I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
- Radio panel show
- BBC Radio 4
- 1972 - 2022
- 75 series
Extremely popular radio comedy. ISIHAC is a self-styled antidote to panel games, in which players are given silly things to do. Stars Humphrey Lyttelton, Stephen Fry, Jack Dee, Rob Brydon, Barry Cryer and more.
- Series 76 commissioned
Key details
- Genre
- Panel Show
- Broadcast
- 1972 - 2022
- Channels
- BBC Radio 4
- Series
- 75
- 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 and Geoffrey Perkins
- 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.
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
-
- Saturday 23rd April 2022 at 8:00am on Radio 4 Extra - Series 33, Episode 5
- Saturday 23rd April 2022 at 4:00am on Radio 4 Extra - Series 65, Episode 5
- Friday 22nd April 2022 at 4:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 65, Episode 5
Recording details
- New Theatre Royal (Portsmouth), The Dome (Doncaster) and Theatre Severn (Shrewsbury) - Series 72
- Huddersfield Town Hall, Malvern Festival Theatre and Reading Hexagon - Series 73
- Zoom (Virtual) - Rescheduled Series 73 dates
- BBC Radio Theatre and Zoom (Virtual) - Series 74 (recorded at the Radio Theatre, with audience watching remotely)
- Reading Hexagon, The Lowry (Salford Quays) and The Alexandra (Birmingham) - Series 75
- The Alexandra