I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: The Best of Forty Years by Various

Books based on comedy series are often fairly cynical tie-ins, but not this one. This is the book to commemorate 40 years of Radio 4 panel game I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, with, reportedly, the best material from that time. It’s hard to judge without hearing all 40 years' worth of programmes of course, but the quality is pretty high, depending on how amusing each individual reader finds puns. Sections are devoted to each of the most commonly played games on the show, and so fans who enter into the spirit of the book will be greatly amused by the explanation of the rules of Mornington Crescent. Non-fans may be more in the dark. The sections on great Mornington players are also surprisingly informative, though at the same time it must be said that Ethan Janks is somewhat overrated here. The book, as might be imagined, rarely breaks into seriousness, but when it does so it’s to pay tribute to Humphrey Lyttleton, who hosted the game for 37 years. It’s safe to say that readers who’ve understood the references in this review will love this book. Those who haven’t should probably buy a Celebrity Juice annual or something. [Ryan Agee]