I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

Aficionados of BBC Radio Four’s long-running antidote to panel shows I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue knew what to expect when host Jack Dee brought the team to the Edinburgh Playhouse on Sunday evening. And the hundreds who turned up weren’t disappointed.

Regular team members Barry Cryer – whose 80^th birthday bash is also being celebrated in the capital as part of the Fringe – Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor were joined by a favourite son of the show, Jeremy Hardy with resident pianist Colin Sell the butt of Dee’s acerbic wit as usual.

All the old favourite games were there; One Song to the Tune of Another, Pick Up Song, Sound Charades and Mornington Crescent and others were lapped up by an appreciate audience who couldn’t get enough. Dee brought a local touch to the humour with a couple of digs at Hibernian FC, much to the delight of those Hearts fans in the audience.

Provided with kazoos as part of the show, the audience joined in the swanee kazoo round with gusto and the veteran stars of arguably the most popular comedy radio show in the country provided brilliant entertainment. Even the mythical ‘Samantha’ provided comedy of the ‘double entendre’ variety – most of the audience had heard these gags before in the course of the show’s 43 year history but lapped it up nonetheless.

A wonderful evening’s entertainment and a cracking way to end the weekend.

We'll Never See His Like Again

Like most devotees of BBC Radio Four's 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue', yesterday was the day we were dreading. Presenter, broadcasting and jazz legend Humphrey Lyttelton died on Friday after he had been admitted to hospital last week for surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm. Humph was 86 and at that age you realise people can't go on for ever - but in Humph's case we all hoped he would.

The host of quite simply the funniest show on radio - and has been since 1972 - is an icon. The BBC's Mark Thomson said Humph's gifts were his warmth and conviviality, his wit, his mischievousness. All traits lapped up by an adoring and loyal audience. His monologues at the beginning of each show were legendary.

"I still remember Nanny pulling down my trousers and giving me a good spanking. Never did me any harm. Although it did make me late this evening." That was typical Humph.

His fellow ISIHAC regulars - Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke Taylor - will be devasted at the news of his passing. The ISIHAC team - not that Humph would call them that - was in the middle of touring the country with the stage version. The show was in Edinburgh last month but as I didn't know about it until the last minute I couldn't go - all the tickets had long been sold in any case.

I read in the BBC's obituary that Humph once turned down the offer of a knighthood. My already considerable admiration for the man increased even more when I read that.

Humph will be looking down wondering what all the fuss is about. With a wry smile he'll no doubt be contemplating that 'Samantha' will be looking forward to getting her hands on a stiff...

We will never see his like again.