Gyles turns 50

This week was Gyles's 50th JAM appearance. That includes 42 rdaio shows, six TV shows, the 35th anniversary show where he was a guest subject setter, and the 40th anniversary show where he commented.

He joins an exclusive club of 10 - Nicholas Parsons, Clement Freud, Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Sheila Hancock, Graham Norton and Andree Melly.

To me he is sounding more and more as the natural foil to Paul - a totally different style but just as competitive and quick-witted. And he seems to be avoiding the old trap of repeating material too.

To me he has very good timing. He knows when to cross swords with Paul and when to leave it.

Congratulations Gyles.

And for what it's worth, the producers seem to share my view - of the 30 shows since Clement's death, Gyles is running second among the panellists...

Paul Merton 26
Gyles Brandreth 11
Sue Perkins 10
Tony Hawks, Graham Norton 8
Jenny Eclair 7
Pam Ayres, Charles Collingwood, Josie Lawrence, Liza Tarbuck 4
Shappi Khorsandi 3
Julian Clary, Stephen Fry, Dave Gorman, Sheila Hancock, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, David Mitchell, Justin Moorhouse, Chris Neill, Ross Noble, Tim Rice, John Sergeant 2
Stephen K. Amos, John Bishop, Janey Godley, Richard Herring, Fred MacAulay, Pauline McLynn, Mike McShane, Paul Sinha, Suki Webster 1