No humour in the First World War trenches? Has Ian Hislop got news for you in new play The Wipers Times

THINK of the First World War and images of hellish trench warfare, awful conditions and horrific body counts come to mind.

What doesn’t, however, is the production of a satirical newspaper created within the mud and mayhem of the Somme, providing light relief to the Tommies in the bleakest moments.

So when Ian Hislop came across the incredible true story of The Wipers Times, he knew it had to be told.

As editor of Private Eye and panellist on Have I Got News For You, Hislop is no stranger to satire, so he was surprised to have never heard of what could be deemed a forerunner to his own publication.

“I was working on a documentary on the First World War and I kept seeing references to The Wipers Times,” he explained.

“I looked out a copy and couldn’t believe I had missed it. The writing was genuinely funny and I felt an affinity for what they were doing.”

The Wipers Times follows two officers, Captain Frederick John Roberts and Lieutenant John “Jack” Pearson, who discover a printing press in the Belgian town of Ypres (mispronounced Wipers by the British soldiers) and create a newspaper for the troops.

Far from being a sombre journal about trench life, they produced a cheerful, subversive and funny newspaper to lift frontline spirits – no easy task.

Defying enemy bombardment, gas attacks and the disapproval of many superiors, The Wipers Times rolled off production lines in various bombed-out towns for 23 issues across two years.

“The story of how it came to be is so unlikely,” Ian said.

“A group of soldiers wandering around ruins when they come across a printer, prompting one of them to say he used to be a printer on Fleet Street – it’s ridiculous!

“They were always finding printers to use as they arrived in a new city or town.

“To think they were editing pages in the trenches of the Somme is incredible.

“A phrase is used to describe it which I love – determined flippancy.

“They knew war was grim but they made light of it.”

Ian contacted his regular writing partner, Nick Newman, and they began working on a script 10 years ago.

“The intention was always to put it on as a play, but it took a while to get there,” he continued.

“We tried to sell it as a screenplay but we were told no one was interested in the First World War.

“Then the anniversary came along and it turned out everyone was interested!”

A well-received film was made for BBC1, which laid the foundations for the stage play.

The final night in Glasgow falls on Armistice Day and Ian says he is keen to be in the theatre for what he thinks should be a “fantastic” evening.

He is no stranger to Scotland, of course, as his dad, David, was a Scot.

“He was from Ayrshire and went to Glasgow University,” explained 57-year-old Ian.

“He left in 1947 and I grew up in a city full of expat civil engineers. For a long time I didn’t realise anyone else but Scots could become civil engineers!”

As editor of Private Eye, Ian was once described as the most sued man in Britain.

“The worst thing about legal action is how boring it is, how dull the court process is,” he laughed.

“We were sued all the time, just because people could. The jury used to make the figure up in their head, with no direction given. It was madness.

“The libel laws are changing, thank God.”

Ian has been an ever-present on the long-running Have I Got News For You and the show doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.

“It’s not like we aren’t being helped out with the material,” he smiled.

“Just look at the Tory party conference a few weeks ago. And no one has a clue what Trump will do next.”

One of the best parts of the show is judging how well the guest presenter performs each week.

“My favourite presenter we’ve had is William Shatner,” Ian added.

“You would never have guessed he would be a good fit.

“Kinnock was the biggest car crash. He had been in Europe for a long time, so he asked the questions a few times, did a summary and then rounded it up – the recording felt like it lasted three days!”

No such concerns at the crowd-pleasing Wipers Times.

The Wipers Times, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tues-Sat