Genre: | Game show |
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Country: | United Kingdom |
Language: | English |
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Runtime: | 30 minutes |
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Network2: | BBC One |
Give Us a Clue is a British televised game show version of charades which was broadcast on ITV from 1979 to 1992. The original host was Michael Aspel from 1979 to 1984, followed by Michael Parkinson from 1984 to 1992. The show featured two teams, one captained by Lionel Blair and the other by Una Stubbs. Later editions of the programme had Liza Goddard as captain of the women's team. Norman Vaughan stood in for Blair for four episodes in the second series and Joyce Blair stood in for Stubbs for the 1981 Royal Wedding special.
Originally, each team consisted of the captain, two fellow celebrities and one non-celebrity, but the non-celebrity participants were soon dropped, another celebrity being added in their place. In the second episode of Series 2 (broadcast on 5 November 1979), the non-celebrity contestant, London fashion designer Leslie Dean, read the wrong side of the card handed to him and as a result started miming his own name rather than the specified film. In his autobiography, Lionel Blair stated that it was this incident that led to the dropping of non-celebrity participants.[1]
A revived version was broadcast by BBC One in 1997 over 30 episodes, hosted by Tim Clark. Teams were captained by Christopher Blake and Julie Peasgood and the show introduced a lateral thinking puzzle (which the host could "give clues to"). Give Us a Clue returned for a special Comic Relief episode in March 2011 with Sara Cox, Christopher Biggins, Lionel Blair, Una Stubbs, Holly Walsh, Jenni Falconer and David Walliams.
The game is based on charades, a party game where players used mime rather than speaking to demonstrate a name, phrase, book, play, film or TV programme. Each player was given roughly two minutes to act out their given subject in front of his/her team, and if the others were unsuccessful in guessing correctly, the opposing team would have a chance to answer for a bonus point.
The coloured backgrounds denote the result of each of the shows:
– indicates Una's team won
– indicates Lionel's team won
– indicates the game ended in a draw
Episode | First broadcast | Una's team | Lionel's team | Scores | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1x01 | [2] | Liz Fraser Judy Geeson | Kenneth Williams David Wilkie | ||
1x02 | [3] | Diana Dors Liza Goddard | Ed Stewart Colin Baker | ||
1x03 | Miriam Karlin Wendy Richard | Norman Vaughan Nicholas Parsons | |||
1x04 | [4] | Judy Carne Tessa Wyatt | Richard O'Sullivan Peter Jones | ||
1x05 | [5] | Joyce Blair Karen Dotrice | Roy Dotrice Norman Rossington | ||
1x06 | [6] | Libby Morris Suzanne Danielle | Don Maclean Tony Selby | ||
1x07 | [7] | Barbara Windsor Jenny Hanley | Jimmy Young George Layton | ||
1x08 | [8] | Gemma Craven Linda Thorson | Max Wall Brendan Price | ||
1x09 | [9] | Nina Baden-Semper Françoise Pascal | Kenny Lynch Bernie Winters | ||
1x10 | [10] | Janet Brown Lynsey de Paul | Peter Butterworth Derek Griffiths | ||
1x11 | [11] | Aimi Macdonald Judith Chalmers | Alfie Bass Robin Askwith | ||
1x12 | [12] | Julie Rogers Cheryl Hall | Dickie Davies Bill Oddie | ||
1x13 | [13] | Amanda Barrie Maureen Lipman | Melvyn Hayes David Nixon |
Episode | First broadcast | Una's team | Lionel's team | Scores | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2x01 | Julia McKenzie Lorraine Chase | Roy Kinnear George Layton | |||
2x02 | Liza Goddard Jill Gascoine | Robin Nedwell George Sewell | |||
2x03 | Lulu Katie Boyle | Bernie Winters Jim Davidson | |||
2x04 | [14] | Barbara Windsor Anna Dawson | Alfred Marks Gareth Hunt | ||
2x05 | [15] | Anthea Redfren Patrica Brake | Graeme Garden Barry Cryer | ||
2x06 | [16] | Shirley Anne Field Prunella Gee | David Jason Bob Todd | ||
2x07 | [17] | Yootha Joyce Elizabeth Estensen | Dave Lee Travis Richard O'Sullivan | ||
2x08 | [18] | Faith Brown Suzanne Danielle | John Junkin Norman Rossington | ||
2x09 | [19] | Paula Wilcox Clodagh Rodgers Beryl Reid Nyree Dawn Porter | Kenneth Williams Spike Milligan Russ Abbot Dickie Davies | ||
2x10 | [20] | Libby Morris Fenella Fielding | Graham Dene Roy Hudd | ||
2x11 | [21] | Liz Fraser Juliet Hammond-Hill | Warren Mitchell Kenny Everett | ||
2x12 | Angela Richards Linda Bellingham | Nicky Henson Derek Waring | |||
2x13 | [22] | Judy Geeson Linda Haydn | Jimmy Jewel Norman Eshley | ||
2x14 | [23] | June Whitfield Georgina Hale | Daniel Abineri Dick Emery | ||
2x15 | [24] | Dinah Sheridan Stacy Dorning | Christopher Beeny Patrick Cargill | ||
2x16 | [25] | Sheila Steafel Barbara Murray | Lance Percival Pete Murray |
Episode | First broadcast | Una's team | Lionel's team | Scores | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3x01 | [26] | Nerys Hughes Yootha Joyce Moira Lister | John Conteh Wayne Sleep Bernie Winters | ||
3x02 | [27] | Maureen Lipman Susan Stranks Barbara Windsor | Windsor Davies Melvyn Hayes Mick McManus | ||
3x03 | [28] | Jan Hunt Annie Ross Josephine Tewson | Jimmy Logan Kenny Lynch Pete Murray | ||
3x04 | [29] | Barbara Kelly Beryl Reid Madeline Smith | Bernard Braden Roy Kinnear Andrew Sachs | ||
3x05 | [30] | Floella Benjamin Shirley Anne Field Dilys Watling | Peter Blake Francis Matthews Tony Selby | ||
3x06 | [31] | Maria Charles Liz Fraser Cyd Hayman | Christopher Biggins Kenny Everett Shaw Taylor | ||
3x07 | [32] | Lynda Baron Sally James Jenny Lee-Wright | Dickie Davies Alvin Stardust Jack Douglas | ||
3x08 | [33] | Jenny Hanley Nyree Dawn Porter Janet Street-Porter | Barry Cryer Gareth Hunt Bernie Winters | ||
3x09 | [34] | Anita Harris Libby Morris Hilary Pritchard | Arthur English Don Maclean Nicholas Parsons | ||
3x10 | [35] | Joyce Blair Irene Handl Karen Kay | Jimmy Jewel Bobby Moore Robin Nedwell | ||
3x11 | [36] | Diana Coupland Cheryl Kennedy Sheila Steafel | Rodney Bewes Norman Rossington Simon Williams | ||
3x12 | [37] | Paddie O'Neil Liza Goddard Ann Sidney | Roy Kinnear Alfred Marks Victor Spinetti | ||
3x13 | [38] | Rachael Heyhoe Flint Julia McKenzie Sheila White | Ray Alan Billy Dainty David Hamilton | ||
3x14 | [39] | Gabrielle Drake Jean Rook Barbara Windsor | Derek Fowlds Harry Fowler Bernie Winters | ||
3x15 | [40] | Yootha Joyce Amanda Barrie Muriel Odunton | Tim Barrett Robert Lindsay Victor Spinetti | ||
3x16 | [41] | Sandra Dickinson Jill Gascoine June Whitfield | Jim Davidson Derek Griffiths George Sewell | ||
3x17 | [42] | Patricia Brake Anna Dawson Miriam Karlin | Ian Lavender Geoff Love Wayne Sleep | ||
3x18 | [43] | Barbara Windsor Mollie Sugden Julia Mackenzie | Jim Davidson Kenny Everett Alfred Marks | ||
3x19 | [44] | Janet Brown Katie Boyle Suzanne Danielle | Christopher Biggins Bryan Marshall Hugh Paddick |
Episode | First broadcast | Una's team | Lionel's team | Scores | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4x01 | [46] | Michele Dotrice Lucinda Prior-Palmer Jill Gascoine | Rolf Harris Glenn Hoddle Edward Woodward | ||
4x02 | [47] | Faith Brown Rula Lenska Claire Rayner | Roy Kinnear Robin Nedwell Duncan Goodhew | ||
4x03 | [48] | Pam Ayres Gabrielle Drake Donna Hartley | Geoff Capes Paul Eddington Kenny Everett | ||
4x04 | [49] | Sandra Dickinson Lesley Judd Beryl Reid | Peter Davison Geoffrey Hayes Jon Pertwee | ||
4x05 | Anna Quayle Susan Penhaligon Sharron Davies | John Inman Alex Higgins Victor Spinetti | |||
4x06 | [50] | Maureen Lipman Maria Charles Jenny Hanley | Kenneth Williams Griff Rhys-Jones Shaw Taylor | ||
4x07 | [51] | Lynsey de Paul Molly Parkin Anna Dawson | Andrews Sachs Christopher Biggins John L. Gardner | ||
4x08 | Jackie Collins Angela Rippon Jenny Lee-Wright | Henry Cooper Windsor Davies Bernie Winters | |||
4x09 | [52] | Sally James Annie Ross Madeleine Smith | Denis King Ian Lavender Henry McGee | ||
4x10 | [53] | Jenny Lee-Wright Suzi Quatro June Whitfield | Nigel Davenport David Jacobs Tom O'Connor | ||
4x11 | [54] | Cheryl Kennedy Madge Hindle Victoria Burgoyne | Rodney Bewes Barry Mason Brian Marshall | ||
4x12 | [55] | Susan Anton Beryl Reid Debbie Linden | Dudley Moore Jimmy Jewel Simon Williams | ||
4x13 | [56] | Pat Coombs Stacy Dorning Joanna Van Gyseghem | Terry Scott Joe Brown Nicholas Lyndhurst | ||
4x14 | [57] | Mollie Sugden Patricia Brake Nanette Newman | Kenneth Williams Gareth Hunt Lonnie Donegan | ||
4x15 | [58] | Katie Boyle Angela Douglas Lyn Paul | Dudley Moore Harry H. Corbett Brian Cant | ||
4x16 | [59] | Suzanne Danielle Bonnie Langford Julia McKenzie | Roy Kinnear Pete Murray Shaw Taylor | ||
4x17 | [60] | Liz Fraser Victoria Wood Denise Nolan | Richard O'Sullivan Wayne Sleep Lance Percival | ||
4x18 | [61] | Judith Chalmers Leslie Ash Nerys Hughes | Nicky Henson Kenny Ball Justin Fashanu |
Episode | First broadcast | Una's team | Lionel's team | Scores | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5x01 | Honor Blackman Lorraine Chase Angela Douglas | Michael Barrymore Danny la Rue George Sewell | |||
5x02 | [62] | Maureen Lipman Anna Dawson Debbie Arnold | Kenneth Williams Bernard Bresslaw Mike Berry | ||
5x03 | Sylvia Syms Joanne Whalley Barbara Windsor | Christopher Biggins Martin Jarvis Spike Milligan | |||
5x04 | [63] | Julia McKenzie Patricia Hayes Suzanne Dando | Edward Woodward Mike Reid Robin Cousins | ||
5x05 | [64] | Sheila White Jenny Linden Su Pollard | Nigel Davenport Lennie Bennett Ray Alan | ||
5x06 | [65] | Ruth Madoc Isla Blair Avril Angers | Rolf Harris Christopher Timothy Vince Hill | ||
5x07 | Gemma Craven Susan Hanson Bonnie Langford | Kenneth Williams Frazer Hines Norman Collier | |||
5x08 | Lorraine Chase Claire Rayner Annie Ross | Marty Feldman Martin Jarvis Felix Bowness | |||
5x09 | Carol White Dana Joyce Blair | Geoffrey Bayldon Roy Castle Glyn Houston | |||
5x10 | Shirley Anne Field Sue Lloyd Libby Morris | Bernie Winters Jeffrey Holland Simon Cadell | |||
5x11 | Patricia Brake Lorna Dallas Anna Quayle | Jon Pertwee Christopher Timothy David Janson | |||
5x12 | The Beverley Sisters | The Bachelors | |||
5x13 | Anna Dawson Suzanne Danielle Jenny Lee-Wright | Derek Griffiths Roy Kinnear Freddie Starr | |||
5x14 | Angela Douglas Barbara Murray Tracey Ullman | David Jacobs John Inman Brian Jacks | |||
5x15 | Susan Penhaligon Sabina Franklyn Julia McKenzie | Barry Cryer William Franklyn Duggie Brown | |||
5x16 | Leslie Ash Lucinda Green Dilys Watling | Rolf Harris Tom O'Connor Shaw Taylor | |||
5x17 | Carol Drinkwater Hazel O'Connor Victoria Wood | Leslie Crowther Michael Barrymore The Great Soprendo | |||
5x18 | Susannah York Elaine Paige Suzanne Dando | Freddie Starr Patrick Mower Christopher Biggins |
Episode | First broadcast | Una's team | Lionel's team | Scores | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6x01 | Cheryl Baker Anna Quayle Gillian Raine | Leonard Rossiter Terry Scott David Jensen | |||
6x02 | Dawn Addams Anneka Rice Paula Wilcox | Ian Ogilvy Richard Murdoch Roy Kinnear | |||
6x03 | Leslie Ash Honor Blackman Angela Rippon | Wayne Sleep Hank Marvin Jeffrey Holland | |||
6x04 | Joyce Blair Madeline Smith Anne Diamond | Graeme Garden Jim Davidson Bill Beaumont | |||
6x05 | Prunella Gee Judy Geeson Gloria Hunniford | Christopher Timothy Don Maclean Hubert Gregg | |||
6x06 | Lynda Baron Ruth Madoc Deborah Watling | Kenneth Williams Mark Wynter Derek Waring | |||
6x07 | Anna Dawson Stephanie Lawrence Gayle Hunnicutt | Bernie Winters Freddie Trueman Joe Brown | |||
6x08 | Julia McKenzie Maureen Lipman Stephanie Beacham | Michael Bentine Barry Cryer David Kernan | |||
6x09 | Rosalind Ayres Isla St Clair Paula Yates | Martin Jarvis Billy Dainty Tommy Boyd | |||
6x10 | Su Pollard Julie Walters Tessa Wyatt | Richard O'Sullivan Alan Minter Stubby Kaye | |||
6x11 | Pam Ayres Jenny Lee-Wright Carol Drinkwater | Lance Percival Charlie Drake William Franklyn | |||
6x12 | Bonnie Langford Sonia Lannaman June Whitfield | Mike Read Brian Murphy Malcolm Macdonald | |||
6x13 | Debbie Arnold Suzi Quatro Annie Ross | Derek Griffiths Michael Craig Jess Conrad | |||
6x14 | Angela Rippon Victoria Wood Sylvia Syms | Gerald Harper Stu Francis Leslie Crowther | |||
6x15 | Jane Asher Tracey Ullman Jilly Cooper | Bob Geldof Russell Grant Tim Brooke-Taylor | |||
6x16 | Elspet Gray Karen Kay Iris Williams | Brian Rix John Junkin Christopher Biggins | |||
6x17 | [66] | Joyce Blair Patricia Hayes Judy Loe | Frank Carson Windsor Davies Richard Stilgoe | ||
6x18 | Katie Boyle Michele Dotrice Diane Solomon | Vidal Sassoon William Rushton Aiden J. Harvey | |||
6x19 | Janet Brown Sheila Ferguson Fiona Fullerton | Peter Gordeno Gareth Hunt Freddie Starr | |||
6x20 | Faith Brown Angela Douglas Aimi Macdonald | Henry McGee Acker Bilk Lennie Bennett |
Series | Start date | End date | Episodes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 January 1979 | 27 March 1979 | 13 | |
2 | 29 October 1979 | 11 February 1980 | 16 | |
3 | 25 August 1980 | 29 December 1980 | 19 | |
Special | 29 July 1981 | 1 | ||
4 | 1 September 1981 | 20 April 1982 | 18 | |
5 | 4 May 1982 | 26 December 1982 | 18 | |
6 | 6 September 1983 | 17 April 1984 | 20 | |
7 | 4 September 1984 | 1 January 1985 | 16 | |
8 | 28 May 1985 | 2 July 1985 | 6 | |
9 | 12 September 1985 | 26 December 1985 | 15 | |
10 | 3 July 1986 | 21 August 1986 | 8 | |
11 | 4 January 1988 | 18 March 1988 | 55 | |
12 | 1 November 1988 | 2 December 1988 | 20 | |
13 | 14 February 1989 | 10 March 1989 | 16 | |
14 | 5 December 1989 | 19 January 1990 | 16 | |
15 | 15 January 1991 | 8 March 1991 | 32 | |
16 | 3 September 1991 | 4 May 1992 | 33 | |
17 | 10 November 1997 | 19 December 1997 | 30 |
The first six series of Give Us a Clue have been released on DVD by Network, but only 98 out of the first 105 episodes were included. The seven episodes that are not in the collection had appearances of three celebrities with sexual abuse offences that were investigated in Operation Yewtree.
Country | Local name | Host | Team captains | Network | Year aired | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[67] [68] | Hints | Frank Kramer (1983–97) Anita Witzier (1997–2003) Sofie van den Enk (2010–11) | - | KRO | 1983–2003 2010–11 | |
[69] | Give Us a Clue | Les Thompson (1980s) Brian Edwards (1993) Marcus Lush (1999) Paula Bennett (2021–22) | Peter Rowley, Jenny Maxwell (1980s) Gary McCormick, Belinda Todd (1993) Gary McCormick, Alison Wall (1999) Hilary Barry, Tom Sainsbury (2021–22) | TVNZ (1980s) TV3 (1993) TVNZ (1999; 2021–22) | 1980s 1993 1999 August 11, 2021 – August 17, 2022 | |
[70] | Dame una pista | Luján Argüelles | - | Cuatro | July 13, 2010 – January 7, 2011 | |
[71] | Gäster med gester | Lennart Swahn (1982–99) Rickard Olsson (2011–12) | - | SVT | September 8, 1982 – January 5, 1999 2011–12 |