"Humph Remembered" - Sept 12th on BBC 4
01/09/2008 00:30 GMT

Posted by lisa

Humphrey Lyttelton is the subject of the Friday, Sept. 12th edition of "Legends" on BBC 4 at 9pm.  The show will include interviews with his Clue cast mates including Tim & Graeme.

The show will be followed by a special called "Humph's Last Stand", featuring his performance at a 2007 jazz festival (on BBC 4 at 10pm).

Following are more detailed listings for the two shows:

Humph remembered
Legends, showing Friday September 12th on BBC 4 at 9:00pm

In a career spanning more than 60 years, Humphrey Lyttelton, who was born in 1921 and died earlier this year, established himself as one of Britain's greatest musicians, successful band leaders and admired broadcasters.

As a jazzman, "Humph" composed and performed Bad Penny Blues - the first jazz recording to enter the charts - and was feted by no less a figure than Louis Armstrong, who described him as this country's top trumpeter.

For more than 40 years, he hosted some of the BBC's most successful radio shows, including Radio 4's hugely popular I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, the "antidote to panel game shows" in which Humph propelled the art of the double entendre to new heights, and Radio 2's Best Of Jazz.

In this programme, family, friends and colleagues pay tribute to this enormously popular entertainer. Featuring some never-before-seen home movie footage, archive films of his finest performances and interviews with regular I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue panellists Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, Jeremy Hardy, Rob Brydon and Sandi Toksvig, as well as Humph's son, Stephen, this film celebrates the life and career of one of Britain's most admired musicians and best-loved broadcasters.

Did you know? Bad Penny Blues - a top 20 hit for the Humphrey Lyttelton Band in 1956 - is acknowledged as the first British jazz record to make the UK charts. Produced by the infamous Joe Meek - who was noted for his pioneering, experimental production work in the 1960s - it featured a catchy piano riff, played by Johnny Parker, brought up high within the mix.


Humph's Last Stand

Friday 12th September on BBC 4 at 22:00 to 22:50

Jazz trumpeter and raconteur Humphrey Lyttelton in a performance at the 2007 HSBC Brecon Jazz Festival, which turned out to be his last ever television recording. With an all star line-up including guest saxophonist Scott Hamilton, it is a set full of sheer wit and superb music.