About this season
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
Episodes (11)
1. A Piece of Cake (Christmas Special)
Aired 26 December 1974 • 40 min
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
Aired 14 July 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 21 July 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 28 July 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 4 August 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 11 August 1975 • 40 min
How did a suitcase of clothes become a suitcase of rubies?
7. Death at the Top
Aired 18 August 1975 • 40 min
The chairman of the board has been murdered. Whodunnit? And how?
8. Too Many Cooks
Aired 25 August 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 1 September 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 8 September 1975 • 40 min
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
Aired 15 September 1975 • 40 min
The managing director is dead but how did his body get across a freshly painted floor? Guests include Rosemary Leech and Jimmy Jewel.