was likely to be swollen by people curious to see how Deayton handled jokes from team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.

His first words were: "Welcome to the show. This week's loser is... presenting it."

He continued: "The words pot, kettle, smug, git, good and kicking all come to mind."

Paul Merton interrupted Deayton's opening questions

Hislop and Merton both brandished copies of the News of the World with the headline: "TV Deayton's drugs romp with vice girl."

Merton even unveiled a T-shirt featuring the paper's front page.

And the pair left Deayton keeping "score" on how many jokes each made at his expense.

Guests Ken Livingstone and comedian Dave Gorman also made quips about Deayton, who has a baby with long-term partner, Lise Meyer.

As the host tried to ask the first questions Merton interrupted, saying: "The story I'm interested in Angus, you and this prostitute, how did you get away without paying her?"

Hislop then pulled out a copy of the News of the World and started reading it out.

"'He made me groan all night.' What were you doing, reading the autocue?"

'Bad news'

As Deayton continued to squirm, Merton told him: "I am surprised you had the nerve to turn up, you knew what it would be like."

The host replied: "I did, because of you two."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone joined in with the comment: "This is a day that Stephen Byers could have leaked more bad news."

Deayton added: "All week."

Italian escape

The News of the World said Deayton did not realise the woman, Caroline Martin, was a prostitute and had simply "chatted her up".

In an interview with the newspaper, Ms Martin claimed she had a "two-night affair" with the star.

She said she did not realise Deayton had a long-term partner and claimed they had swapped telephone numbers before meeting up at a hotel in Manchester and then again in London.

She described their encounter in detail, saying Deayton used cocaine in front of her.

Following the revelations, Deayton and his partner flew off to Italy to escape the publicity, but he vowed he would go ahead with the show as usual.