I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
- Radio panel show
- BBC Radio 4
- 1972 - 2025
- 560 episodes (83 series)
ISIHAC is a self-styled antidote to panel games, in which players are given silly things to do. Stars Jack Dee, Humphrey Lyttelton, Stephen Fry, Rob Brydon, Barry Cryer and more.
- Returns on Monday 7th July on Radio 4 at 6:30pm with Series 83, Episode 1
Key details
- Genre
- Panel Show
- Broadcast
- 1972 - 2025
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Episodes
- 560 (83 series), plus 13 highlights specials
- Stars
- Jack Dee, Humphrey Lyttelton, Stephen Fry, 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.
Catch-up
Additional details
- Tagline
- The antidote to panel games
- Also known as
-
- Clue
- ISIHAC (Acronym)
- Production setting
- 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 20th January 2025 at 10:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 82, Episode 6
- Sunday 19th January 2025 at 12:30pm on Radio 4 - Series 82, Episode 6
- Monday 13th January 2025 at 10:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 82, Episode 5
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
- Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Bristol Beacon and Butterworth Hall (Warwick) - Series 83