Robin Ray opened the first episode on 17 October 1965, introducing a format that turned dictionaries into prime-time entertainment. Two teams of three, captained by Robert Morley and Frank Muir, presented three definitions for words such as ablewhacket or zurf, only one being genuine. The opposing team had to spot the bluff, scoring a point for success or conceding one for failure. The words were gloriously useless: a queach is a mini-jungle of mixed vegetation, not a malicious caricature, and jirble means to spill liquid by clumsy drinking. The original BBC2 run ended in December 1988 after the death of Arthur Marshall, who had captained since 1981 following Patrick Campbell's death.
After an eight-year silence, save for a 1994 anniversary special pairing Joanna Lumley with Frank Muir, the show resurfaced on BBC1 in May 1996. Bob Holness chaired while Alan Coren and Sandi Toksvig captained the new teams, now shot at Pebble Mill Studios. Fiona Bruce replaced Toksvig in 2003, and the final regular edition aired on 17 July 2005. A single Comic Relief special followed in 2011 with Angus Deayton hosting and comedians including David Walliams competing to define words like jargoon. Across four decades the programme never changed its core belief that the English language is funniest when nobody knows what it means.
Production Details
BBC Two / 25 Seasons / 183 Episodes / 1965 - Present
Created by: Bill Todman, Mark Goodson
Main Cast
Robin Ray as Self - Chairman
Peter Sallis as Self
