I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

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I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue

Cover for, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Collection 1 (Volumes 1-3). From left to right: Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer, Humphrey Lyttelton, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Willie Rushton.
Other names ISIHAC
Clue
Genre Comedy panel game
Running time 30 min.
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Languages English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Starring Humphrey Lyttelton
Graeme Garden
Barry Cryer
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Willie Rushton
Producers Jon Naismith
Recording studio Various
Air dates 1972-04-11 to Present
Website
The official BBC website

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, sometimes abbreviated to ISIHAC or simply Clue, is a BBC radio comedy which has run since April 11, 1972. Since then, the programme has had several series each year, being broadcast on BBC Radio 4, with repeats on BBC 7 and the BBC's World Service. The show, introduced as "the antidote to panel games", consists of a panel of four comedians, split into two teams and "given silly things to do" by chairman Humphrey Lyttelton.

The show was conceived in 1972, as a parody of the then-ubiquitous radio and tv panel games, and includes elements that satirise such shows. The 50th series of the show was broadcast in November and December 2007 on BBC Radio 4.[1] In April 2008, following the hospitalisation and subsequent death of the show's chairman, Humphrey Lyttelton, recording of the 51st series was indefinitely postponed.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue developed from the long running radio sketch show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. The writers of the earlier show — John Cleese, Jo Kendall, David Hatch, Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor and especially Graeme Garden — found that writing a radio series was a lot of work for little reward, so Graeme Garden suggested the idea of an unscripted show.[3] It was decided that this would take the form of a parody panel game, with Garden, Brooke-Taylor, Oddie and Kendall as the panellists, with occasional appearances by others. Humphrey Lyttelton, previously well known as a jazz trumpeter and band leader, was invited to become the host because the others felt the role played by improvisation would make the new show the comedy equivalent of jazz.[4]. Humphrey Lyttelton continued as chairman up until his death on 25th April 2008.

The pilot episode opened with Graeme Garden and Jo Kendall singing the words of "Three Blind Mice" to the tune of "Ol' Man River" followed by Bill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor singing the lyrics of "Sing a Song of Sixpence" to the tune of "These Foolish Things". Dave Lee was at the piano and a number of rounds were introduced by a short phrase of music. Other rounds featured included "dialogue read in a specific accent" and "songs sung as animals".[5]

Some early episodes of the series, including the first episode, were wiped in the late 1970s. Following the BBC's Treasure Hunt appeal for missing material in 2002, several episodes were recovered from off-air recordings made by listeners.

In the first series Lyttelton alternated in the role of chairman with Barry Cryer, but from the second series he took the position full time, with Cryer replacing Jo Kendall on the panel.[4] In 1974 Bill Oddie was replaced by Willie Rushton, and the lineup remained fairly stable from this point until Rushton's death in 1996. Since then the fourth seat on the panel has not been filled permanently, but instead has featured a variety of comedians.[6]

Over this time the show has built up a large and devoted following, with over 2 million listeners on Radio 4, and its recording sessions typically fill out 1500-seat theatres within a week:[3] at least one recording for the spring 2006 series filled all its seats within three hours of the free tickets being made available, and the London recording of the autumn series in that year sold out in ten minutes. Although there are twelve Clue shows broadcast per year (six each in the spring and autumn), these are the result of just six recording sessions, with two programmes being recorded back-to-back. The show was recently voted the second funniest radio programme ever, behind The Goon Show. It also has a large following among professional comedians such as Armando Iannucci, who turned down opportunities to work on it, preferring to remain a listener.[7] Jack Dee, on the special I'm Sorry I Haven't a Desert Island, explained that he did not want to appear on Clue as he felt his voice would spoil it, but since then he has in fact appeared as a panellist.

Occasionally, the show has broadcast special editions, including:

[edit] Awards

The programme has won the Gold Sony Radio Comedy Award three times:

  • 1995: featuring Humphrey Lyttelton, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Willie Rushton
  • 2002: featuring the usual cast and Jeremy Hardy. The citation was as follows:

"Despite its many years on air, this still stands out as a very funny programme — risky, rude, brilliantly written and superbly performed. Humphrey Lyttelton’s comic timing is genius!"[8]

  • 2004: I'm Sorry I Haven't A Christmas Carol, featuring the usual cast with Stephen Fry, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Tony Hawks, Sandi Toksvig and Linda Smith. The citation was as follows:

"A stunning cast performing a blistering script — only really possible on radio. This show took a long established, very successful format to a higher level — an excellent blend of the regular format and zany style of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue with A Christmas Carol."[9]

Other awards:

  • 1995: Best Radio Comedy, British Comedy Award
  • 1997: Radio Programme of the Year, British Press Guild
  • 1997: Radio Programme of the Year, Voice of the Viewer & Listener
  • 2003: Radio Programme of the Year, Voice of the Viewer & Listener
  • 2003: Radio Programme of the Year, Television & Radio Industries Club
  • 2003: Best Comedy, Spoken Word Award
  • 2005: Radio Programme of the Year, Television & Radio Industries Club

[edit] Participants

Humphrey Lyttelton and producer Jon Naismith during a 2005 recording of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Humphrey Lyttelton and producer Jon Naismith during a 2005 recording of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Ross Noble joins the regulars in Edinburgh. The producer is sitting in the place reserved for Samantha, the scorer.
Ross Noble joins the regulars in Edinburgh. The producer is sitting in the place reserved for Samantha, the scorer.

[edit] Chairman

Humphrey Lyttelton, generally referred to as "Humph", was chairman of the show from its first episode in 1972 (although in the first series he shared presenting duties with Barry Cryer) until his death on 2008-04-25.[10][11] He read the script introducing the programme and segments in an utterly deadpan manner. He claimed the secret was just to read what was in front of him without understanding why it was funny. He adopted the grumpy persona of someone who would really rather be somewhere else, which he attributed to worrying that, surrounded by four professional comedians, he would have nothing worthwhile to chip in. He did occasionally depart from the script, however, often bringing the house down with an ad-lib.[12] He was credited by the regular panellists as being the chief reason for the show's longevity.[13] The chairman's script is written by Iain Pattinson, who has worked on the show since 1992.[14]

[edit] Panellists

The regular panellists for much of the show's history were:

  • Graeme Garden was a member of the I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again team that the programme grew out of and has been a panellist since its first episode. Lyttelton describes him as being very dry, biding his time before stepping in with a perfect punchline.[15]
  • Barry Cryer hosted six episodes in the show's first series before moving into a permanent seat on the panel. He is credited by the chairman as being the show's "bricks and mortar", providing quickfire one-liners in any situation.[15] There is a running joke in the programme that he is a dirty old man with a drink problem.[6]
  • Tim Brooke-Taylor was also part of the I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again team and has also been with the show since the start. He is very popular with the crowd and adopts a vulnerable persona.[15] Garden and Brooke-Taylor had previously worked together on television in The Goodies, and Brooke-Taylor in particular will occasionally drop references to that show into some of the games, eliciting cheers from the audience. He was absent for some episodes of the 50th series (broadcast in November and December 2007) and replaced by other guests.
  • Willie Rushton was one of the regular panel members from 1974 until his death in 1996. The other panellists have fond memories of his off-the-wall sense of humour and quick-fire puns.[6]

Guest panellists have appeared on the show when one of the regulars was unavailable and also replacing Willie Rushton after his death in 1996. These have included:

[edit] Musical accompaniment

Colin Sell usually provides musical accompaniment to some of the games. He is often the butt of jokes making fun of his piano-playing, which he takes in good part — he is unable to respond, as he has pointed out, due to the fact that he does not have his own microphone.[16] For example:

"When music experts hear Colin's compositions, they say he could have been another Berlin, Porter, or anybody else employed by the German State Railway."

or

"We've just heard some great news — I'm very pleased to announce that the BBC have arranged a special collection of Colin's entire work... they've bagged it up and the council are sending some men round for it on Tuesday."

or

"When I tell people I work with Colin Sell, they often ask me "how is the maestro?". Well, Colin tells me that it's failed its MOT again, but should be back on the road by next Tuesday"

Guest pianist, when Colin Sell has been double-booked and the ISIHAC team have "won the coin toss", has been former Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band member and Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes, or occasionally Denis King or Matthew Scott. Humph's band also appeared on one special occasion.[6] Once when Innes was guesting Lyttelton outlined the musician's career, before concluding that this "has brought him to where he is today: standing in for Colin Sell." Innes then played the funeral march. On another appearance, Innes sang along to his own composition "I'm the Urban Spaceman" during a round of "Pick Up Song".[17]

Early episodes featured Dave Lee on piano.

The theme music is called "The Schickel Shamble", by Ron Goodwin, and is from the film Monte Carlo or Bust. It was chosen by David Hatch.[13]

[edit] Commentary

The late Raymond Baxter was occasionally drafted to commentate on sessions of Mornington Crescent.[6]

[edit] Scorers

Since 18 May 1985, the show's routines have included a fictional and completely silent scorer, "whose job is eased by the fact no points are actually awarded". This role is usually filled by "the lovely Samantha" — who likes to sit on Humph's left hand. When Samantha has been unavailable her role has been filled by the Swedish stand-in scorer, Sven, or occasionally another substitute, Monica.[6] In one episode in November 1991, both Samantha and Sven were present, but they were occupied with each other during the performance and were thus unable to award any points.

At the recording on 22 November 1990 (the day Margaret Thatcher resigned), Humph introduced the scorer in the following way:

"Well, it's been a momentous week or so, and naturally we're all saddened by the loss of a woman who has served faithfully for over a decade, and who for many years had benefited from massive support. Yes, I'm sorry to say that Samantha, our scorer, can't be with us tonight due to a freak riding accident!"

The replacement scorer for that edition was "the lovely Margaret". This programme (first broadcast on 1 December 1990) included "Late Arrivals at the Conservative Party Ball". During the show, it was alleged that the scorer was good at removing "Conservative Party Balls".

At the start of the programme, and when introducing appropriate rounds, Humph will tell the listeners what Samantha has recently been doing. These comments have made the show notable for including far more and far ruder innuendo and double entendre than the BBC would ever broadcast on television in a similar early evening timeslot, though the show's standard response to this is that any humour exists solely in the mind of the listener. Early in Samantha's career on ISIHAC, when it was not completely clear whether or not she was a fictional character, a letter appeared in the BBC's Radio Times magazine protesting at the sexist and humiliating treatment she received on the programme.

For example:

"Samantha's going out now for an ice cream with her new Italian gentleman friend. She says she's looking forward to licking the nuts off a large Neapolitan."

And (November 2006):

"She's popped out to visit an old gentleman friend of hers who's a notorious curmudgeon. However, she finds that if she butters him up properly she can sometimes get him to splash out."

Another shows the extent to which the BBC allows these observations of Samantha's activities:

"In her spare time, Samantha likes nothing more than to peruse old record shops. She particularly enjoys a rewarding poke in the country section."

In a programme from 1997, Humph says: "It's just occurred to me that Samantha hasn't given us the score... since 1981."

[edit] Correspondence

A regular feature on the programme, always preceding the game Mornington Crescent is the fictional letters section, invariably containing one letter. This usually begins with Humph sarcastically hyping the number of letters (for example, "I notice from the sheer weight of this week's postbag, we've received a little over no letters" and "I see from the number of letters raining down on us this week that the Scrabble factory has exploded again"). The letter each week is from a "Mrs Trellis of North Wales", an idiosyncratic and prolific correspondent to the chairman. Her incoherent letters usually involve her mistaking Humph for another Radio 4 presenter or media personality, and are read out to much amusement.

"A Mrs Trellis of North Wales has written in to complain that the show has 'an enormous fistful of rampant innuendo rammed into every crack', but only a truly filthy-minded person would think such a thing."

"Dear Mr Titchmarsh: This morning I went out to dig up some dandelions and a giant hogweed on my lawn. The filthy beast! Yours faithfully, Mrs Trellis."

"Dear Mrs McCartney: My, what a terrible mess. You must be kicking yourself."

"Dear Mr Melly: Here's a great tip for removing any annoying little hairs that collect in the bath plughole: tempt them up with a carrot and pull them out by their long floppy ears."

"Dear Rolf: They say a dog isn't just for Christmas. How true. You can use it for sandwiches all through January."

[edit] Humour

Many of the games are inherently humorous and even those theoretically capable of being taken seriously are played for laughs. I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue's humour is mostly derived from wordplay of one kind or another[3] such as puns or mocking other styles of speech. For example, in a round based on suggesting television programmes from biblical times:

Most of the humour is detached from the real world. Steve Punt cites it as one of his favourite radio shows because "there's no points being made or targets being attacked."[18] Contemporary references are occasionally made by participants but these are usually asides, not related to the thrust of the game. The show does occasionally comment on the outside world, though this is done from an innocent perspective. For example, the game "Complete George Bush Quotes" was once played, in which the teams had to supply the endings to phrases that George Bush had begun. This was mocking the American president's frequent verbal slips (see Bushism) rather than any aspects of his policy, with the teams frequently complaining that no matter what they said, they couldn't be any funnier than the real ending.

A frequent source of humour is the supposed presence of something, or someone, which is visually impressive but makes no sound, and therefore cannot be fully appreciated by the radio audience. For example, the regular scorer is "the lovely Samantha" (who never speaks a word), and the team has trialled many "advanced laser scoreboards" over recent decades. In fact, these things are of course fictional — the "laser display screen" (sometimes described in more elaborate terms), used in rounds in which the panel must not see what the audience sees, most frequently "Sound Charades" (see below), is in fact the producer running on to the stage holding a large card with the words written on it (conveyed to listeners at home by the "mystery voice", a device also employed in the 1960s radio show Twenty Questions). This explains the joke, employed on many occasions, of the display screen being "so generously funded by our hosts"). The studio audience invariably plays along with the joke by providing gasps of wonder and applause at the appropriate moment.

Possibly the most well-developed instance of this form-versus-content humour was an occasion when Humph announced that they had a very distinguished actor as a guest, and he would be joining in the game of Mornington Crescent. The panellists first played a normal game, ostensibly to give the guest a chance to acclimatise. With much gravitas the guest then approached the panel's table, taking his place such that he would be the last to make his first move. When the game started, the penultimate player, the last of the panellists, won on his first move, thus denying the distinguished guest the opportunity to make even a single move in the game. The chairman apologised, but explained that that was an unavoidable possibility in the game, and the guest gracefully left, without having ever uttered a word. The show was allegedly inundated with complaints at the treatment of Alec Guinness. This story has become somewhat mythical and a favourite of Lyttelton's, who claimed in interviews that the "distinguished actor" had never actually been named on the show,[19] but on the actual recording he can be heard to say, "Well I'm very sorry about that. Rather unfortunate. We would like to go on and ask you a few things about what you're doing currently, Sir Alec, but we do have to hurry on to the next game."[20]

Musical games are also played. These games are inherently silly and the results often amusingly awful. They often involve juxtaposing two elements of music that are normally kept apart, such as singing "One Song to the Tune of Another" or playing a song using only a swanee whistle and a kazoo. The fact that many of the panellists can't really sing (or, in Jeremy Hardy's case, really can't sing) is played for laughs, as is the (alleged) inability of the show's pianist, Colin Sell.

Self-deprecation forms a big part of the show's humour. It frequently pokes fun at itself and its supposed low quality. For example, Humph was heard to exclaim at the end of a round:

  • "Nietzsche said that life was a choice between suffering and boredom. He never said anything about having to put up with both at the same time."
  • "I'm often prone to bouts of misplaced optimism. This round's going to be a hum-dinger!"
  • An introduction to Sound Charades, a round based on Give Us a Clue, went: "In the TV version the teams were not allowed to speak, making the games both silent and hilarious. Our version differs in just two ways."

Parodies of other similar shows are also executed. "Celebrity What's My Line?" completely destroyed the intent of the original — for players to guess the occupation of a third party by asking yes/no questions. The I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue version once employed the famous actress (and fan of the show) Judi Dench in this role, and the renowned television gardener Alan Titchmarsh. Each began by performing a mime illustrating their occupation, giving a cryptic clue to the panel (appearing to a radio listener as a short silence punctuated by exclamations from the panel and laughter from the studio audience), before fielding apparently serious questions from the teams, who pretended not to know who they were. Apart from the silliness of pretending that a celebrity's occupation is unknown, humour comes from the bizarre lines of questioning from the panel (e.g. "Is that your own hair?" or "Do you kill people for money?").

At the close of one show, Humph asked the teams to read the cuttings that they had brought along with them, in the manner of fellow Radio 4 host Simon Hoggart on The News Quiz. The teams proceeded to read their cuttings, but only to themselves. Hence followed some interested murmurs from the teams and much laughter from the audience. This is a good example of double-meanings being used in the Clue comedy style.

After over thirty years on the air, one of the most important aspects of the show is its huge stock of running gags, which, if not always funny in themselves, can elicit huge anticipatory laughter from the studio audience. For example, when introducing Sound Charades the mere mention of Lionel Blair by Humph will often bring roars of laughter in anticipation of an outrageous double-entendre. Likewise, in the Film club round any reference by Graeme Garden to Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia is sure to elicit a rapturous response.

[edit] Format

The show roughly follows a standard panel game format: the chairman introduces the show with some humorous remarks, such as:

"Hello and welcome to I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. Tonight, we promise you a nail-biting contest. Which will be followed by a nose-picking contest."

The chairman continues by providing a little background material on the area in which the show is being recorded which is interspersed with jokes based upon it. For example:

"Nottingham is a fine city with a fascinating history. It's well documented in official records that the city's original name was 'Snottingham', or 'Home of Snots', but when the Normans came, they couldn't pronounce the letter 'S', so decreed the town be called 'Nottingham' or the 'Home of Notts'. It's easy to understand why this change was resisted so fiercely by the people of Scunthorpe."

or another example is:

"The story of Hastings only really begins with the historic battle, which was fought at a nearby town called Battle. Now, what are the chances of that happening."

After this a series of nominally competitive rounds are introduced. In some games the panellists play as individuals, while for others they are grouped into two teams of two players. Most of the games involve interaction between the players, but the team games tend to consist of separate efforts. Although many of the games appear to end with a winner, the show is not, in fact, the least bit competitive. No score is kept and no winner is announced. Several games lack even the appearance of competitiveness.

The rounds are introduced by the chairman. Usually he rambles for a few sentences, apparently fairly aimlessly, before finishing on a double entendre set up by the preceding story. Each regular game has its own introduction. For example, 'One Song to the Tune of Another' is always introduced using a complex analogy to allow the listener to better understand the concepts involved.

The show draws to a close with Lyttelton imparting some final words of wisdom intended to evoke time, fate and eternity, undercut with silliness. For example:

"...And so, as the guardsman of time strokes the bearskin of eternity, and the sergeant major of fate orders him back to the barracks to put some clothes on..."

"...And so, as the hunter of time blasts the moose of eternity, and the dairy counter worker of fate sighs and grabs her mop..."

or

"...And so, ladies and gentlemen, as the 4x4 of destiny on the level crossing of fate stalls in the path of the speeding freight train of doom, and the signalman of time rushes to fetch his camera..." (2006-11-27)

[edit] Broadcast list

  • 1st Series (1972) - 11 April-4 July [13 episodes]
  • 2nd Series (1973) - 30 April-23 July [13 episodes]
  • 3rd Series (1974) - 28 August-2 October [6 episodes]
  • 4th Series (1975) - 29 July-16 September [8 episodes]
  • 5th Series (1976) - 6 March-10 April [6 episodes]
  • 6th Series (1978) - 22 August-24 October [10 episodes]
  • 7th Series (1979) - 16 July-17 September [10 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1979) - 24 December
  • Christmas Special (1980) - 24 December
  • 8th Series (1981) - 22 August-24 October [10 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1981) - 24 December
  • 9th Series (1982) - 20 March-27 March [2 episodes], 10 April-22 May [8 episodes]
  • 10th Series (1983) - 26 February-30 April [10 episodes]
  • 11th Series (1984) - 7 April-9 June [10 episodes]
  • 12th Series (1985) - 4 May-6 July [10 episodes]
  • 13th Series (1986) - 26 July-27 September [10 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1986) - 25 December
  • 14th Series (1987) - 17 August-19 October [10 episodes]
  • 15th Series (1989) - 7 January-11 March [10 episodes]
  • 16th Series (Spring 1990) - 5 February-12 March [6 episodes]
  • 17th Series (Autumn 1990) - 17 November-29 December [7 episodes]
  • 18th Series (Summer 1991) - 22 June-27 July [6 episodes]
  • 19th Series (Autumn 1991) - 19 October-7 December [8 episodes]
  • 20th Series (Summer 1992) - 23 May-27 June [6 episodes]
  • 21st Series (Autumn 1992) - 14 November-19 December [6 episodes], 26 December [Compilation]
  • 22nd Series (1993) - 6 November-11 December [6 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1993) - 25 December
  • 23rd Series (Summer 1994) - 28 May-2 July [6 episodes]
  • 24th Series (Autumn 1994) - 5 November-10 December [6 episodes]
  • 25th Series (Summer 1995) - 27 May-1 July [6 episodes]
  • 26th Series (Autumn 1995) - 11 November-16 December [6 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1995) - 25 December
  • 27th Series (Summer 1996) - 1 June-6 July [6 episodes]
  • 28th Series (Autumn 1996) - 9 November-14 December [6 episodes]
  • 29th Series (Summer 1997) - 6 June-12 July [6 episodes]
  • 30th Series (Autumn 1997) - 8 November-6 December [6 episodes], 25 December [Compilation]
  • Compilations (1998) - 6 April-20 April [3 episodes]
  • 31st Series (Summer 1998) - 27 April-1 June [6 episodes]
  • 32nd Series (Autumn 1998) - 30 November-4 January 1999 [6 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1998) - 25 December
  • Special (1999) - 11 January [I'm Sorry I Haven't A Desert Island]
  • 33rd Series (Summer 1999) - 24 May-28 June [6 episodes]
  • 34th Series (Autumn 1999) - 8 November-13 December [6 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (1999) - 25 December
  • 35th Series (Summer 2000) - 22 May-26 June [6 episodes]
  • 36th Series (Autumn 2000) - 13 November-18 December [6 episodes]
  • 37th Series (Summer 2001) - 28 May-2 July [6 episodes]
  • 38th Series (Autumn 2001) - 12 November-17 December [6 episodes]
  • Christmas Special (2001) - 24 December
  • Special (2002) - 13 April [30th Anniversary Special]
  • 39th Series (Summer 2002) - 20 May-24 June [6 episodes]
  • 40th Series (Autumn 2002) - 18 November-23 December [6 episodes]
  • 41st Series (Summer 2003) - 26 May-30 June [6 episodes]
  • 42nd Series (Autumn 2003) - 17 November-22 December [6 episodes], 22 December [Compilation], 25 December [I'm Sorry I Haven't A Christmas Carol]
  • 43rd Series - (Summer 2004) - 31 May 2004 - 5 July 2004 [6 episodes]
  • 44th Series - (Winter 2004) - 6 December 2004 - 17 January 2005 [6 episodes], 27 December [Compilation]
  • 45th Series - (Summer 2005) - 30 May 2005 - 4 July 2005 [6 episodes]
  • Special (2005) - 1 September [Edinburgh Festival Special]
  • 46th Series - (Autumn 2005) - 14 November 2005 - 26 December 2005 [6 episodes], 12 December [Repeat of Edinburgh Festival Special]
  • Special (2005) - 24 December [In Search of Mornington Crescent]
  • 47th Series (2006) - 22 May-26 June [6 episodes]
  • 48th Series (2006) - 13 November-18 December [6 episodes]
  • 49th Series (2007) - 4 June-9 July [6 episodes]
  • 50th Series (2007) - 12 November - 17 December [6 episodes], 24th December [compilation], 25th December [Humph In Wonderland]

Excluding compilations and repeats, this totals 367 episodes.

[edit] Games

Main article: List of games on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

Many different games are played on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. Some are played frequently but there are dozens more that feature less often. A few have only been played once: either because the joke only works once or because the result was not particularly successful.

Examples of the more popular games include One Song to the Tune of Another, Mornington Crescent, Sound Charades, Double Feature (film titles for a specific demographic, e.g. undertakers) and Cheddar Gorge.

[edit] Future of the programme

On 18 April 2008, the producer of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, Jon Naismith, announced that, owing to hospitalisation to repair an aortic aneurysm, Lyttelton would not be able to record the upcoming scheduled shows, and that the recordings scheduled for spring 2008 would have to be postponed. He also revealed that the final show of the 2008 tour would be presented by Rob Brydon.[21]

It is not known what the future holds for the programme, following Lyttelton's death on 25 April 2008.[10][11] There is speculation that the series may be cancelled because replacing Lyttelton would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.[22] In a eulogy in The Guardian, Barry Cryer did not allude to the future of the programme, but said that there's "got to be an agonising reappraisal", and that Lyttelton was the "very hub of the show".[23]

The panel of Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden have ruled themselves out of hosting the show; the frontrunners for the role, according to The Times, will include Rob Brydon, Jeremy Hardy and Paul Merton. Barry Cryer said that he did not think the programme would work if a panellist became chairman and that it, "would need somebody of stature to be parachuted in".[24]

Last year Tim Brooke-Taylor said, "Humph is the most important component. Willie Rushton and I talked about it once and we agreed that if Humph isn't there it's not worth doing." while Barry Cryer said that the current series had been postponed indefinitely, although he added that, "Whether it is for good we don't know. It's too early to say."[25]

[edit] Tours

[edit] 2007

In 2007, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: The Official Stage Tour visited 9 locations across England. While the broadcast shows are recorded on location, this was the first ISIHAC touring stage show in the show's 35 year history. It was a best of show, featuring favourite rounds from the past 35 years, and the guest panellist was Jeremy Hardy. The shows were not recorded for broadcast on Radio 4, although it was suggested that they may be recorded for release as part of the BBC Radio Collection.[26]

Dates

[edit] 2008

In 2008, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: The Official Stage Tour embarked on another best of tour, with the intention of visiting many parts of the UK that were missed in the autumn 2007 dates.[27]

Dates

[edit] Producers

The show has had a number of producers over the years:

[edit] BBC Audiobook releases

[edit] WTBS recordings

Episodes of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue were included in the package of programmes held in 20 underground radio stations of the BBC's Wartime Broadcasting Service (WTBS), designed to provide public information and morale-boosting broadcasts for 100 days after a nuclear attack.[28]

[edit] References

  1. ^ I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.
  2. ^ David Randall (2008-04-27). Millions haven't a clue what they'll do without Humph. The Independent. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  3. ^ a b c I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue - A History. BBC.
  4. ^ a b Profile. Chortle.co.uk.
  5. ^ Games Info. The I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Info Site.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g People. The I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Info Site.
  7. ^ Duncan, Andrew (2006-02-11), Radio Times 
  8. ^ Winners – The Comedy Award. (Gold Award). Sony Radio Academy Awards (2002). Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  9. ^ Winners – The Comedy Award. (Gold Award). Sony Radio Academy Awards (2004). Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  10. ^ a b Humphrey Lyttelton (2008-04-25). Retrieved on 2008-04-25.
  11. ^ a b Jazz legend Lyttelton dies at 86. BBC News (2008-04-25). Retrieved on 2008-04-25.
  12. ^ Interview with Humphrey Lyttelton. BBC.
  13. ^ a b Interview with Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Barry Cryer. BBC.
  14. ^ Iain Pattinson at Amanda Howard Associates
  15. ^ a b c Interview with Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Barry Cryer. [BBC].
  16. ^ Interview with Colin Sell. BBC.
  17. ^ I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. 1997-11-15.
  18. ^ Steve Punt: My Radio 4. BBC (via Internet Archive).
  19. ^ That Reminds Me, 2007-01-31, BBC7
  20. ^ ISIHAC, 1979-12-24, BBC Radio 4
  21. ^ Naismith, Jon. I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Mailout 18.4.08. "The Official I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Mailing List" mailing list.
  22. ^ News - RIP Humphrey Lyttelton. British Sitcom Guide (2008-04-25). Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  23. ^ David Smith (2008-04-27). He was the hub of the show, the urbane man surrounded by idiots. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  24. ^ "Humphrey Lyttelton delivers swansong with giant kazoo band", The Times, 2008-04-27. 
  25. ^ "Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue could end after death of Humphrey Lyttelton", Evening Standard, 2008-04-28. 
  26. ^ Naismith, Jon. I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Tour. "The Official I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Mailing List" mailing list.
  27. ^ Naismith, Jon. I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Tour Dates 2008. "The Official I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Mailing List" mailing list.
  28. ^ Hellen, Nicholas. "Julie Andrews to sing to Brits during nuclear attack", Sunday Times, 1999-07-11. 

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I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Tim Brooke-Taylor — Barry Cryer — Graeme Garden — Humphrey Lyttelton — Willie Rushton — Colin Sell
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