Jack Dee threatens to quit BBC radio show I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue after bosses tell him: Tone down the smutty jokes

By Alasdair Glennie Tv Correspondent

Published: | Updated:


Jack Dee, pictured with his wife Jane, who has allegedly threatened to quit 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue after being told to tone down his smutty jokes

Jack Dee, pictured with his wife Jane, who has allegedly threatened to quit 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue after being told to tone down his smutty jokes

Its naughty puns and joyous silliness have been a Radio 4 staple for more than four decades.

But it seems BBC bosses have failed to see the funny side of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, prompting a revolt by its stars.

Jack Dee has allegedly threatened to quit as chairman of the long-running comedy panel show, which regularly attracts 2.5million listeners, after he was ordered to tone down his smutty jokes.

And regular panellist Tim Brooke- Taylor, who appears alongside Graeme Garden and Barry Cryer, has called BBC executives ‘pathetic’ for taking offence at the show’s innuendos.

The row began after a listener complained that one of its best-known gags – about the fictional score-keeper known as ‘the lovely Samantha’ – was demeaning to women.

Brooke-Taylor, 73, told Cotswold Life magazine: ‘We’ve had terrible trouble with the BBC about the show. Someone complained about Samantha – that it was being rude to women – and told us we had to be careful about this and to not do that.

‘The writer who does Jack Dee’s links said, “Well, in that case I’m leaving”, and Jack said, “Well, I’m leaving, too”. It’s just so pathetic, as so many things are double entendre that kids don’t realise what we’re on about.’

The character of Samantha was introduced in 1985 by original chairman Humphrey Lyttelton.

She was given her own empty chair by his side during recording sessions before an audience, and became the butt of outrageous double entendres and innuendos about her sexual exploits.

Dee, 52, has continued the tradition since he took over as chairman in 2009 following Lyttelton’s death.

Samantha is occasionally replaced by a Swedish stand-in, Sven, or another substitute, Monica. It has been explained to listeners that her job as scorer is made easier by the fact no points are awarded on the show.

The programme has won prizes at the British Comedy Awards and the Sony Radio Awards and has a dedicated following.

Tim Brooke-Taylor, left, pictured with Jack Dee and Barry Cryer, right, has called BBC executives 'pathetic' for taking offence at the show's innuendos

Tim Brooke-Taylor, left, pictured with Jack Dee and Barry Cryer, right, has called BBC executives 'pathetic' for taking offence at the show's innuendos

Some of its best-known rounds include One Song To The Tune Of Another and the game called Mornington Crescent.

Brooke-Taylor also revealed that the BBC was unhappy with the regular panel doing unbroadcast live versions of the show around the country. ‘The BBC has tried to stop us doing it – but don’t get me going on the BBC,’ he said.

The BBC said it had received four complaints about Samantha since the start of 2013.

A spokesman said: ‘We have regular discussions with production teams and contributors of all long-running Radio 4 programmes on how we can best keep the much-loved shows clever, relevant and fresh to listeners.’

Jack Dee's agent said: 'There had been a discussion about some of the show’s more risqué  content following a particular complaint but this certainly didn’t result in Jack threatening to resign. The discussion was completely amicable and the Clue team felt supported by the BBC as a result.'

A new series of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue begins on June 30 with Samantha once again on Dee’s left hand.


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