304:
461:, an early computer magazine. Due to space restrictions, the rules for the game were not published but were promised for the next month's edition, along with an explanation by a member of the Society for the Support of Mornington Crescent, Dr. Richard Taylor-Fischel. Unfortunately, in that edition on the Letters page, p121, he took umbrage at the modifications to the game that had been necessary to produce a computer program and consequently withdrew his collaboration, using the name Dr. R. T. Fischel PhD and bar.
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29:
156:" wins. It is clear that the "best" time to say "Finchley Central" is exactly before your opponent does. Failing that, it is good that he should be considering it. You could, of course, say "Finchley Central" on your second turn. In that case, your opponent puffs on his cigarette and says, "Well,... Shame on you."
282:
A regular feature that introduces
Mornington Crescent is a letters section which begins with the chairman's comments ("I notice from the sheer weight of this week's postbag, we've received a little over no letters" and "I see from the number of letters raining down on us this week that the Scrabble
199:
Humorous variations to the rules have been introduced to games. Humphrey
Lyttelton would describe special rules to apply to that session, such as "Trumpington's Variations" or "Tudor Court Rules", so that almost every episode featuring Mornington Crescent introduced a variant. In one of them, first
195:
The objective of
Mornington Crescent is to give the appearance of a game of skill and strategy, with complex and long-winded rules and strategies, to parody games in which similarly circuitous systems have evolved. The apparent rules are fictional, and its appeal to audiences lies in the ability of
204:" and is forced to remain in place for the next three moves. This tends to block the other players, putting them into Nidd as well and causing a roadblock. In one episode, every player ended up in Nidd and the rule had to be suspended so that the round could continue.
323:
pastime, and in the 1980s were played by post in a number of play-by-mail magazines. One format involved a series of elimination rounds, with everyone except the winner of the current round going forward onto the next. A "type-in" computer version of the game for the
102:, broadcast on 22 August 1978. Although five episodes transmitted in 1974–1975 are lost, Mornington Crescent seems to have made no appearance before 1978. It was played in every surviving episode of the sixth series. It has been played ever since.
117:, the game was invented to vex a series producer who was unpopular with the panellists. One day, the team members were drinking, when they heard him coming. "Quick," said one, "let's invent a game with rules he'll never understand."
283:
factory has exploded again"). The selected letter each week is invariably from "A Mrs. Trellis of North Wales", whose incoherent letters usually mistake the chairman for another Radio 4 presenter or media personality. "Dear
113:, a panellist on the programme from 1972 until shortly before his death in 2022, said that Geoffrey Perkins did not invent the game, and that it had been around since the 1960s. According to Chairman
76:. Interspersed with the turns is humorous discussion amongst the panellists and host regarding the rules and legality of each move, as well as the strategy the panellists are using. The
1169:
377:. At the end of part one (concentrating on the history), it was announced that part two (about the rules) had been postponed due to "scheduling difficulties".
255:, but a move to Luton High Street was ruled invalid for being too remote. In other episodes, an attempt was supposedly made to expand the territory to
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1183:
207:
Over time, the destinations named by the panellists expanded beyond the
Underground, in accordance with various regional expansions of the game.
248:
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aim of the game is to entertain the other participants and listeners with amusing discussion of the fictional rules and strategies.
240:
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The code for the first ever
Mornington Crescent computer game, on a BBC Micro, was presented on p154 of the April 1985 edition of
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is recorded around the United
Kingdom, and the game is occasionally modified accordingly. There have been versions in
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The Fully
Authorised History of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue: The Clue Bible from Footlights to Mornington Crescent
334:. Mornington Crescent can now be played online, in the spirit of the radio series. Games are played by fans on
153:
783:
689:
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131:
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to international versions of the game, including "Mornington
Croissant", supposedly based on the
121:
471:
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801:
353:
was reopened in 1998 after six years of closure for lift repairs, London
Transport invited the
224:
21:
This article is about the game as featured on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. For other uses, see
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135:
521:
272:
260:
60:
The game consists of each panellist in turn announcing a landmark or street, most often a
8:
698:
126:
1110:
148:. The game is referred to as an "English game" in an article on "non-games" as follows:
1120:
Automated version of the game, against a server, following the short rules and rule 7b.
927:
625:
420:
339:
200:
introduced in North
Yorkshire, a player whose movement is blocked is considered to be "
188:
152:
Two players alternate naming the stations of the London Underground. The first to say "
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428:
412:
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361:, one of the show's longest-serving panelists, was installed at the station in 2002.
220:
106:
373:, a "two-part documentary" on the history of the game and its rules, presented by
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950:
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288:
168:
109:, who stated in an interview that Mornington Crescent was created as a non-game.
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isn't important. My aunt told me that, but then all my new wallpaper fell off."
263:
system was suited to the game. References have been made in various episodes of
259:(via Heathrow and JFK) but there was some disagreement as to whether or not the
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arts festival and a 2016 recording in Glasgow (where the name was changed to "
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The origins of the game are not clear. One claim is that it was invented by
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variant. At least one full game of Mornington Croissant was played on air.
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Crescent") and another variation played at recordings in Wales (called "
984:"BBC – Radio 4 – Comedy and Quizzes – In Search of Mornington Crescent"
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201:
183:
Mornington Crescent gameplay involves announcing random place names in
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124:" was described in the Spring 1969 issue of the mathematical magazine
325:
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256:
287:," (she writes), "why oh why ... very nearly spells YOYO", or "Dear
196:
players to create an entertaining illusion of competitive gameplay.
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team to perform an opening ceremony. A memorial plaque to the late
343:
1005:
606:
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts
478:
88:
Mornington Crescent first appeared in the opening episode of the
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335:
319:
Finchley Central and Mornington Crescent have been played as a
292:
212:
184:
495:
232:
216:
819:
802:"The Steampunk Forum at Brass Goggles: Mornington Crescent"
392:. This has since also been released on a BBC Audiobook CD.
68:
system. The ostensible aim is to be the first to announce "
369:
At Christmas 1984, Radio 4 broadcast a special programme,
1035:. Vol. 3, no. 2. April 1985. pp. 121–125.
702:(3). Warwick Mathematics Institute: 31–34. Archived from
160:
746:. Stockport, Greater Manchester: Database Publications
550:
Elizabeth Knowles, ed. (2006). "Mornington Crescent".
837:
395:
Two books of rules and history have been published,
172:Panellists taking part at a BBC Radio recording of
235:, panellists named locations as far afield as the
43:is an improvisational comedy game featured in the
1101:The BBC Radio 4 Mornington Crescent message board
549:
1217:
684:
219:, as well as one in Scotland, played during the
1027:"Take the Northern Line to Mornington Crescent"
738:"Take the Northern Line to MORNINGTON CRESCENT"
1163:
1106:H2G2 Mornington Crescent Appreciation Society
364:
890:"Mornington Crescent - the legend is reborn"
449:and its rules are available on his website.
1170:
1156:
328:was included in the April 1985 edition of
735:
567:
565:
442:(of sorts) variant has been developed by
142:referred to the article in his 1985 book
1071:. Vol. 3, no. 3. p. 154.
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882:
578:. John Hunt Publishing. pp. 72–73.
302:
231:Crescent"). In one episode, recorded in
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27:
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371:Everyman's Guide to Mornington Crescent
351:Mornington Crescent Underground station
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562:
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397:The Little Book of Mornington Crescent
1251:London Underground in popular culture
1151:
920:"Mornington Crescent honours Rushton"
719:, BBC Radio Collection #2, Volume 6.
629:, BBC Radio 4, Saturday 22 March 2008
545:
543:
425:Stovold's Mornington Crescent Almanac
380:Another documentary was broadcast on
298:
820:"Mornington Crescent In Outer Space"
346:application has also been produced.
338:, in diverse web forums, and on the
23:Mornington Crescent (disambiguation)
900:from the original on 4 October 2018
13:
1111:A list of variations mentioned in
540:
491:List of games with concealed rules
53:(ISIHAC), a series that satirises
14:
1262:
1094:
1003:
1142:Mornington Crescent Game Archive
552:A Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
386:In Search of Mornington Crescent
1200:One Song to the Tune of Another
1054:
1019:
997:
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942:
926:. 21 March 2002. Archived from
855:
830:
812:
794:
776:
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291:, never let them tell you that
863:"Facebook Mornington Crescent"
729:
710:
694:"A Pandora's Box of non-games"
678:
647:
632:
618:
599:
315:in Mornington Crescent station
1:
955:. Random House. p. 265.
788:Enquirer.improbableisland.com
533:
784:"Improbable Island Enquirer"
7:
1231:1978 radio programme debuts
1124:Encyclopaedia Morningtonia
508:That Mitchell and Webb Look
464:
191:system, for humorous effect
187:, usually a station on the
34:Mornington Crescent station
16:Improvisational comedy game
10:
1267:
1246:Games with concealed rules
1226:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
1180:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
1061:Fischel, R.T. (May 1985).
717:I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
365:Spin-offs and publications
174:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
163:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
99:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
83:
50:I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
20:
1190:
505:from the television show
134:and John Jaworski at the
1236:British radio game shows
736:Mike Cook (April 1985).
1135:15 October 2006 at the
572:Bateman, Chris (2011).
556:Oxford University Press
120:A similar game called "
659:"Simon Hoggart's Week"
316:
192:
176:
158:
37:
435:), by Graeme Garden.
306:
182:
171:
150:
136:University of Warwick
96:'s comedy panel show
36:, the game's namesake
31:
1063:"Shocks on the Line"
949:Roberts, J. (2010).
706:on 27 February 2009.
527:Bang the Drum Slowly
273:Mornington Peninsula
261:New York City Subway
72:", a station on the
1195:Mornington Crescent
453:Cultural references
384:2005. It was named
249:Pennsylvania Avenue
70:Mornington Crescent
41:Mornington Crescent
806:Brassgoogles.co.uk
608:, Pan Publishing.
520:"Tegwar" from the
421:Humphrey Lyttelton
388:, and narrated by
340:London Underground
317:
299:Further popularity
193:
177:
145:Metamagical Themas
140:Douglas Hofstadter
115:Humphrey Lyttelton
66:London Underground
47:comedy panel show
38:
32:An enamel sign at
1213:
1212:
962:978-1-4070-8780-1
930:on 4 October 2018
896:. 27 April 1998.
725:978-0-563-49484-3
413:Tim Brooke-Taylor
237:Place de l'Étoile
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154:Finchley Central
122:Finchley Central
107:Geoffrey Perkins
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692:(Spring 1969).
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1068:The Micro User
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1032:The Micro User
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657:(3 May 2008).
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375:Raymond Baxter
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359:Willie Rushton
331:The Micro User
313:Willie Rushton
311:commemorating
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289:Mr. Titchmarsh
253:Washington, DC
245:St. Petersburg
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409:Graeme Garden
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405:0-7528-1864-3
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1241:Comedy games
1194:
1178:
1130:the original
1112:
1080:. Retrieved
1066:
1056:
1044:. Retrieved
1030:
1021:
1009:. Retrieved
999:
987:. Retrieved
978:
966:. Retrieved
951:
944:
932:. Retrieved
928:the original
923:
914:
902:. Retrieved
893:
884:
872:. Retrieved
866:
857:
845:. Retrieved
841:
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778:
769:
760:
748:. Retrieved
741:
731:
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704:the original
697:
690:David Fowler
680:
668:. Retrieved
664:The Guardian
662:
649:
639:
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605:
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589:. Retrieved
574:
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329:
321:play-by-mail
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162:
161:Gameplay on
151:
143:
130:, edited by
125:
119:
104:
97:
90:sixth series
87:
77:
62:tube station
59:
48:
40:
39:
18:
1006:"kevan.org"
989:12 November
766:"Orange MC"
750:27 November
447:Kevan Davis
417:Barry Cryer
390:Andrew Marr
309:blue plaque
269:Paris Métro
229:Morganstown
225:Morningside
189:Underground
132:Ian Stewart
111:Barry Cryer
94:BBC Radio 4
55:panel games
45:BBC Radio 4
1220:Categories
874:18 January
644:interview.
626:Loose Ends
534:References
524:and movie
502:Numberwang
485:Green Wing
472:Calvinball
440:board game
342:itself. A
277:Australian
239:in Paris,
1077:0265-4040
1041:0265-4040
934:4 October
904:4 October
591:4 October
326:BBC Micro
257:Manhattan
1144:dataset.
1133:Archived
1011:10 March
924:BBC News
898:Archived
894:BBC News
868:Facebook
842:Fawm.org
770:Dunx.org
699:Manifold
638:Radio 4
465:See also
344:Facebook
127:Manifold
968:24 June
479:Guyball
427:(2001;
399:(2001;
275:", the
271:, and "
202:in Nidd
84:Origins
64:on the
1113:ISIHAC
1082:16 May
1075:
1046:16 May
1039:
959:
847:12 May
838:"FAWM"
723:
670:18 May
612:
582:
431:
423:, and
407:), by
403:
336:Usenet
265:ISIHAC
247:, and
213:Slough
209:ISIHAC
185:London
78:actual
1184:games
1115:games
515:Zendo
496:Nomic
349:When
285:Libby
233:Luton
217:Leeds
1128:and
1126:Wiki
1084:2024
1073:ISSN
1048:2024
1037:ISSN
1013:2014
991:2006
970:2023
957:ISBN
936:2018
906:2018
876:2008
849:2023
752:2018
721:ISBN
672:2008
610:ISBN
593:2018
580:ISBN
522:book
429:ISBN
419:and
401:ISBN
355:Clue
293:size
215:and
251:in
243:in
92:of
1222::
1065:.
1029:.
922:.
892:.
865:.
840:.
822:.
804:.
786:.
768:.
740:.
696:.
688:;
661:.
564:^
554:.
542:^
438:A
415:,
411:,
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