Blog Archive for 05/2006

 

I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, (ISIHAC) the self-styled antidote to panel games, returns to Radio 4 this coming Monday. The series will run for the usual six episodes feature regular panelists Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Barry Cryer and will be hosted by legendary Chairman Humphrey Lyttelton. As usual, Colin Sell is at the piano. Although the line-up of guest comics isn't on the website it will no doubt feature the likes of Jeremy Hardy, Stephen Fry and Jack Dee.

If you've never heard this show before I strongly recommend you try it out. It's by no means a typical panel game (hence the aforementioned label "self-styled antidote"); in fact a lot of it is pre-written / rehearsed. The panelist desperately fumble their way through rounds of word games, acting and music making fun of themselves and each other. Each game is interspersed with the dry and unenthusiastic wit of Littleton. Musical rounds feature the accompaniment of Colin Sell who is always the butt of a joke or two.

I had the pleasure of seeing a show recorded in Hull about 18 months ago. With "Humph" well into his eighties and looking very frail I never thought it would get to see a live recording again. The night was fantastic - I was in tears of laughter and to top it off Andy Hamilton was guest panelist. He's an experienced, versatile comic with a particular talent for satire (he used to write for Drop the Dead Donkey as well as many other high profile sketches shows and sitcoms). To top the evening off I saw the team leaving as we vacated the theatre and managed to get Barry Cryer to autograph my ticket!

The first broadcast is on Mondays, 18:30 - 19:00 and is then repeated on Sundays, 12:00 - 12:30. If those times don't suit you the most recent show can be accessed via the Listen Again link on the ISIHAC website.

Despite the fact the core team are at the age when senility should have kicked in they are to a lot people, myself included, the funniest people in the country.

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