I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue returns to Radio 4

Stephen Fry will share chairman duties with comedians Jack Dee  and Rob Brydon , after the BBC decided that no one person would be able to step in to Humphrey Lyttelton's shoes.

Mark Damazer, the station controller announced the return of the much-loved programme. "We wrote down the names of three people we thought we would like to chair the show - and we knew we would not immediately ask one person to do all of the first run. That would be a big burden post-Humphrey. The three names we wrote down all said yes and it's wonderful they all agreed."

Paul Damazer admitted that the BBC had considered retiring the comedy panel game altogether. "Some immediately thought that we should end 'Clue' - that Humphrey's dry and self-deprecating wit was so central to the alchemy that it would not work without him," he said.

After receiving hundreds of letters from listeners who said how much they missed the programme, the BBC was swayed. "Of course it won't be the same as before - but these are three men of huge talent and I am confident that the show will work" said Paul Damazer.

Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon, who like all the new presenters has appeared as a guest panellist on the show, said it was "not really a question of filling Humph's shoes because that couldn't be done - he was a complete one-off".

"I'm a real latecomer to it, I only came to it about three years ago but I'm so proud to be a small part of it and this is really just about continuing that lovely atmosphere.

"People don't do it for the money, they do it for the enjoyment of it and it's a unique radio show and one that I think we're all hugely proud of."

He added: "It's a unique atmosphere on that show of such warmth that I've never really found on any other show and I think it's important for people to realise that it's a group of friends playing games together."

Recording began in April and the first shows will be broadcast in June. Humphrey Lyttleton died in April 2008, aged 86, he had hosted the show since its beginning in 1972.

Barry Cryer, a regular panellist, said of the programme's return: "It was a strange sort of watershed when dear Humph went, and there was a relatively small movement [which said] that you must never do this show again. And then a torrent of emails and stuff came in saying 'you must go on, you must go on'. It's no disrespect to Humph at all. People want the show to carry on and and we'll be pleased to do it, even without the great man."