Laughter is done to a Dee! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Laughter is done to a Dee!

9:55am Saturday 26th September 2009 in

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I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, the self-styled ‘antidote to panel games’ came to Bradford last night on tour for only the third time its launch 37 years ago.

The sold-out show at St George’s Hall, which will not be broadcast on the radio, presented a collection of old favourite rounds including Uxbridge English Diction-ary and Mornington Crescent, where panellists were tasked with using a sarcastic sat-nav system to guide them to the bogus London tube station. Fans of the programme will have a better idea of the rules and the round’s binary scoring system – the winner scores one and everyone gets zero.

Mornington Crescent probably received the biggest cheer of the night when it was introduced by guest host Jack Dee.

Dee is one of three guest hosts taking over from Humphrey Lyttelton – the caustic comedian and jazz trumpeter who hosted the show, affectionately abbreviated to ISIHAC or simply Clue, on BBC Radio 4 until his death last year.

The 51st series of ISIHAC, which began in June after a year long break, was hosted by Dee, Rob Brydon and Stephen Fry. The deadpan wit of Dee probably providing the best resemblance to that of the much loved former host.

Panellists last night were Yorkshire’s Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Jeremy Hardy.

The musical rounds were well received – a particular highlight was Hardy’s rendition of Kung-Fu Fighting to the tune of Scarborough Fair – even Hardy, with his infamous singing voice, put his fingers in his ears.

Jack Dee, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, was treated to a chorus of Happy Birthday played on the kazoo by the audience, as part of a hilarious round which explained why there was a small yellow plastic instrument on all of our seats as we entered the venue.

Pianist Colin Sell was, as always, a big hit and provided introduction music for the audience round and the kazoo and swanee whistle medley which rounded off the evening.

e-mail: tanya.orourke@telegraphandargus.co.uk