An electrosurgical instrument (10) comprising a housing (12) having an elongate main body (14) extending in an axial direction, and a grippable member (32)； an implement (16) fixed relative to and projecting from a forward region of the main body (14)； a smoke evacuation passage defined within the main body (14) and extending from an inlet proximal to the implement (16)； and an electrical conductor housed within the housing (12) for supplying an electrosurgical current to the implement (16). A separate elongate illumination element (62) is also provided which is engagable with the housing (12), the housing (12) including an axial retaining element (54) on the main body (14) for releasably engaging the elongate illumination element (62). The grippable member (32) is then slidably connected to the main body (14) over the elongate illumination element (62) such that the axial position of the grippable member (32) relative to the main body (14) may be adjusted in use without altering a position of the elongate illumination element (62).
