Humming Bee
Info Box
Host
unknown
Co-hosts
Judge: Walton O'Donnell (1938-9)
Pianist: Frederick Stone (1938-9)
Broadcast
BBC Northern Ireland for BBC Regional Programme, 22 December 1938 and 30 April 1939
BBC Home Service, 9 January 1943
Synopsis
From an age when all the "firsts" were up for grabs, the BBC proudly present the first game show with a punning title. One for the annals, certainly.
Contestants were simply given the title of a song and asked to hum it. In what we can only assume was a response to conduct unbecoming of the national broadcaster, the second contest had some new rules. According to the Radio Times, "no 'tra-la-la' business is allowed, and it is forbidden for competitors to beat time with their hands". Quite right too.