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iain_smith · Guest

It is my sad duty to have to inform you that Humphrey Lyttleton is in a very poor condition in hospiytal after suffering an aortic aneuryism a few days ago.All his engagements including the next series ofSorry I Havent Got a Clue on radio 4 have been cancelled.Lets pray for his recovery.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3792389.ece

edited friday night-sadly as reported below Humphrey died tonight

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:28 am Post subject:

Sod right off, Smith, you little turd. It's not your "sad duty" - you revel in this news.

Humph will be fine - it's a perfectly standard operation for a man of his age and he'll just need a little time to recover. His shows have merely been postponed, not cancelled.

gfloyd · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of his demise have been exaggerated Laughing

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AndyAndy2 · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject:

Humph, please get well soon, I'm in nid and I need a ruling!!
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Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 439 Location: In the village

I'm on the ISIHAC mailing list so I heard that way.

Producer John Naismith says that if you want to send Humph a get well message he will make sure he gets them. Email isihac@btinternet.com
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gfloyd · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7367385.stm

unfortunately he passed away today.
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iain_smith · Guest

very sad news-I knew he was more ill than perhaps was being said in the last few days and I didnt want to make out that everything would turn out ok just in case it didnt.My condolences to his family and many friends.Rest in Peace Humphrey

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

My condolences go out to family and friends. God bless, RIP.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

In the 1970s-1980s Humph made my Monday nights with his Best of Jazz programme on Radio 2, though my listening did trail off in the 1990s as the music content was changing, and I read his similarly named series of books back in the 1970s which had me searching, with some success, for so many of the original 78s whose music he discussed at length.

He had another audience of course, for his humour, like in ISIHAC etc. The only time I saw him live was in a 2/3rds empty Birmingham Symphony Hall, hardly the right venue for a small jazz band, and Humph made the most of that fact with his jokes (the average age of the audience was 60+) ably assisted by the likes of Ronnie Scott and Jack Parnell (dr).

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 439 Location: In the village

Very sad news indeed. I was lucky enough to attend a recording of ISIHAC. Treasured memories of Phil Jupitus slumped over the table unable to do anything but shake with laughter. Also managed to see the stage show last October, still got the kazoo we accompanied the team on and managed to see Humph and his band perform in Worthing as part of a double bill with George Melly. Great night of jazz.

Thanks for all the laughs Humph. Where will Samantha sit now?

From Mrs Trellis in North Wales
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

Sad news.

H
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iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

He brought jazz to millions who might never have encountered it and was such a positive role model for older people. I can't imagine there will ever quite be another like him. My sympathy to his family.

Ian.

Tornado Tariq · Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

Very sad news. Humph was a brilliant broadcaster who did brilliant shows, and will be missed by all. RIP Humph Crying or Very sad

Cherskiy · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

Dean Robertson · Guest

I am saddened to hear about Mr Lyttleton's death. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones right now.

I trust Radio 2 will be paying tribute to Mr Lyttleton? Also, why hasn't his programme been replaced? The 'Best of Jazz' has been a fixture on Monday nights for decades. There's no excuse to write this programme off.

Perhaps Radio 3's Geoffrey Smith could be considered as the new voice of Best of Jazz?

I get the impression that jazz is gradually being abolished on Radio 2. No more Bes of Jazz, no more Parky. Shame, because jazz is still a popular genre of music.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Hear! Hear! to all of that, Dean.

The speed with which things happened - the announcement of his retirement, last programme, news of him going into hospital, and then his death - was truly devastating, although, from the film clips of recent appearances which accompanied the news reports on Friday evening, it was clear that he was not well.

I cannot imagine that Radio 2 will not do a special tribute programme, ditto BBC television, at some point.

Although I'm no diehard fan of jazz, the demise of a regular programme on the genre is a shame - I like Jools Holland but he is a poor substitute - and is just further evidence that so-called specialist music is being shunted off and will eventually disappear altogether.
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Ron

gfloyd · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:57 am Post subject:

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

He's (Jools) the modern equivalent of the old big bands, I suppose. A bit of everything.
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Ron

Dean Robertson · Guest

Humph's exit was premature alright - it felt like he was kicked out the door. I knew it was the beginning of the end for Best of Jazz when the programme was pruned back to a part-series in April 2007 (presumably to make way for Radcliffe & Maconie).

Funny how this has happened before. In December 2006, Sheridan Morley was sacked. Alan Titchmarsh suddenly became the new presenter of Melodies for You.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

A repeat of last autumn's Whatever Happened to Radio 2, which featured Humph quite prominently, would be fitting.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

There is also last year's South Bank Show profile which they could repeat, with a suitable insert. It's currently on youtube, in six instalments.
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Ron

Spanners · Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 169 Location: Lincolnshire

Listened to Radio 4's tribute to Humph this morning, having been alerted to it by my lovely Steve, who was out on the roads. It was very good and brought back a lot of happy memories. Jazz was my first love and I well remember jiving in the Jazz Club at Milk Street in Digbeth, Birmingham in the late 50s.

Spanners Very Happy

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The_migster · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject:

I was very sad to hear of this news.
I do like jazz though not to the extent that I would deliberately go out of my way to listen to a show dedicated to jazz.
However HL's show just happened to be on at a time when I would be driving. His style was perfect for the show. Very warm and natural and obviously his knowledge and background was a huge asset to making the show a success.
He will be missed.

Sad

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Mig Smile

Angus McCoatup · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Humphrey Lyttleton has died

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Just passing this message on from elsewhere,

This coming Sunday (15th June) on Radio 4:

12:00
Chairman Humph: A Tribute

Stephen Fry presents a special tribute to Humphrey Lyttelton, the sublime host of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, through the eyes of his close pals on the show and distinguished admirers from Dame Judi Dench to Radiohead.

The programme features many highlights taken from his thirty-six years at the helm of Radio 4's perennial antidote to panel games.

John W

Cherskiy · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

John,

Desert Island Discs will also be a repeat of Humph's appearance - so will be on immediately before the programme you mention.
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Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 439 Location: In the village

Thanks, John & Chersky, for the info. Get the recording stuff working, methinks
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