Tim Brooke-Taylor

Tim Brooke-Taylor receives OBE

Tim Brooke-Taylor has received an OBE for his services to entertainment, following in the footsteps of fellow Goodies Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden.

There is no better place to seek out a little light relief than I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, now incredibly in its 55th series. Doubtless many long term fans of the show who still pine for Humphrey Lyttelton as chair, but Jack Dee does a fine job, especially when he throws in a few dry asides.

In the first instalment of the new series, recorded at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall, regulars Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer and Tim Brooke-Taylor were joined by relative newcomer Marcus Brigstocke, the latter managing to impress his cohorts with a classy move during a round of Mornington Cresent. With Colin Sell at the piano and Samantha on the scoreboard, the endless nonsense and wit was still laugh out loud funny, my favourite moment on this occasion being Summertime sung to the theme from Jim'll Fix It.

The main problem I have with I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue as a reviewer is that it's impossible to review such a classic show, one which has been on the air for nearly 40 years. What can you say about it that hasn't been said already?

Well, let's start off with the guest panellist - first-timer Marcus Brigstocke. Out of the four panellists (the others being the three regulars, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden), he seemed to have the funniest bits. Maybe he was the funniest, maybe it's the show's view to make the guest look the funniest, I don't know. However, he did seem to have many high points in the episode I listened to - his rendition of "Common People" to the tune of "If You're Happy and Know It", for example, was great.

There was also the introduction of a new round in this show called "Heston's Services". This was akin to similar rounds such as "Book Club" and "Film Club", in this case coming up with meals that Heston Blumenthal would serve at a motorway service station.

The other main component of the show, of course, is host Jack Dee. I know that there are lot of people out there who won't accept him as host and won't be happy until Humphrey Lyttelton is exhumed, reanimated and blowing his trumpet in the chair for all eternity, but Dee does a good job as far as I'm concerned.

Goodies pair 'thrilled' with OBEs

Goodies stars Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor said they were thrilled to be given OBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours List - after spending years poking fun at the honours system.

To mark the 40th anniversary of The Goodies' television debut, Ross Noble chats to Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden about giant cats, trandems and rampaging Dougals. Along the way we learn of the trio's superstar status in Australia and how Weymouth was able to double for the North Pole and the Moon, plus reminiscences of doing the funky gibbon on Top of the Pops. All three performers prove to be expansive interviewees, even going so far as to discuss any regrets about blacking up for certain sketches and how they felt about comedy competitors Monty Python's Flying Circus. Guest stars Patrick Moore and Michael Aspel also offer anecdotes, the former recalling his turn as a punk and the latter on being flattened by Kitten Kong.

After two weeks of trailers few can be unaware of the return of the "antidote to panel games" with Stephen Fry in the chair. Recorded at Her Majesty's Theatre weeks ago, the audience roars approval for Fry's saucy delivery of Iain Pattinson's salty script. Sven replaces Samantha as the invisible scorer, offering more chances to spot the innuendo. Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor and guest panellist Victoria Wood make merry with the customary multitude of entendres, double and single Colin Sell, as ever, is at the piano.

After the sad passing of our beloved Humph, ISIHAC could have quietly shuffled off into the sunset, but it returns with guest host (and former panel member) Stephen Fry. Regulars Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer and Tim Brooke-Taylor are joined by new girl Victoria Wood, who turned down the chance to appear on the show 19 years ago, but hopefully will make many more appearances in future.

This skitcom has a confidence out of whack with its material, but there are still some sizeable sniggers, including James Corden's neat Ricky Gervais stitch-up and the Team GB gymnasts on the rings. A nice nod to the old guard, too, with Tim Brooke-Taylor guesting at Bananaman's funeral.

One of the many great things about this venerable Radio 4 panel game is the chance to hear Barry Cryer's fruity chortle. If it were possible for a sound to qualify for 'national treasure' status, his contagious, wheezy wonder of the comedy world definitely would. It makes frequent outings in this marvellously nutty half-hour of fun. Part of BBC4's tribute to Humphrey Lyttelton, it gives us highlights from the ISIHAC stage show, filmed just a few weeks before his death in April. Tim Brooke-Taylor sings Girlfriend in a Coma to the tune of Tiptoe through the Tulips; a totally crackers 'Quiz among Quizzes' puts Anne Robinson firmly in her place; and the late, great Lyttelton dispenses a barrage of beautifully weighted put-downs. It's a fitting send-off for the affable gent who's left a Humph-shaped hole in comedy.

Sandi Toksvig presents a new cultural quiz show which features regular team captains Tim Brooke-Taylor and Dave Gorman. This opening edition was recorded at the Hay Festival so we're hopeful that guests who don't normally go quizzing may take part. We're promised tests on top plots, naming actors and finishing famous lines from well-known books.