Whodunnit?

Whodunnit? is a British television game show, broadcast between 1972 and 1978 for ITV by Thames Television. It was written by Lance Percival and Jeremy Lloyd, and hosted first by Edward Woodward. One of the panelists in the first series was Jon Pertwee, who took over as the show's presenter from season two. Each week it featured a short murder-mystery drama enacted in front of a panel of celebrity guests who then had to interview the remaining characters to establish who the murderer was. Patrick Mower and Anouska Hempel became the permanent panelists from season three onwards, with two guest celebrities each episode. The only clue was that only the murderer could lie. Whodunnit? originally adopted a conventional panel-game studio layout, but from series three onwards utilised the murder scene itself as the set. It was similar in format, although not officially connected to, the popular board game Cluedo. The theme to the show was written by Tony Hatch

Family

Seasons

1. Missing on Voyage

Air Date: 1973-06-25

The case this week involves a creaking door, a murder and a phial of poison.

2. Knife in the Back

Air Date: 1973-07-02

This week's episode features a ghostly house on a remote Scottish island and a death amongst the week-end guests.

3. Crime After a Fashion

Air Date: 1973-07-09

This edition features the murder of a model during a fashion show.

4. Did He Fall or Was He Pushed?

Air Date: 1973-07-16

The managing director of a plastics firm if found dead at the foot of a three storey building.

5. Dead Likeness

Air Date: 1973-07-23

This week's case involves identical twins.

6. Happy New Year

Air Date: 1973-07-30

This episode features a murder that takes place just as the last few minutes of 1899 go by.

1. The Last Act

Air Date: 1974-06-24

Jon Pertwee takes over as the host, and there's a murder on set.

2. It's Quicker by Train

Air Date: 1974-07-01

In this episode a murder takes place on the night train to Yorkshire.

3. The Final Chapter

Air Date: 1974-07-08

A retired General is murdered after completing his memoirs, and then the final chapter disappears.

4. Goodbye Sarge

Air Date: 1974-07-15

During World War I, an unpopular Sargeant is shot, but who killed him?

5. The Art of Theft

Air Date: 1974-07-22

This edition features the theft of a famous painting.

6. Teddy Bear's Picnic

Air Date: 1974-07-29

There is a murder at a fancy dress party.

1. A Piece of Cake (Christmas Special)

Air Date: 1974-12-26

A man who recently inherited a fortune drops dead in the middle of his speech after the annual family dinner on Christmas Eve. There are six suspects - but which has the strongest motive? The sleuths are Wendy Craig, Leslie Crowther, Patrick Mower and Derek Nimmo.

2. Portrait in Black

Air Date: 1975-07-14

Actor Norman Bowler and novelist Jackie Collins join regulars Anouska Hempel and Patrick Mower to follow another sprinkling of clues. As always, there are more than a few red herrings.

3. Final Drive

Air Date: 1975-07-21

Many crimes are solved by pure deduction - or a process of elimination. Aimi MacDonald and Alfred Marks are the guest stars pitting their wits against the audience to solve another murder mystery.

4. Pop Goes the Weasel

Air Date: 1975-07-28

A row is brewing within a famous pop group the Weasels. But before the showdown ensues, one of the group is murdered on stage. Guest stars are Paula Wilcox and Richard O'Sullivan.

5. Evidence of Death

Air Date: 1975-08-04

A murder is committed in a research lab and the only clues are a ring and a matchbox. Scientist Magnus Pyke and actress Polly James put their heads together to try and solve another mystery in which nothing is quite as it might at first seem.

6. Nothing to Declare

Air Date: 1975-08-11

How did a suitcase of clothes become a suitcase of rubies?

7. Death at the Top

Air Date: 1975-08-18

The chairman of the board has been murdered. Whodunnit? And how?

8. Too Many Cooks

Air Date: 1975-08-25

The chilling tale of the frozen chef. Who froze him and why? The CIA, MI5 and French security services are the principal ingredients in this mixture of freshly cooked spies. Getting their teeth into the clues are Rodney Bewes and Julie Edge.

9. Worth Dying For

Air Date: 1975-09-01

Terry Scott and Dilys Laye join the panel to puzzle out a cleverly planned shooting. The gun is found but all is not as it appears - and the main red herring could be a dead rat.

10. Fly Me, I'm Dead

Air Date: 1975-09-08

Another mystery to test the sleuthing talents of viewers and panelists including guests Honor Blackman and Leslie Crowther. This time it's a murder at 30,000 feet over France.

11. Beware Wet Paint

Air Date: 1975-09-15

The managing director is dead but how did his body get across a freshly painted floor? Guests include Rosemary Leech and Jimmy Jewel.

1. Dead Grass

Air Date: 1976-06-28

A police informant is found with a knife in his back.

2. Future Imperfect

Air Date: 1976-07-05

A crime, with a scientific twist, set in the future.

3. Time to Dye

Air Date: 1976-07-12

A woman is murdered in a beauty parlour.

4. Final Verdict

Air Date: 1976-07-19

An unsuspecting victim succumbs to death by poisoning.

5. A Bad Habit

Air Date: 1976-07-26

A monastery is the target of a thief.

6. A Deadly Tan

Air Date: 1976-08-02

A man is killed at a tanning booth.

7. Dead Ball

Air Date: 1976-08-09

The career of a football manager is cut short.

1. The Rajah's Ruby

Air Date: 1977-06-27

It's 1925, and a daring thief makes off with a precious gemstone.

2. Village Fate

Air Date: 1977-07-04

Rehearsals for a murder mystery play turn sinister when one of the actors is poisoned for real.

3. No Happy Returns

Air Date: 1977-07-11

Seventieth birthday celebrations for a bad-tempered Chairman of the Board end with a bang!

4. The Q43 Experiment

Air Date: 1977-07-18

A top British scientist is gunned down as he works in his laboratory.

5. Last Tango in Tooting

Air Date: 1977-07-25

It's the finals of the Banworth Chemical Works dance competition and there's murder on the dancefloor.

1. All Part of the Service

Air Date: 1978-04-03

An apparent suicide is not all that it seems...

2. Which Eye Jack

Air Date: 1978-04-10

There's dirty work at an inn on the Cornish coast.

3. Diamonds are Almost Forever

Air Date: 1978-04-17

Priceless diamonds vanish from the safe at a police station.

4. Before Your Very Eyes

Air Date: 1978-04-24

A murder takes place at the climax of a thrilling illusionist act.

5. A Bad Sign

Air Date: 1978-05-01

A fortune teller is murdered but the solution is hardly crystal clear.

6. Adieu Monsieur Chips

Air Date: 1978-05-08

A casino director's number has at last come up.

7. A Safe Way to Die

Air Date: 1978-05-15

Wages are stolen from a safe -- next to which is lying a dead body!

8. Final Trumpet

Air Date: 1978-05-22

The panel grapples with a case involving all the fun of the circus.

9. Instant Coffee

Air Date: 1978-06-05

Who has poisoned the ruler of an oil-rich Arab country?

10. Date with Death (aka A Dead Cert)

Air Date: 1978-06-12

Murder strikes at a "school for lovers."

11. Underneath the Archers

Air Date: 1978-06-19

Murder in a photographic studio keeps the panelists guessing.

12. Which Way Did He Go

Air Date: 1978-06-26

What killed Philip Cunning ham -- the cigar, the Scotch, or the cup of tea?

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Rating

7.3/10

Release Date

1973-06-25

Episodes

47 (6 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Jon Pertwee

Host