This popular, sold-out live show is an extended copy of the Radio 4 programme, which has been running for over fifty years. If you are not aware of its work, here is the official blurb:
"I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue has been delighting fans since 1972. Since its inception 'Clue' has seen its success blossom from the impish son of 'I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again' to the big daddy of all panel games.
The format of the game is very simple: four players are given silly things to do by the Chairman, with Colin Sell setting some of them to music. It has always been billed as 'the antidote to panel games', although the panel games to which it was originally an antidote are now long gone."
The poster inside the venue displayed Jack Dee with four guest players but, on the night, there was no sign of Marcus Brigstock, with Tony Hawks sitting in instead. He was teamed with Rory, while Pippa joined Fred. Unfortunately, Samantha and Sven couldn't make it either, offering hilarious innuendo excuses for their absence. Colin Sell, as always, was at the back tinkling on his grand piano.
We all got a kazoo for the audience participation round. Ours were purple but there was a range of colours used. When the whole audience was playing together, you would never have known the tune was meant to be Bohemium Rhapsody. Fortunately, Jack narrowed it down to just the green kazoos, of which there were only three, all in the front row, much to their embarrassment and our entertainment.
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| Rory Bremner, Pippa Evans, Jack Dee, Marcus Bristock (absent), Fred MacAulay |
John Naismith, the show's producer for the last thirty years, acted as the audience warm-up man telling us jokes from the show's back catalogue. As he introduced the players, they each had the opportunity to tell their favourite joke too, choosing ones by either Barry Cryer or Jeremy Hardie, two alumnae of the show who are no longer with us.
Jack's opening monologues, filled with local references, one in each half, went on a bit too long for my liking but you've got to give him something to do to justify his appearance fee. As chairman, he brings his own style of grumpiness to proceedings but he's no Humphrey Lyttleton (nor is he trying to be).
It wasn't being recorded for the radio so the players did occasionally drop an F-bomb but mostly this was good, clean fun with only occasional deliberate slips into smut. All the performers delivered the sharp script with superb timing. Some of the rounds felt indulgent but overall it worked. I think the extended length of the show made it feel more like a tribute rather than the real thing. I noted afterwards you can't currently get any of the shows on the BBC Sounds app.
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| No, it's not for smoking crack. It's a kazoo. |
We all got a kazoo for the audience participation round. Ours were purple but there was a range of colours used. When the whole audience was playing together, you would never have known the tune was meant to be Bohemium Rhapsody. Fortunately, Jack narrowed it down to just the green kazoos, of which there were only three, all in the front row, much to their embarrassment and our entertainment.
I enjoyed the night, despite the lady on my left bringing out a pack of Strepsils as her interval treat. Whenever she laughed, she finished with a catarrhy cough, which I could almost taste. I now have a scratchy throat. Hopefully, it won't last. I have more comedy lined up for later in the week.
Ticket price £33.50
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