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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{More footnotes|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox radio show
{{Infobox radio show
| name          = Many a Slip
| name          = Many a Slip
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| caption      =  
| caption      =  
| other_names  =  
| other_names  =  
| format        = [[Panel game]]
| format        = [[w:Panel game|Panel game]]
| runtime      = 30 minutes
| runtime      = 30 minutes
| start_time    =  
| start_time    =  
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| country      = United Kingdom
| country      = United Kingdom
| language      = English
| language      = English
| home_station  = {{ubl|[[BBC Light Programme]]|[[BBC Radio 2]]|[[BBC Radio 4]]}}
| home_station  = {{ubl|[[w:BBC Light Programme|BBC Light Programme]]|[[w:BBC Radio 2|BBC Radio 2]]|[[w:BBC Radio 4|BBC Radio 4]]}}
| syndicates    = {{ubl|[[BBC Home Service]]|[[BBC Radio 4 Extra]]}}
| syndicates    = {{ubl|[[w:BBC Home Service|BBC Home Service]]|[[w:BBC Radio 4 Extra|BBC Radio 4 Extra]]}}
| television    =  
| television    =  
| presenter    = {{ubl|[[Roy Plomley]]|[[Steve Race]] at the piano}}
| presenter    = {{ubl|[[w:Roy Plomley|Roy Plomley]]|[[w:Steve Race|Steve Race]] at the piano}}
| starring      = {{ubl|[[Isobel Barnett]]|[[Richard Murdoch]]|[[Lance Percival]]|[[Gillian Reynolds]]|[[Tim Rice]]|[[Eleanor Summerfield]]}}
| starring      = {{ubl|[[w:Isobel Barnett|Isobel Barnett]]|[[Richard Murdoch]]|[[Lance Percival]]|[[w:Gillian Reynolds|Gillian Reynolds]]|[[w:Tim Rice|Tim Rice]]|[[w:Eleanor Summerfield|Eleanor Summerfield]]}}
| announcer    =  
| announcer    =  
| creator      = [[Ian Messiter]]
| creator      = [[w:Ian Messiter|Ian Messiter]]
| writer        = Ian Messiter
| writer        = Ian Messiter
| director      =  
| director      =  
| senior_editor =  
| senior_editor =  
| editor        =  
| editor        =  
| producer      = {{ubl|[[Charles Maxwell (radio producer)|Charles Maxwell]]|Tony Luke|Peter Titheradge|Martin Fisher|[[Paul Mayhew-Archer]]}}
| producer      = {{ubl|[[w:Charles Maxwell (radio producer)|Charles Maxwell]]|Tony Luke|Peter Titheradge|Martin Fisher|[[w:Paul Mayhew-Archer|Paul Mayhew-Archer]]}}
| exec_producer =  
| exec_producer =  
| narrated      =  
| narrated      =  
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| othertheme    =  
| othertheme    =  
| endtheme      =  
| endtheme      =  
| website      = {{Official URL}}
}}
}}


'''''Many a Slip''''' is a British [[panel game]] created by [[Ian Messiter]] which was broadcast from 1964 to 1979. It was chaired by [[Roy Plomley]], with a musical mistakes round supplied by [[Steve Race]]. The title of the show is a reference to the English proverb "[[There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip]]".
'''''Many a Slip''''' is a British [[w:panel game|panel game]] created by [[w:Ian Messiter|Ian Messiter]] which was broadcast from 1964 to 1979. It was chaired by [[w:Roy Plomley|Roy Plomley]], with a musical mistakes round supplied by [[w:Steve Race|Steve Race]]. The title of the show is a reference to the English proverb "''There's many a slip twixt cup and lip''".


The BBC received requests from school teachers and lecturers for transcripts of Ian Messiter's pieces as a fun way of teaching educational subjects to pupils.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
The BBC received requests from school teachers and lecturers for transcripts of Ian Messiter's pieces as a fun way of teaching educational subjects to pupils.


==Contestants==
==Contestants==
For the first couple of series, the contestants were [[Isobel Barnett]] and [[Eleanor Summerfield]] versus [[Richard Murdoch]] and [[Lance Percival]]. Temporary replacements for Lance Percival in the first series (each for one show) were [[Kenneth Horne]], [[Terence Alexander]] and [[Jon Pertwee]].
For the first couple of series, the contestants were [[w:Isobel Barnett|Isobel Barnett]] and [[w:Eleanor Summerfield|Eleanor Summerfield]] versus [[Richard Murdoch]] and [[Lance Percival]]. Temporary replacements for Lance Percival in the first series (each for one show) were [[Kenneth Horne]], [[Terence Alexander]] and [[Jon Pertwee]].


When the annual radio series returned, magician [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]] replaced Lance Percival. When Nixon died in 1978, Percival returned to the show,
When the annual radio series returned, magician [[w:David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]] replaced Lance Percival. When Nixon died in 1978, Percival returned to the show,


In the early 1970s, Isobel Barnett and Richard Murdoch were replaced by [[Katharine Whitehorn]] and [[Paul Jennings (British author)|Paul Jennings]]. The new panellists were replaced after only one series by [[Tim Rice]] and [[Gillian Reynolds]] who remained until the show ended in 1979.
In the early 1970s, Isobel Barnett and Richard Murdoch were replaced by [[w:Katharine Whitehorn|Katharine Whitehorn]] and [[w:Paul Jennings (British author)|Paul Jennings]]. The new panellists were replaced after only one series by [[w:Tim Rice|Tim Rice]] and [[w:Gillian Reynolds|Gillian Reynolds]] who remained until the show ended in 1979.


Over 250 shows were recorded. Roy Plomley was in every show but Steve Race missed a few shows due to illness and was replaced by pianist Alan Paul. Eleanor Summerfield only missed two shows; her temporary replacement was [[Andrée Melly]]. The only other stand-in player for one show was [[Graeme Garden]].
Over 250 shows were recorded. Roy Plomley was in every show but Steve Race missed a few shows due to illness and was replaced by pianist Alan Paul. Eleanor Summerfield only missed two shows; her temporary replacement was [[Andrée Melly]]. The only other stand-in player for one show was [[w:Graeme Garden|Graeme Garden]].


==Format==
==Format==
Line 73: Line 68:


==Other versions and connections to other shows==
==Other versions and connections to other shows==
In the mid-1960s, ''Many a Slip'' was tried out on television for one series. [[Peter Haigh]] took over as chairman and Steve Race's contribution was replaced by a spot the mistakes in the picture round, but it was deemed too static for TV.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
In the mid-1960s, ''Many a Slip'' was tried out on television for one series. [[Peter Haigh]] took over as chairman and Steve Race's contribution was replaced by a spot the mistakes in the picture round, but it was deemed too static for TV.


Personnel from ''Many a Slip'' took part in two special editions of ''[[Brain of Britain]]'' in which they were pitted against the current year's Brain of Brains. The first, in 1970, featured Eleanor Summerfield, Richard Murdoch and Roy Plomley and was chaired by [[Franklin Engelmann]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Brain of Britain |date=1970-07-09 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio4/fm/1970-07-11#at-12.25 |page=21 |access-date=2020-02-17 |publisher=[[BBC Magazines]] |issue=2435 |edition=London & South East |volume=188 }}</ref> The second, in 1976, featured Eleanor Summerfield, David Nixon, Tim Rice and Gillian Reynolds and was chaired by [[Robert Robinson (broadcaster)|Robert Robinson]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Brain of Britain meets Many a Slip |date=1976-12-16 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio4/fm/1976-12-24#at-21.30 |page=57 |access-date=2020-02-17 |publisher=[[BBC Magazines]] |issue=2771 |edition=London |volume=214 }}</ref>
Personnel from ''Many a Slip'' took part in two special editions of ''[[Brain of Britain]]'' in which they were pitted against the current year's Brain of Brains. The first, in 1970, featured Eleanor Summerfield, Richard Murdoch and Roy Plomley and was chaired by [[Franklin Engelmann]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Brain of Britain |date=1970-07-09 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio4/fm/1970-07-11#at-12.25 |page=21 |access-date=2020-02-17 |publisher=[[BBC Magazines]] |issue=2435 |edition=London & South East |volume=188 }}</ref> The second, in 1976, featured Eleanor Summerfield, David Nixon, Tim Rice and Gillian Reynolds and was chaired by [[Robert Robinson (broadcaster)|Robert Robinson]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Brain of Britain meets Many a Slip |date=1976-12-16 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio4/fm/1976-12-24#at-21.30 |page=57 |access-date=2020-02-17 |publisher=[[BBC Magazines]] |issue=2771 |edition=London |volume=214 }}</ref>
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In the first series of ''[[Just a Minute]]'' after [[Kenneth Williams]] died in 1988, for a double recording at the [[Paris Studio]] in [[Regent Street|Lower Regent Street]] (the home of many ''Many a Slip'' recordings), ''Many a Slip'' one-time team-mates Richard Murdoch and Lance Percival were reunited to do battle against [[Clement Freud]] and [[Wendy Richard]] in another of Ian Messiter's panel games. Richard Murdoch remained a regular guest on ''Just a Minute'' until he died in 1990.
In the first series of ''[[Just a Minute]]'' after [[Kenneth Williams]] died in 1988, for a double recording at the [[Paris Studio]] in [[Regent Street|Lower Regent Street]] (the home of many ''Many a Slip'' recordings), ''Many a Slip'' one-time team-mates Richard Murdoch and Lance Percival were reunited to do battle against [[Clement Freud]] and [[Wendy Richard]] in another of Ian Messiter's panel games. Richard Murdoch remained a regular guest on ''Just a Minute'' until he died in 1990.


In the late 1990s, the BBC recorded a pilot of ''Many a Slip'' at the Radio Theatre in [[Broadcasting House]]. The show's new host was one-time fill-in panellist [[Graeme Garden]]. The teams were [[Helen Lederer]] and [[Lorelei King]] versus [[Miles Kington]] and [[David Stafford (writer)|David Stafford]]. The show had a new musical mistakes man{{Specify|reason=What was the name of this person?|date=February 2020}} at the piano.
In the late 1990s, the BBC recorded a pilot of ''Many a Slip'' at the Radio Theatre in [[Broadcasting House]]. The show's new host was one-time fill-in panellist [[Graeme Garden]]. The teams were [[Helen Lederer]] and [[Lorelei King]] versus [[Miles Kington]] and [[David Stafford (writer)|David Stafford]]. The show had a new musical mistakes man at the piano.


==Theme music==
==Theme music==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{BBC Programme}}
*{{BBC Programme}}
{{BBC Radio}}


[[Category:BBC Home Service programmes]]
[[Category:BBC Home Service programmes]]

Latest revision as of 14:01, 26 December 2022

Many a Slip
GenrePanel game
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home station
Syndicates
Hosted by
Starring
Created byIan Messiter
Written byIan Messiter
Produced by
Recording studioParis Theatre, London
Original release17 March 1964 (1964-03-17)[1] –
4 December 1979 (1979-12-04)[2]

Many a Slip is a British panel game created by Ian Messiter which was broadcast from 1964 to 1979. It was chaired by Roy Plomley, with a musical mistakes round supplied by Steve Race. The title of the show is a reference to the English proverb "There's many a slip twixt cup and lip".

The BBC received requests from school teachers and lecturers for transcripts of Ian Messiter's pieces as a fun way of teaching educational subjects to pupils.

Contestants

For the first couple of series, the contestants were Isobel Barnett and Eleanor Summerfield versus Richard Murdoch and Lance Percival. Temporary replacements for Lance Percival in the first series (each for one show) were Kenneth Horne, Terence Alexander and Jon Pertwee.

When the annual radio series returned, magician David Nixon replaced Lance Percival. When Nixon died in 1978, Percival returned to the show,

In the early 1970s, Isobel Barnett and Richard Murdoch were replaced by Katharine Whitehorn and Paul Jennings. The new panellists were replaced after only one series by Tim Rice and Gillian Reynolds who remained until the show ended in 1979.

Over 250 shows were recorded. Roy Plomley was in every show but Steve Race missed a few shows due to illness and was replaced by pianist Alan Paul. Eleanor Summerfield only missed two shows; her temporary replacement was Andrée Melly. The only other stand-in player for one show was Graeme Garden.

Format

In a typical round, Plomley read out a piece of text prepared by Messiter, and contestants buzzed in if they detected an error. Correctly identifying an error scored one point and supplying a correction was worth a second; if a contestant buzzed in when there was no error, two points were awarded to the opposing team. Occasionally a third point was awarded when a contestant spotted a mistake Messiter had not intended.

Mid-way through each show, for one round, Plomley handed over to "our musical mistakes man, Steve Race", who would play short extracts from well-known pieces of music, each preceded by a spoken introduction, while contestants attempted to detect errors in the introduction, the piece, or both. A regular feature was a memory round: Plomley read a short piece, usually of verse or song lyrics, then read it again later on in the show with funny alterations which the teams scored points for correcting. Other regular features were the Many a Slip library with its books of incorrect titles and authors; a murder mystery round with the Many a Slip detective; travelogues of different countries and the Many a Slip chef and his way of cooking with ingredients that no sane chef would use.

For each series, the chairman kept a running total of how many games each team had won and in the last show he announced which team had won the series.

Broadcast information

From its inception in 1964, Many a Slip was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, with the programme repeated the same week on the BBC Home Service. In July 1969, this changed, with the original broadcast now on BBC Radio 4 and the repeats on BBC Radio 2. Radio 2 stopped broadcasting the weekly repeats in 1970.

The BBC's archive digital radio station, BBC Radio 4 Extra, occasionally broadcasts repeats of the show.

The show was played on Saturday nights on RNZ National (then known as National Radio) in New Zealand in the 1980s.

Other versions and connections to other shows

In the mid-1960s, Many a Slip was tried out on television for one series. Peter Haigh took over as chairman and Steve Race's contribution was replaced by a spot the mistakes in the picture round, but it was deemed too static for TV.

Personnel from Many a Slip took part in two special editions of Brain of Britain in which they were pitted against the current year's Brain of Brains. The first, in 1970, featured Eleanor Summerfield, Richard Murdoch and Roy Plomley and was chaired by Franklin Engelmann.[3] The second, in 1976, featured Eleanor Summerfield, David Nixon, Tim Rice and Gillian Reynolds and was chaired by Robert Robinson.[4]

In the first series of Just a Minute after Kenneth Williams died in 1988, for a double recording at the Paris Studio in Lower Regent Street (the home of many Many a Slip recordings), Many a Slip one-time team-mates Richard Murdoch and Lance Percival were reunited to do battle against Clement Freud and Wendy Richard in another of Ian Messiter's panel games. Richard Murdoch remained a regular guest on Just a Minute until he died in 1990.

In the late 1990s, the BBC recorded a pilot of Many a Slip at the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House. The show's new host was one-time fill-in panellist Graeme Garden. The teams were Helen Lederer and Lorelei King versus Miles Kington and David Stafford. The show had a new musical mistakes man at the piano.

Theme music

The theme music for the series was composed by John Baker at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

References

  1. ^ "Many a Slip". Radio Times. Vol. 162, no. 2105 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 1964-03-12. p. 35. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  2. ^ "Many a Slip". Radio Times. Vol. 225, no. 2925 (London ed.). BBC Magazines. 1979-11-29. p. 63. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  3. ^ "Brain of Britain". Radio Times. Vol. 188, no. 2435 (London & South East ed.). BBC Magazines. 1970-07-09. p. 21. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  4. ^ "Brain of Britain meets Many a Slip". Radio Times. Vol. 214, no. 2771 (London ed.). BBC Magazines. 1976-12-16. p. 57. Retrieved 2020-02-17.

Sources

External links

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