Humph’s Gone: Long Live … Um … Well …

Well, that’s a piece of news!

You’ve probably realised, by now, that I’m a fan of BBC Radio 4’s iconic comedy show — and antidote to panel games — that is “I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue”.

And I’ll confess, I listened to Series Fifty-One, over the summer, and really missed the late Humphrey Lyttelton.

I do.

But this year’s series — the first without Humph — had Stephen Fry, Jack Dee and Rob Brydon filling that oh-so-empty chair.

Of the three of them, I personally thoroughly enjoyed both Fry and Brydon as the Chairman Pro Tem.

But Jack Dee was really impressive, I thought!

I think Aunty Beeb’s agreed with me; at least for the next series, starting on November the 16th.

All six episodes will be chaired by Mr Dee.

This could be interesting … !

I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue.

I’ve got to admit, panel games can be fun.

Well, they can, can’t they?

But very few equalled and none bettered the show that called itself the antidote to panel games.

Radio Four’s “I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue”.

I first discovered the Humphrey Lyttelton chaired show, some nine years ago, when I was having a very rough patch, and the sheer filth of Humph’s intro — about Northhampton, I seem to recall — had me … well I hate to say words fail me, but they do.

That first listen had me laughing.

Loudly.

Hysterically.

At some length.

It’s very hard to describe how funny it was, you’d have to check out some of the clips on the BBC site.

But Humphrey’s intro’s — and utterly innocent comments about Samantha — along with the actual games — Cheddar Gorge, One Song To The Tune Of Another and the arcane Mornington Crescent — combined with the the show’s regular panellists, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor, along with whoever the featured guest panellist was, made “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” unmissable, an institution, and seriously funny.

So Humphrey Lyttelton’s death, this time last year, was a tragedy for the show.

One that had me, as many others, wondering whether the show could continue.

So I feel fairly mixed, finding the BBC has announced that the show will go on*.   With Jack Dee. Stephen Fry, and Rob Brydon alternating the chair between them.

I want to hear these.

But knowing Humph’s gone will make it … different.

But I know this; Humph’s death left empty shoes so big that the Beeb needs three people to fill them.

That’s quite a tribute.

* Just as a footnote, the BBC “Clue” site has the scheduled times up, but I’ll repeat them, here.

Date Of Broadcast	Time Of Broadcast
Monday, 22 June,	6.30pm
Monday, 29 June	6.30pm
Monday, 6 July	6.30pm
Monday, 13 July	6.30pm
Monday,20 July	6.30pm
Monday, 27July	6.30pm