Whodunnit?

Review by Laurence Marcus

A brutal murder at a lonely country house, with the victim found in the study. No, it's not a game of Cluedo (no lead piping or candlestick in sight), but the introduction to a 1972 mystery thriller in a late night ‘try-out’ for a proposed series of murder mystery plays where viewers were invited to pit their wits against a panel of studio sleuths (in this case Edward Woodward - Callan, Frank Windsor - Z Cars and Anne Summer - allegedly a real-life private investigator), as well as a member of the public (Arthur Watt in this case) chosen at random from the live studio audience, to see who could solve the case before the presenter - Shaw Taylor (Police Five), revealed the answer.

Although Whodunnit? shares similarities with the 1969 show Who-Dun-It, it was a unique concept developed by Jeremy Lloyd and Lance Percival. Initially aired as a pilot, it was shelved for almost a year before returning with Edward Woodward now leading the celebrity panel, which initially included Julie Ege (Up Pompeii), Kenneth Haigh (Man at the Top), and crime writer Dick Francis. The case involved a mysterious murder with a creaking door, a vial of poison, and a body slumped on the floor. All your standard Agatha Christie tropes gathered together in one 15-minute drama.

Once it was played out, the celebrity panel and audience member had the opportunity to question the drama’s characters, trying to piece together who the murderer was, whilst making notes and observations. They could also request a replay of any scene, often presented as flashbacks narrated by the suspects. The catch? Only the guilty party could lie. After hearing the panel’s deductions, each investigator would announce their suspect, along with the key clue that led them to their conclusion.

At the end of each episode, the murderer would be revealed in response to Woodward’s dramatic order, “Would the real Whodunnit please stand up?” The celebrity panellist who correctly identified the most clues won £25 for charity, and the studio audience winner could choose a prop from the set. Later on, this prize evolved into a "Whodunnit?" trophy – a magnifying glass encased in a frame.

The first series ran for six episodes, and when it returned in June 1974, Jon Pertwee (fresh from Doctor Who) took over as host, bringing his signature eccentricity and charm to the show. The second series featured a range of guest investigators, including Margaret Lockwood, Patrick Mower, Anthony Valentine, Harry H. Corbett, and a number of other other notable figures from British television.

In the third series of 1975, the cast list expanded to include actors like Mary Tamm (Doctor Who), Frank Thornton (Are You Being Served?), and Brian Wilde (Porridge). Over its six-series run, Whodunnit? became known for its engaging format and creativity, though by today’s standards, it comes across a bit like an amateur dramatics production in your local village hall. Despite this, it remains a unique and entertaining relic of 1970s British television.