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| ISIHAC kazoo band might make it into Guinness World Records |
more from same (British Comedy) |
 According to an article in today's Times Online, a record setting kazoo band lead by Humphrey Lyttelton at the I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue date in London earlier this month might make it into the Guiness Book of World Records.
Humphrey Lyttelton delivers swansong with giant kazoo band
Maurice Chittenden
Humphrey Lyttelton, the jazz trumpeter who became doyen of the double entendre as chairman of the quiz show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, is to make a bid from beyond the grave to enter the record books as leader of the world’s biggest kazoo band.
Lyttelton, who died on Friday aged 86 after heart surgery, equipped every member of the 3,550-strong audience with a kazoo at a live version of the radio programme earlier this month at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and encouraged them to hum into the simple instrument.
The feat has been logged with Guinness World Records, which is likely to confirm the breaking of the previous official record set by 2,679 people in Rochester, New York, in 2006.
It will be a typical last achievement by a man who defied all logic to succeed in almost every career he put his hand to.
When once asked by an interviewer what was the secret of his success, Lyttelton leant back and said, only half-jokingly: “I’m sorry, I haven’t a clue.”
His radio programme, in which Lyttelton would make outrageous remarks about the erotic exploits of Samantha, the quiz’s fictitious scorer, was described yesterday by Mark Damazer, controller of Radio 4, as the “most successful” comedy show ever heard on the station.
It has run for 36 years and the BBC must now decide whether to relaunch it with a new chairman. The panel of Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden yesterday ruled themselves out of daring to sit in Lyttelton’s chair.
Frontrunners for the role will include Rob Brydon, who hosted a live show in Bournemouth last week after Lyttelton had gone into hospital for an operation to repair a blocked artery; Jeremy Hardy, who frequently guested on the show to sing the words of one song set to the tune of another; and Paul Merton, who appears on television’s Have I Got News for You and Radio 4’s Just a Minute, the Clue’s closest rival in both longevity – it started in 1967 – and success.
Cryer said yesterday: “They are big shoes to fill. Humph was the very hub of the show and it revolved around him. Leading the kazoo band was typical of him.
“Long-running shows become like soaps with clearly defined characters and I don’t think it would work if a panellist became chairman. It would need somebody of stature to be parachuted in.
“Humph was the coolest man I knew. He was a polymath and an amazing man. He was a great ad-libber. A few years ago he suddenly stopped from reading some nonsense in the middle of a show and looked at the audience and said: ‘I’m 78 for chris-sake’. He got a huge laugh for that.”
Lyttelton did the last gig with his jazz band the night before he went into hospital. He even recorded a special message to introduce last Tuesday’s quiz show in Bournemouth: “Humphrey Lyttelton here. I can’t do the show tonight. I am in hospital. I wish I had thought of this earlier.”
Lyttelton was born in May, 1921, the son of an Eton house-master. He claimed he was descended from another Humphrey Lyttelton who was executed for collaborating in the gunpowder plot with Guy Fawkes.
His musical career started when at the age of 15 he slipped away from an Eton-Harrow cricket match at Lord’s to buy a trumpet.
When, as an acting captain in the Grenadier Guards, he stormed ashore during the allied invasion of Italy in 1943, he held a pistol in one hand and a bag containing his trumpet in the other.
Returning from the war, he became a successful cartoonist at the Daily Mail and a writer of books about music.
He was such an accomplished player of traditional New Orleans jazz that when he wrote his first autobiography at the age of 33 he called it I Play as I Please.
Two years later in 1956 he became the first British jazz musician to have a Top 20 hit single when Bad Penny Blues reached number 19 in the charts. Louis Armstrong, who was a friend, said he was Britain’s best trumpeter: “That cat in England who swings his ass off”.
Chris Barber, who was topping the bill at a jazz festival in Germany with his big band yesterday, said: “Unlike some people who talk about jazz eloquently, he played it right and with a great sense of dignity. He will be very much missed but much honoured in memory.”
Lyttelton had almost completed a new album and a new book before he died.
Kenneth Clarke, the former chancellor and an avid jazz fan, said yesterday: “He was a delightful, congenial and civilised man. He did a lot for British jazz. He wasn’t just trad. He was very much more sophisticated than that. He could swing. I always enjoyed listening to his band.”
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Posted by lisa at 27/04/2008 00:30 GMT |
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| vintage ISIHAC repeat on BBC Radio 4 Sunday, April 27th |
more from same (British Comedy) |
As a tribute to Humph, BBC Radio 4 will be repeating a vintage episode of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" on Sunday, April 27th at noon. The episode is from the Theatre Royal in Brighton, with Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Willie Rushton and Tim-Brooke Taylor. It can be heard online from www.bbc.co.uk/radio4
I've read that a tribute show is possibly being planned from this coming Wednesday, but don't know any details yet. Please pass along any information you may spot.
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Posted by lisa at 26/04/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| Humphrey Lyttelton 1921 - 2008 |
more from same (British Comedy) |
We are extremely sad to report that Humphrey Lyttelton passed away earlier today. The following message appears on his official website, http://www.humphreylyttelton.com/:
Humphrey Lyttelton 1921 - 2008
Humph died peacefully with his family and friends around him on April 25th at 7.00pm following surgery.
We would like to thank everyone for their support and express our deep gratitude to the staff of Barnet General for the care that they gave Humph.
If you would like to leave a message or tribute on this site please click on Remember Humph
There will undoubtedly be many tributes to Humph in the coming days. One article, quoting fellow "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" cast mate Graeme Garden, can be found on The Telegraph's website Please visit the Main Forum, where we'll be posting links to other articles & tributes.
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Posted by lisa at 25/04/2008 01:00 GMT |
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| Humph update |
more from same (British Comedy) |
The following is from Humph's official website (http://www.humphreylyttelton.com/)
Humph was admitted to Barnet Hospital on Wednesday 16th April and has undergone major surgery. He is currently in a stable condition.
We would like to thank everyone for their Get-Well Messages which kept him in sparkling form up until the op.
To send Humph a Get Well Message please click on http://www.humphreylyttelton.com/contact
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Posted by lisa at 23/04/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Mailout 18.4.08 |
more from same (British Comedy) |
The following message is from the official I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue mailing list:
Dear I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Mailing List Member,
I was expecting to announce the venues and dates of recordings in the Spring series of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue", but unfortunately I've had to put these plans on hold as Humphrey Lyttelton has been detained in hospital for an operation to repair an aortic aneurysm.
We are unclear precisely how long Humph's recovery period will be, but it seems very likely that the Spring Series of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" will have to be postponed.
Humph is otherwise fine and in very good spirits. However, if you wish to write him a get well message, send him an email to this address with the subject 'Get Well Humph' and I'll print it off for him. I imagine it'll be nice for him to have something to read in his hospital bed.
There's no need to worry if you have tickets for our "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" Tour Show at the Bournemouth Pavilion this Tuesday (22nd April). I'm delighted to say that ISIHAC favourite Rob Brydon has kindly agreed to deputise for Humph.
With best wishes,
Jon Naismith
Producer, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
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Posted by lisa at 18/04/2008 21:00 GMT |
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| email address for Humphrey Lyttelton get well messages |
more from same (British Comedy) |
I've been told that get well wishes for Humphrey Lyttelton can be sent to isihac@btinternet.com; they will be forwarded on to him from there. Please use the subject line "Get Well Humph"
As mentioned yesterday, Humph is currently in the hospital for an operation to repair an aortic aneurysm. He is doing well, but has had to cancel various appearances for the next few months (including next week's ISIHAC show in Bournemouth and various jazz concerts).
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Humph's official website (http://www.humphreylyttelton.com/) now has the following message on its home page:
Welcome to Humphs website.
Humph is currently awaiting an operation on an aortic aneurysm and will be out of action for a little while. He is in good spirits and is enjoying the visits of family and friends.
To send Humph a message please click on Contact Humph
Almost all the Band dates are cancelled until further notice with the exception of the Bulls Head which will go ahead. I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue "Live tour 2008" will continue and a stand in will be announced shortly.
Updates of of Humphs progress will be found on this page from time to time. Meanwhile, we will be adding downloads to the site and some great new photos, amongst other things. And for those of you who are missing HL's " The Best of Jazz" radio show, watch this space!
"As we journey through life, discarding baggage along the way, we should keep an iron grip, to the very end, on the capacity for silliness. It preserves the soul from desiccation."
Chairman Humph in introspective mode
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Posted by lisa at 18/04/2008 01:00 GMT |
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| Humph unable to appear at Bournemouth ISIHAC show |
more from same (British Comedy) |
Due to health reasons, Humphrey Lyttelton will be unable to appear at the final date in the current I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Official Stage Tour.
Here is information from the Pavilion Theatre's website (at
http://www.bic.co.uk/events/Event_Details.asp?event=4301):
We regret that the performance of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" at the Bournemouth Pavilion this Tuesday (22nd April) will be taking place without the show's regular chairman Humphrey Lyttelton.
Regrettably, Humphrey Lyttelton has been detained in hospital for an operation to repair an aortic aneurysm. However, he is well and in good spirits.
We are delighted to confirm that another 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue'
favourite Rob Brydon, has kindly agreed to deputise at very short notice!
BBC Radio's multi award-winning antidote to panel games starts its first live tour in 35 years. Join Humphrey Lyttelton, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Jeremy Hardy and pianist Colin Sell for an unmissable evening of inspired nonsense.
"Whether the teams are singing the words of one song to the tune of another, making up serial rhymes or entering the mythic maze of Mornington Crescent, they have now become the National Theatre of fun"
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Posted by lisa at 17/04/2008 00:00 GMT |
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| April C&G hot off the presses |
more from same (The Goodies) |
The Goodies Clarion & Globe newsletter for April (#149) is now available on the website. It can be accessed from either the Articles/Guides option of the left-hand menu or from the "Latest Articles" box at the bottom of the page.
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Posted by bretta at 14/04/2008 10:45 GMT |
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As mentioned previous, The Goodies LWT series is due to be released in Australia next month.
The Daily Mail has an article about Bill's daughter Rosie; the online version (which includes several photos, including one with Bill) is at: 
