Who has a clue?

August 16, 2005 3:39 PM

I'm sorry i haven't a clue - Really!!! Can any of our British readers recommend other comedy panel shows in the tradition of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue? Bonus points if recommendations can be listened to online or downloaded. Merci mucho.
posted by ramix to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

Just A Minute is really good. It's been going 35 years now. Basically there are several comedians and they take turns to speak on a random topic (provided by the presenter) for one minute without hesitation, repetition, or deviation. It's funnier than it sounds. It's on Radio 4 and BBC 7, both listenable online. See here.

The News Quiz is also good. Boring name, but a panel game about current events. Even old episodes are good though. Most of the news revolves around bizarre events and aren't time related anyway. That's also on Radio 4 and BBC 7, and listenable online (again, see above).

"I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again" is another, and what I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue was inspired by. It's not quite as silly though, but still comedic. Again BBC 7 (there's a theme here). I'm sick as a dog people overseas get to listen to this stuff for free :)
posted by wackybrit at 4:00 PM on August 16, 2005

Stephen Fry was doing a show called QI for a while there-- both a radio and television version existed. The television version aired on BBC Three and the radio version seemed to pop up all over the place. I've got no idea if it's still in production, but the guests were always loads of fun.
posted by NYCnosh at 4:57 PM on August 16, 2005

wackybrit's answer is spot on. The BBC often uses Radio 4's comedy slot to test/refine an idea which will then be remade as a TV programme. BBC 7 (Radio) & is basically an archive of Radio 4 programs. So worth checking
posted by bluefin at 5:07 PM on August 16, 2005

QI hasn't been axed as far as I know, though I don't know when to expect the next series either. There's bound to be a christmas episode though.

I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again does far better in the funny department if you ask me, ISIHAC (or "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Script" as it was called in the ISIRTA 25th anniversary edition) is pretty hit-or-miss, with lots of rounds being just plain dull. Apart from BBC7, you can find ISIRTA on most P2P networks, or you can email me, as luck would have it I have nearly the complete set.
posted by fvw at 5:17 PM on August 16, 2005

The 99p Challenge is my favorite, but it veers dangerously close to being a piss-take on panel games rather than a proper one. But hey, it's got Armando Iannnnuuuccci and what's his face and whosis nut from Shaun of the Dead a lot of the time.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:13 PM on August 16, 2005

Wackybrit has the best ones covered but I'd also highly recommend Dead Ringers. The last in the series is online today at 08:30 and 22:30 BST BBC Radio 7. They'll also be available for 7 days at the Listen Again section.

Radio 7 repeat a lot of the Radio 4 comedies recommended above so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the schedule there.

Many of the programmes are available to buy on tape/cd from Amazon and Ebay.

Enjoy!
posted by ceri richard at 10:09 PM on August 16, 2005

On The Hour, Chris Morris's radio precursor to The Day Today is great (be careful, though; the linked site got a bit pissed off last time someone linked to them from MeFi, so don't swamp their bandwidth all at once).

I'd also recommend the brilliant Dead Ringers, though it may require a working knowledge of Radio 4 personalities/quirks. If you can handle I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, though, I'd guess you'll be fine with that. (Another word of advice: don't go anywhere near the Dead Ringers tv show; it's drivel.) Latest series on Amazon here.

I'll second wackybrit's Just A Minute recommendation (current series is running at the moment; see here for details and listening). It's one of the best radio shows ever made, and if you have a UKNova account, classic series from the 1970s crop up frequently. (Quite a few have been released on CD, but averaging four episodes per £13 (~$18) CD is a bit rich.)
posted by Len at 8:33 AM on August 17, 2005

Listen to one episode (and one episode only) of 'Quote, Unquote' to understand why Humph is so rude about it on ISIHAC. Smug, insufferable, and up its own arse.
posted by holgate at 8:36 AM on August 17, 2005

Jesus, I should read questions more thoroughly. You asked for panel shows, and I've given you a load of sketch shows, plus something that was already recommended. Ah well. At least you know that Just A Minute is really good; that's enough for me ...
posted by Len at 8:36 AM on August 17, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks all.
posted by ramix at 4:17 PM on August 17, 2005