I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue - Radio 4 Panel Show - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)
Genre
Broadcast
Channel
Episodes
554 (82 series), plus 13 highlights specials
Stars
Humphrey Lyttelton, Stephen Fry, Jack Dee, Rob Brydon, Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, William Rushton and more
Writers
Iain Pattinson, Fraser Steele and Steven Dick
Producers
Jon Naismith, Geoffrey Perkins, John Cassels, Simon Brett, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Paul Spencer and Jon Magnusson
Companies
This show started out as a spin-off from the BBC radio series I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again. The idea being that I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue was an unscripted version of the original.
ISIHAC is a parody of the traditional panel show, with games designed to humiliate and confuse. Points come for show's lovely (and fictitious) scorer Samantha.
Games include the self-explanatory "One Song to the Tune of Another"; mad word game "Cheddar Gorge"; "Sound Charades" (a game based on the TV show Give Us a Clue which differs in just three ways); "Word for Word", the opposite of word association; and the game based on the London Underground that is almost impossible to play - "Mornington Crescent".
Legendary host Humphrey Lyttelton presided over the first 50 series. In the series that followed the host's death the role of chairman was handed over to Stephen Fry, Jack Dee and Rob Brydon. The trio took it in turns to present the show. Jack Dee's episodes were generally the best received by the audience, and thus Dee has been installed as the new host.
The most regular players of the game are Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden, as well as the late Tim Brooke-Taylor and Willie Rushton.
More about I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
Catch-up
Additional details
Tagline
The antidote to panel games
Also known as
- Clue
- ISIHAC (Acronym)
Production
Studio
Soundtrack
Theme tune is "The Schickel Shamble" by Ron Goodwin, from the film Monte Carlo or Bust. Colin Sell on the piano provides additional music in the show.
Website links
- The Officially Unofficial I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue web pages
A large fan site dedicated to the show. - BBC Website
An old and no-longer maintained website from the BBC. Features a fairly extensive archive of clips, as well as other features like a quiz. - ISIHAC Episode Guide
A guide to the I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue episodes, up to 1999. Features broadcast dates and panel details. - Mornington Crescent Guide
A tongue-in-cheek guide to the legendary ISIHAC game. Includes history and also an interactive game (don't expect to understand it!) - The I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Info Site
Fan-run website giving detailed breakdown of each programme. - Official Website
The official website, fully revised and updated in 2012, features information on the show, a gallery, video archive, and more. - @ISIHAClue
- Wikipedia
Broadcast details
First broadcast
Tuesday 11th April 1972 at 12:55pm on BBC Radio 4
Most recent repeats
- Monday 24th June 2024 at 10:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 81, Episode 6
- Monday 24th June 2024 at 9:00am on Radio 4 Extra - Series 81, Episode 6
- Sunday 23rd June 2024 at 12:30pm on Radio 4 - Series 81, Episode 6
Recording details
New Theatre Royal (Portsmouth), The Dome (Doncaster) and Theatre Severn (Shrewsbury) - Series 72
Huddersfield Town Hall - Series 73
Zoom (Virtual) - Series 74
BBC Radio Theatre and Zoom (Virtual) - Series 75 (recorded at the Radio Theatre, with audience watching remotely)
Reading Hexagon, The Lowry (Salford Quays) and The Alexandra (Birmingham) - Series 76
Royal Albert Hall - Series 77
Forum Theatre (Malvern) - Series 77
Theatre Royal (Nottingham) - Series 77
Theatre Royal (Newcastle) - Series 78
Bath Forum - Series 79
Royal & Derngate (Northampton) - Series 79
Regent Theatre (Ipswich) - Series 79
Great Hall (Exeter), City Hall (Sheffield), Bristol Beacon and Anvil Theatre (Basingstoke) - Series 82