Ian Hislop Parents: Who Are David Hislop & Emily Helen Hislop?

Ian Hislop was born to a Scottish father, David Hislop, from Ayrshire and a Channel Islander mother born in Jersey, Helen Rosemarie Hislop, who left for Wales in her late teens.

When he was five months old, Hislop’s family began to travel around the world because of his father’s job as a civil engineer. During his infant years, Hislop lived in Nigeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

While in Saudi Arabia, Hislop has said he potentially went to school with Osman Bin Laden. When Hislop was 12 years old when his father died; his mother died when he was 32.

On his return to Britain, he was educated at Ardingly College, an independent boarding school, where he became head boy and began his satirical career directing and appearing in revues alongside Nick Newman.