Radio 4, superior by design

This is to let you know that on Monday December 13th there will be aspecial recording at the Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row, London WC1(nearest tube: Holborn) of a show starring the cast of "I'm Sorry IHaven't A Clue" and entitled "Hamish & Dougal's Hogmanay Special",which is due to transmit on Radio 4 on New Year's Eve from 11.30pm tillMidnight.

Regular listeners to "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" will know of Hamishand Dougal from their frequent appearances in the 'Sound Charades'round. Radio 4 have already broadcast two series featuring Hamish &Dougal, starring Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden in the title roles, withAlison Steadman playing their housekeeper Mrs Naughtie, and JeremyHardy playing the local laird.

This one-off special show will include the regular cast, withappearances from Humphrey Lyttelton, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Sandi Toksvigand Colin Sell, with some additional surprise guests. The show startsrecording at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 7pm.

The Cochrane is not a large theatre (there are just 300 seatsavailable) so you'll need to act soon to secure a ticket. The ticketscost £8 each and are obtainable from the theatre's box office on 0207269 1606. Tickets will be on sale from today (Wednesday 1st December)From 1.30pm and thereafter the box office is open from 10am-6pm Monday toFriday, and 12pm-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. If the tickets have not soldout by the send of the week we will put them on sale to the general public.

The next series of 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue' starts transmitting onRadio 4 on Monday 6th December at 6.30pm, with a repeat on the followingSunday at 12.04pm. It runs for six weeks including a 'Best Of' programmefrom the past year.

Recordings of the Spring Series of the show in 2005 will probably take placein May or June, so expect notification of these recordings in March orApril.

Have a great Christmas and a very pleasant New Year.

With best wishes

Jon Naismith & Janet Staplehurst

Personally Hamish and Dougal must be one of the most unfunny comic creations in years.

Oh my goodness. I knew he was a nutter but had no idea that was coming.

Or Freda. The web site has him described as a ladies man but I don't remember him that well before the last few weeks. Was he always this odd?

Here's his bio:

Owen worked as the chef at The Bull for Sid and Kathy Perks before being poached (as it were) by their arch rivals the Cat and Fiddle. When that pub closed, Lower Loxley took him on at their Orangery café, where ironically he was once more to answer to Kathy in her new role as retail manager there. Owen's always been one for the ladies. While at The Bull he charmed Freda Fry (to Bert's discomfiture) and later took up with Tracy Horrobin, who 'worked' with him at both his later employers. Always willing to help out, Owen's expertise has been called on for Ambridge village events, including judging the food sections at the Flower and Produce Show and assisting with the revolting Bushtucker Challenge at the 2004 fete.