Private Eye

British satirical magazine, published fortnightly. Begun in the 1960s, it often publishes news items considered too controversial or unsubstantiated by mainstream press, and many of its writers use pseudonyms. It also publishes illustrations by many of the UK's top cartoonists.

The magazine's cover always depicts a photograph of a famous person with a speech bubble around an ironic quote in response to a current event. Sections include news, critiques of other media, politics, royal family gossip, and arts critiques, as well as spoof advertisements, quotes, obituaries, news stories, etc. Running jokes, irreverent humour, and sexual innuendo are all features.

It stemmed from a magazine edited by Richard Ingrams, William Rushton, Christopher Booker, and Paul Foot at Shrewsbury School during the 1950s. Peter Usborne, who met Ingrams and Foot at Oxford University, evolved the magazine during the 1960s, when it became known as Private Eye. Booker was the original editor, and William Rushton the original designer and illustrator.