 The show's panel (including guest panellist Jeremy Hardy, top middle) with host Jack Dee (bottom row, left) in 2010. | |
| Genre | Comedy panel game |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Syndicates | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
| Hosted by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Created by | The I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again team |
| Produced by | Various (see list) |
| Recording studio | Various |
| Original release | 11 April 1972 |
| No. of series | 81 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Opening theme | "The Schickel Shamble" by Ron Goodwin |
| Website | www |
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue is a BBC radio comedy panel game. Billed as "the antidote to panel games", it consists of two teams of two comedians being given "silly things to do" by a chairman. The show was launched in April 1972 as a parody of radio and TV panel games, and has been broadcast since on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service, with repeats aired on BBC Radio 4 Extra and, in the 1980s and 1990s, on BBC Radio 2. The 50th series was broadcast in November and December 2007.[1]
After a period of split chairmanship in the first series,[2] Humphrey Lyttelton ("Humph") served in this role from the programme's inception until his hospitalisation and subsequent death in 2008,[3] which led to the cancellation of the 2008 series.[4][5] The show recommenced on 15 June 2009[6] with Lyttelton replaced by three hosts: Stephen Fry, Jack Dee and Rob Brydon.[7] Dee went on to host all episodes of the 52nd series later that year, and continues in that role.[8] The chairman's script was most recently written by Iain Pattinson, who worked on the show from 1992 until his death in 2021.[9][10]
- ^ "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue". BBC Radio 4.
- ^ Foster, Patrick (26 February 2009). "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue panel game to return to Radio 4". The Times. London: News International. ISSN 0140-0460.
Barry Cryer, a regular panellist, who shared the chairman's duties with Lyttleton in the first series...
- ^ Cryer, Barry (2009). Butterfly Brain. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-2978-5911-6. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
It was either David Hatch or Humphrey Barclay, the two producers involved in the planning of the first series, who decided it would be a good idea to put Humph in the role of chairman.
- ^ Randall, David (27 April 2008). "Millions haven't a clue what they'll do without Humph". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. ISSN 0951-9467. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
- ^ Kiss, Jemima (21 April 2008). "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue cancelled". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Naismith, Jon. "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Mailout 17.10.08". The Official I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Mailing List (Mailing list).
- ^ "Fry, Brydon, Dee to host 'Clue' return". Digital Spy. 25 February 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ "History of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, the official website of ISIHAC or Clue with Jack Dee, Rob Brydon, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Humphrey Lyttleton". Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Iain Pattinson at Amanda Howard Associates" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ Southern, Keiran (15 February 2021). "Tributes paid to comedy writer Iain Pattinson following his death aged 68". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2021.