Happy and sad to hear of Humphrey Lyttleton‘s death yesterday. Sad of course that he’s gone, but happy because everywhere you turn there’s another clutch of clips and one-liners from the genius compere of my favourite radio show, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue which he hosted since 1972.
He was of course an accomplished Jazz trumpeter, but that wasn’t really my sort of thing, so I’ll just remember him for the relentless hilarity, and one of the only people who could caryy off clangingly obvious puns and double entendres such as:
“The story of Hastings only really begins with the historic battle, which was fought at a nearby town called Battle. Now, what are the chances of that happening.”
or, of his fictitious assistant on the show…
“Samantha’s going out now for an ice cream with her new Italian gentleman friend. She says she’s looking forward to licking the nuts off a large Neapolitan.”
Listen to some more classic Humph moments on the BBC site…
Now, in the words of Humph: “…And so, ladies and gentlemen, as the 4×4 of destiny on the level crossing of fate stalls in the path of the speeding freight train of doom, and the signalman of time rushes to fetch his camera…”
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