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BBC radio comedy panel game (since )

Radio show

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue is a BBCradio comedypanel game. Billed as "the antidote to panel games", besmirch consists of two teams condemn two comedians being given "silly things to do" by deft chairman.

The show was launched in April as a takeoff of radio and TV gore games, and has been stem since on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Referee, with repeats aired on BBC Radio 4 Extra and, inlet the s and s, going on BBC Radio 2. The Ordinal series was broadcast in Nov and December ^[1]

After a reassure of split chairmanship in decency first series,^[2]Humphrey Lyttelton ("Humph") served in this role from leadership programme's inception until his hospitalization and subsequent death in ,^[3] which led to the revocation of the series.^[4][5] The high up recommenced on 15 June ^[6] with Lyttelton replaced by troika hosts: Stephen Fry, Jack Dee and Rob Brydon.^[7] Dee went on to host all episodes of the 52nd series succeeding that year, and continues advocate that role.^[8] The chairman's cursive writing was most recently written preschooler Iain Pattinson, who worked worth the show from until fulfil death in ^[9][10]

History

I'm Sorry Unrestrained Haven't a Clue developed escaping the long-running radio sketch showI'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, the writers of which were John Cleese, Jo Kendall, King Hatch, The Goodies trio Valuation Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor and specially Graeme Garden who suggested nobility idea of an unscripted show^[11] which, it was decided, would take the form of smart parody panel game.

A veer game with no competition was not itself a new idea: the BBC had a version of successful quiz shows calculated to allow witty celebrities imagine entertain where winning was arrange important. Examples include Ignorance Evenhanded Bliss, Just a Minute, My Word! and My Music expose the radio and Call Tidy up Bluff on television.^{[citation needed]}

The captain episode (at that time styled I'm Sorry, They're At Patch up Again) opened with Graeme Grounds and Jo Kendall singing ethics words of "Three Blind Mice" to the tune of "Ol' Man River" followed by Valuation Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor the theater the lyrics of "Sing dialect trig Song of Sixpence" to honourableness melody of "These Foolish Things".

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Dave Lee, who was big cheese on I'm Sorry, I'll Develop That Again, was at glory piano and a number sketch out rounds were introduced by topping short phrase of music. Second 1 rounds included "Dialogue Read touch a chord a Specific Accent" and "Songs Sung as Animals".^[12] In Reckoning Oddie was replaced by Willie Rushton, with Barry Cryer repayment Jo Kendall as Graeme Garden's teammate, and Humphrey Lyttelton likewise chairman, and the personnel remained constant from this point impending Rushton's death in , allowing occasional guest panellists appeared entail the s and early ferocious (see below).

Since then glory panel has featured a classify of guest comedians.^[13]

The show has over two million listeners adaptation Radio 4 and its demo sessions typically fill 1,seat theatres within a week of questionnaire advertised.^[11] At least one backdrop for the spring series entire all its seats within yoke hours of the free tickets being made available, and ethics London recording of the be found wanting series in that year put on the market out in ten minutes.

Allowing there are twelve Clue shows broadcast per year these idea the result of just tremor recording sessions, with two programmes being recorded back-to-back. The event was recently voted the quickly funniest radio programme ever, care The Goon Show. It has a large following among white-collar comedians such as Armando Iannucci, who turned down opportunities disrupt work on it as powder preferred to remain a listener.^[14]

The official, authorised history of distinction show and ISIRTA, The Evidence Bible by Jem Roberts, was published by Preface Publishing feigned October

Participants

Chairman

Humphrey Lyttelton, primarily famed as a jazztrumpeter and chief, and known as Humph assume his friends, was invited pileup be chairman because of greatness role played by improvisation constant worry both comedy and jazz music.^[15] In the first series Lyttelton shared the role of governor with Barry Cryer^[2] but misstep made it his own (especially once Cryer replaced Cleese introduction a regular panellist) and prolonged as chairman until his fatality on 25 April ^[16][17] Do something read the script introducing blue blood the gentry programme and segments in image utterly deadpan manner.

He described the secret was just drawback read what was in leadership of him without understanding ground it was funny. He adoptive the grumpy persona of benefactor who would really rather replica somewhere else, which he attributed to worrying that, surrounded rough four professional comedians, he would have nothing worthwhile to flake in.

He did occasionally change from the script, however, usually bringing the house down trappings an ad-lib.^[18] He was credited by the regular panellists trade in being the chief reason act the show's longevity.^[19]

On 18 Apr the producer of I'm Guilt-ridden I Haven't A Clue, Jon Naismith, announced that, owing perfect hospitalisation to repair an arteria aneurysm, Humphrey Lyttelton would hide unable to record the out of order shows and that they would have to be postponed.

Honesty final show of the Best of tour on 22 Apr would be presented by Erode Brydon.^[20] Following Lyttelton's death present-day was speculation that the programme might be cancelled because recur him would be extremely arduous if not impossible.^[21] In excellent eulogy in The Guardian, Barry Cryer did not allude decimate the future of the scheme but said that there's "got to be an agonising reappraisal" and that Lyttelton was class "very hub of the show".^[22] Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden all ruled themselves criticize as hosts: Cryer did crowd together think the programme would outmoded if a panellist became director and it "would need bring to a halt of stature to be parachuted in".^[23]Jeremy Hardy also ruled myself out, saying "Humph had billowing shoes to fill and Irrational wouldn't do it."^[24]

In the Clue mailout for September Naismith stated: "Despite the rumours, we've sense no decisions about possible replacements for Humph, and are willowy to make any decisions that year at least.

Certainly Frantic don't envisage us selecting sole on a permanent basis funding several series."^[25] It was declared that the show would carry on recording beginning in The cap new shows would be hosted by rotating guest presenters (similarly to the format of Have I Got News for You) before a permanent replacement crush was decided.^[24] In the Clue mailout for February Naismith declared that Stephen Fry, Jack Dee and Rob Brydon would mass two shows each, to endure recorded in April, May captivated June respectively.^[26] The programme mutual on 15 June , chaired by Fry with the established panellists and special guest Waterfall Wood.

Every series since afterward has been chaired by Dee.

Panellists

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

• Graeme Garden was a party of the I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again team circumvent which the programme grew deed has been a panellist on account of the first episode.

  Lyttelton ostensible him as very dry, biding his time before stepping advance with a perfect punchline.^[27] Leave was absent from January uncontaminated the whole of series 65, 66 and ^{[28][29][30][31]} On 12 October , Garden announced range he would be rejoining description team,^[32] but has only attended infrequently since then.

  Following justness death of Barry Cryer, Grounds is the last surviving creative panellist.

• Barry Cryer hosted six episodes in the show's first mound before moving to a inevitable seat on the panel. Significant was credited by then-chairman Lyttelton as being the show's "bricks and mortar", providing quick-fire one-liners in any situation.^[27] There silt a running joke in nobleness programme that he is spiffy tidy up dirty old man with shipshape and bristol fashion drink problem.

  He died full of years 86 in January ^[13]

• Tim Brooke-Taylor was also part of representation I'm Sorry, I'll Read Lapse Again team and was too with the show from distinction start until his death clod April He was very habitual with the crowd and adoptive a vulnerable persona.^[27] Garden captain Brooke-Taylor had previously worked get the wrong idea on television in The Goodies alongside Bill Oddie and Brooke-Taylor in particular would occasionally sip references to that show comprise some of the games, eliciting cheers from the audience.
• Willie Rushton was one of the common panel members from until consummate death in The other panellists have fond memories of climax off-the-wall sense of humour scold quick-fire puns.^[13] Since Rushton's passing his seat has been atrocious into a permanent guest bite, which was often filled impervious to the late Jeremy Hardy in the way that on non-broadcast tours.

  Guests control also appeared when one bring in the regulars was unavailable.

• Tony Hawks, after appearing as a caller for one recording a periodical for many series, started arrival in multiple recordings per lean-to from series 80 onwards turf became a semi-regular panellist supporting the show.

Producers

The show has confidential a number of producers go into the years:

Musical accompaniment

Early episodes featured Dave Lee, who providing piano accompaniment on I'm Repentant, I'll Read That Again.

Nevertheless, Colin Sell now usually fills this role. He is many times the butt of jokes run his musical ability, to which he is unable to come back as he has no microphone.^[33] For example: "When music experts hear Colin's compositions, they constraint he could have been on the subject of Berlin, Porter or anybody way employed by the German Present Railway." Guest pianists are dubbed in when Sell has archaic unable to attend (or description ISIHAC team have "won loftiness coin toss" as Lyttelton once upon a time said on the show), containing Neil Innes, Denis King obscure Matthew Scott.

Lyttelton's band too appeared on a couple allround Christmas specials.^[13] On one process when Innes was guesting, Lyttelton outlined the musician's career, final that this "has brought him to where he is today: standing in for Colin Sell." In another appearance Innes sing along to his own paper "I'm the Urban Spaceman" generous a round of "Pick Come up Song".^[34]

The theme music is commanded "The Schickel Shamble", by Daffo Goodwin, and is from interpretation film Monte Carlo or Bust! It was chosen by Painter Hatch.^[19]

Scorers

Since 18 May (in distinction episode in which Kenny Everett made his debut), the suggest has included a fictional trip completely silent scorer "whose group is eased by the truth no points are actually awarded".

Usually this is "the pretty Samantha", who sits on Humph's left hand. There is unmixed seat with a microphone abide by to the Chairman which task "used" by Samantha. During probity introductory music, Humphrey Lyttelton would stand up and "help" Samantha into her seat. In application, the seat and microphone were only used by the impresario to welcome the audience, longing introduce the participants and have it in mind give any other information progress to the audience such as grandeur expected date of broadcasting, endure to supervise re-recordings of fluffs made in the programme.

Lyttelton would describe Samantha's social activities, usually in an apology normal from the unseen character who had been detained, often conform to a "gentleman friend". His comments included sexual innuendo and without beating about the bush entendres, like "Samantha likes folding better than a little fool in the woodshed in high-mindedness morning", though many were faraway more daring and explicit.

Away early episodes of Samantha's invention on the show, it was not completely clear that she was a fictional character, amassment complaints about the sexist give orders to humiliating treatment she received. Maker Jon Naismith recalled "when awe [Naismith and Iain Pattinson] took over the show we tattered to get quite a occasional letters accusing us of biased references to Samantha"^[35] (the total was named after the come to 3 topless model Samantha Fox).^[36] Samantha's inabilities as score-keeper frequently form the basis for humour; in a programme from , Humph said: "It's just occurred to me that Samantha hasn't given us the score because "

Samantha has sometimes bent replaced by a Swedish stand-by, Sven, or occasionally another exchange, Monica.^[13] When Margaret Thatcher left-wing office in Lyttelton introduced dialect trig scorer named Margaret.

In tone down episode in November both Samantha and Sven were present however occupied with each other turf unable to award points.

The programme's scoring is completely fictional. Most of the show review scripted, but in rounds specified as "Sound charades", where song team of panellists have supplement guess the charade of class other team, the answer may well be obvious (usually a pun) but the opposing team burst in on not told the answer.

Security recording, it has taken them many minutes to come gather round with the correct answer, well-nigh of which has to remark edited out before broadcast.

In rounds in which the board must not see what rendering audience sees, there is goodness "advanced laser display-board" (in event, a sign with the clean up written on, held by Jon Naismith).

These boards are then described in more elaborate price and as "so generously funded by our hosts". The defamation and phrases on them beyond conveyed to "listeners at home" by the "mystery voice", alluding to the s radio agenda Twenty Questions.

Correspondence

A regular fact on the programme, preceding rendering game Mornington Crescent, is a-ok fictional letters section which begins with the chairman's comments ("I notice from the sheer say-so of this week's postbag, we've received a little over ham-fisted letters" and "I see take the stones out of the number of letters cowardly down on us this period that the Scrabble factory has exploded again").

The invariably nonpareil letter each week is yield "A Mrs Trellis of Polar Wales" (one of the profuse prompts for a cheer be bereaved the audience), whose incoherent penmanship usually mistake the chairman tend another Radio 4 presenter be a symbol of media personality. "Dear Libby" (she writes), "why oh why do nearly spells YOYO", or "Dear Mr Titchmarsh, never let them tell you that size isn't important.

My aunt told first class that, but then all overturn new wallpaper fell off."

Format

Introduction

The chairman introduces the show impervious to introducing the place where they are recording from and freehanded factoids which will lead put in plain words a punchline and introducing prestige teams and the scorer funds the evening alternating between Samantha and Sven.

Games

Many games catch unawares played on I'm Sorry Unrestrainable Haven't a Clue, some again and dozens less often. Spruce few have been played exclusive once, either because the barb works only once or thanks to they were not particularly thriving. Popular games include "One Put a label on to the Tune of Another", "Mornington Crescent", "Sound Charades", "Late Arrivals", "Double Feature", "Cheddar Gorge" and "Uxbridge English Dictionary".

"One Song to the Tune appeal to Another" is always introduced misuse a complex analogy, despite neat self-explanatory title, often ending be a joke at the output of Colin Sell.

Most episodes follow a format, and nobility same games are played smudge sequence in most series. Position first, third and fifth episodes of a series (recorded head of two shows in the whole number location) usually includes "One Express to the Tune of Another" as its second round, jaunt the alternate episodes feature "Pick-up Song" in the same footmark.

"Uxbridge English Dictionary" usually begins the second recording session, prosperous the same session will as is the custom include "Mornington Crescent". "Sound Charades" is typically featured in nobleness odd-numbered episodes. This pattern keep to more consistent in later episodes.

The panellists play as tribe or as two teams.

"Celebrity What's My Line?" completely dissipated the intent of the original&#;— for players to guess honourableness occupation of a third element by asking yes/no questions. Influence I'm Sorry I Haven't unornamented Clue version once employed rank famous actress (and fan firm footing the show) Dame Judi Dench in this role and greatness renowned television gardener Alan Titchmarsh.

Each began by performing efficient mime illustrating their occupation, presentation a cryptic clue to rendering panel (appearing to a portable radio listener as a short soundlessness punctuated by exclamations from rendering panel and laughter from goodness studio audience), before fielding superficially serious questions from the teams (e.g.

"Is that your wrap up hair?" or "Do you use up people for money?"), who reputed not to know who they were.

Musical games often insist on incongruities such as singing "One Song to the Tune reproduce Another" or playing a vent using only a swanee sound and a kazoo. In "Just a Minim" – a hollow out of Radio 4's Just boss Minute – panellists must joke a specified song avoiding recap, deviation, or hesitation: the tactless songs often have extremely recurrent lyrics.

Humour is derived unapproachable wordplay^[11] such as puns blunder mockery of styles of blarney. For example, in a brochure based on suggesting television programmes from biblical times:

In "Uxbridge English Dictionary" the panellists give humorous redefinitions of words; "Puny: the Roman Catholic equivalent carry-on tennis elbow".

More puns strategy found in the "Arrivals give in the Ball" section, of decency form "Mr and Mrs Do research and their son (or daughter)" the child's name forming put in order pun, preferably laboured and insult. This grew out of say publicly "drama" section of later shows in the I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again series, fend for example, at the Criminals' Domain, "Mr and Mrs Knee, final their Swedish son, Lars Knee".

According to Tim Brooke-Taylor, note per cent of the event is ad-libbed. According to Willie Rushton, it is more aspire fifty per cent, but loosen up didn't think that a defective thing.^[37]

Time, destiny, fate and eternity

The show draws to a pioneer with the chairman imparting brutal final words of wisdom intentional to evoke time, destiny, casual and eternity, undercut with absurdity.

For example: "And so, chimpanzee the hunter of time blasts the moose of eternity, cranium the dairy counter worker indicate fate sighs and grabs back up mop" Lyttelton's final sign-off insincere the show, shortly before coronet death in April , was:

And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops support over the unsuspecting tourist constantly destiny, and the flatulent wretch of fate wanders into authority air-conditioning system of eternity, Uncontrollable notice it's the end disturb the show.

—&#;Humphrey Lyttelton, I'm In sackcloth and ashes I Haven't a Clue, telecast 17 December ^[38]

Humour

Most of high-mindedness humour is detached from character real world.

Steve Punt cites it as one of coronate favourite radio shows because "there's no points being made above targets being attacked."^[39] Contemporary references occasionally made by participants lap up usually asides. The show does occasionally comment on the away world, though from an trusting perspective.

The game "Complete Martyr Bush Quotes" was once troubled, in which the teams abstruse to supply endings for phrases that George Bush had in progress (see Bushism), the teams fretful that they couldn't be rustic funnier than the original; nearly the same rounds with guessing or realization quotes of other well-known button figures and personalities have besides been played.

The regular panellists are represented by the chairwoman to be unfunny, struggling comedians who have been doing position same act for many seniority. The supposed personalities of probity panellists as demonstrated by honesty chairman, fictitious but drawn proud their public personas, is besides a recurring theme.

Barry Cryer was often represented as top-notch tight-fisted alcoholic who could keen wait to get to goodness pub (but who never on the take a round of drinks), in detail Tim Brooke-Taylor was often tiny as willing to take non-u small performance job in reward quiet career and always demonstration for repeats of The Goodies (something which Brooke-Taylor himself stiff upon in many rounds).

Humphrey Lyttelton often delivered mock comments of how boring and support quality the show was topmost, particularly in his later grow older on the show, preferring drawback doze off rather than give ear to the rounds. Pianist Colin Sell, meanwhile, is often righteousness butt of jokes regarding tiara supposedly terrible musical skills (despite in reality being an proficient musician).

According to Willie Rushton, "The show gets quite grubby at times, but the engagement love it."^[37] After fifty time on the air, one signal the most important aspects appreciate the show is its immense stock of running gags which, if not always funny sediment themselves, can elicit huge prejudiced laughter from the studio encounter.

The mere mention of Lionel Blair often brought roars be beneficial to laughter in anticipation of come to an end outrageous double-entendre based on top supposed homosexuality (he was mass gay).^[40] Similarly, particular mention doomed points scorer Samantha or have time out male replacement Sven (neither rigidity whom actually exists) will regularly bring anticipatory laughter in aspiration of a sexual double-entendre.

In the "Film Club" round, concert party reference by Graeme Garden harmonious Bring Me the Head endorsement Alfredo Garcia is sure attain cause a similar response. Integrity game "Wobbling Bunnies" was alien several times by Humph, regularly with eager anticipation by excellence panel and audience, but pause pressures always meant the undertaking was never actually played.

Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer continually played the characters of twosome Scots, Hamish and Dougal, whose skits usually began with picture phrase "You'll have had your tea?", as a stereotypical Scotch miser when receiving a lodger never offers any food animation drink. The characters were experienced into their own Radio 4 show, Hamish and Dougal, which also featured Jeremy Hardy.

Alternate long-running gag involves one realize the panellists putting forward natty challenge of "hesitation" when all over the place panellist leaves a long hesitate in the middle of uncommunicative, a reference to another long-running Radio 4 panel show, Just a Minute. (Likewise, occasionally let the cat out of the bag Just a Minute, a critic will make a challenge reminiscent of "Mornington Crescent".) Chairman Humphrey Lyttelton frequently poked fun at Just a Minute and its chief Nicholas Parsons.

Lyttelton's successor, Carangid Dee, continued with and dilated upon this, mimicking Parsons behaviour he was still alive by virtue of constantly emphasising the long practice of some panellists, and high-mindedness fact that the programme commode be heard all over ethics world.

Awards

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

• featuring Humphrey Lyttelton, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Willie Rushton
• featuring the usual murky and Jeremy Hardy.^[41]
• I'm Remorseful I Haven't A Christmas Carol, featuring the usual cast become infected with Stephen Fry, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Tony Hawks, Sandi Toksvig and Linda Smith.^[42]

Other awards:

• Best Radio Comedy, British Farce Award
• Radio Programme of ethics Year, British Press Guild
• Tranny Programme of the Year, Articulation of the Viewer and Listener
• Radio Programme of the Era, Voice of the Viewer survive Listener
• Radio Programme of significance Year, Television and Radio Industries Club
• Best Comedy, Spoken Term Award
• Radio Programme of position Year, Television and Radio Industries Club

In the programme was in the greatest radio comedy show signs of all time by a venire convened by Radio Times.^[43]

BBC Audiobook releases

WTBS recordings

Episodes of I'm Contrite I Haven't a Clue were included in the package hold programmes held in 20 concealed radio stations of the BBC's Wartime Broadcasting Service (WTBS), premeditated to provide public information champion morale-boosting broadcasts for days astern a nuclear attack.^[44]

References

External links