End of an era as "Humph" says farewell to BBC 2

12/03/2008

Much-loved veteran jazzman, cartoonist, calligrapher and author Humphrey Lyttelton is retiring from BBC Radio 2's 'The Best Of Jazz' after 40 years in the hot seat - to "clear space for some of his other ambitions". Lyttelton, now in his eighties, will present his last show on Monday March 17th, and to mark the occasion he will play ten of his favourite tracks that "hold memories and represent landmarks".

 

"Humph" as he is affectionately known, will be sadly missed by many Mature Times' readers. Born Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton, he is a cousin of the 10th Viscount Cobham and a great-nephew of the politician and sportsman, Alfred Lyttelton - the first man to represent England at both football and cricket.

 

Despite a very traditional education at Eton, he became inspired by Louis Armstrong and Nat Gonella, taught himself to play the trumpet - and formed a quartet at the school in 1936. After serving in the Grenadier Guards in the war, he joined in the 1945 VE celebrations by playing the trumpet from a wheelbarrow - thereby giving his first, unscheduled, BBC broadcast, which still survives to this day.

 

His jazz career really took off in the late 1940s and 50s, where he was a key player in the revival of traditional jazz forms, and for many years the Lyttelton band helped develop the careers of many - now prominent - British musicians

Humph started presenting The Best of Jazz in 1967 - an idiosyncratic mix of top-quality recordings of all ages and current material. In 2007 he cut his commitment to two quarterly seasons per year in order to spend more time on other projects.

 

He is also equally well-known as the host for BBC Radio 4's "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue", and it was his persona of 'the straight-man surrounded by mayhem' which played a big part in the show's success. He is also the UK's oldest current panel/game show host in the UK - even outstripping Nicholas Parsons.

 

Described by Louis Armstrong as "that cat in England who swings his ass off", Lyttlelton's current eight-piece band still has a busy schedule, performing (frequently sell-out) shows across the country. And on a different note, he is widely considered to be the world's greatest-ever player of Mornington Crescent.

 

Tune in on Monday, March 17th to hear the end of an era - or, if you are techno-savvy, listen on Play Again.