The celebrated BBC host has stepped down from This Week after the final episode aired in front of a live audience on Thursday night. To kick off proceedings, Mr Neil laid into every grave political gaffe the show had made since it was commissioned in January 2003, as the audience descended into fits of laughter. Grinning, the talkshow host said: “In the early months of 2003 we had pined wisely on the success of Anglo-American invasion of Iraq.

“We didn’t warn you of the disasters to follow.

“We charted the demise of Tony Blair and welcomed the premiership of Gordon Brown – we won’t make that mistake again.

“Of course, we had no idea a great crash was coming in 2008 but when it did we were confident of its causes and consequences.

“So confident it was almost as if we knew what we were talking about.

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“Of course, we hadn’t a clue.

“We were pretty sure the Tories would win the 2010 election. It produced a hung parliament.

“We forecast the 2015 election would result in another coalition.

“The Tories won an overall majority.

“We did not, in a month of Sundays, foresee ‘Jezza the magic grandpa’ becoming leader of the Labour Party.

“I mean, the ‘Maybot’ was barely on our radar either but we did foresee her coasting to victory in the 2017 election, even as it became clear her campaign was being run by the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

“Naturally, she lost her majority.

“Only six months ago we were telling you that Boris Johnson wouldn’t even make it into the final two in any Tory leadership contest.

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“Yep, that pretty much stood the test of time.

“But we did get Trump and Brexit right.

“Actually, we didn’t.

“And some of you are still wondering why we’re being taken off the air!”

The late night talkshow was well-known for its acerbic wit and political commentary from familiar guests including Michael Portillo and Diane Abbott.

It was revealed in February that Neil was bowing out from This Week, bringing the BBC One political chat show to an end after 16 years.

The final outing took place in front of an audience of hundreds in Westminster’s Central Hall.

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