Back for another season, Have You Been Paying Attention? has once again returned to our screens, giving us the round-up on current events in the funniest way possible.

Now in its 13th season, HYBPA? brings together some of our most beloved comedians, guest stars, and special guest quizmasters as they tackle the big stories of the week.

"I think the secret is that we all genuinely look forward to catching up with each other every Monday night," host Tom Gleisner told 10 Play. "There's a real party vibe in the studio when we are recording - and I think that comes across on screen."

While the show has a cast of favourites who regularly appear on the panel, HYBPA? has also introduced us to new faces who have quickly become adored. But what does the team look for in the perfect comedian contestant?

"We often find that people who do (or have done) radio make great contestants," Tom said. "Ed Kavalee is a perfect example. We definitely like introducing new talent, and each year our producers attend just about every show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in the hope of spotting potential performers."

Looking back on the past 12 seasons, Tom said the COVID restrictions made for one of the most memorable seasons. "We were forced to do the series remotely," he explained. "I was alone in the studio, and each of our contestants was beaming in online from their lounge rooms.

"It was like the most unwieldy office Zoom-meeting you’ve ever been part of. But we somehow made it work!"

Rounding up the most important stories of the week, and skewering them for our entertainment, Tom revealed that the show relies on their team of researchers who watch a lot of TV news, finding the perfect clips and questions each week.

"Some are in charge of logging TV breakfast shows, others do the evening bulletins," Tom said. "We had one person who was solely in charge of watching Sky News - but they are currently on stress leave," he joked.

"I watch a lot of news during the season but, like everyone, you have to be a little selective. There’s just so much happening and it all happens so fast. What’s interesting is how quickly a really 'big' story can disappear, pushed aside by the latest headlines."

Have You Been Paying Attention? airs Monday nights after MasterChef on 10 and 10 Play.