Editing My Word! (section)

==Background and first broadcasts==
In 1956, [[Edward J. Mason]] and [[Tony Shryane]], respectively the writer and producer of the popular radio [[soap opera]] ''[[The Archers]]'', decided that by way of a change they would devise and produce what [[Frank Muir]] called "a new kind of not-very-academic literary quiz".<ref>Muir, p. 209</ref> The [[Aeolian Hall (London)|Aeolian Hall]] in London was booked for the recording of a pilot show, but at the last minute two of the four panellists were unexpectedly unavailable. Shryane sought the help of Muir and his writing partner [[Denis Norden]], scriptwriters of the popular BBC comedy series ''[[Take It From Here]]'', who were based in a nearby office. They thought of themselves as writers rather than performers, but at Shryane's urgent request they agreed to stand in for the absentees.<ref name= m209>Muir, pp. 209–210</ref> Muir was partnered by [[Isobel Barnett]] – a panel show regular – and Norden by the journalist [[Nancy Spain]]. Mason set the questions, and the chairman was the cricket commentator and poet [[John Arlott]], who was billed as "umpire". The pilot was well received by the audience in the hall and by listeners to its first transmission. The BBC commissioned a series, which was transmitted in early 1957. Muir and Norden had no intention of becoming regular panellists, but Shyrane persuaded them.<ref name=m209/>

Arlott did not return for the second series, which began in August 1957. He was succeeded by [[Jack Longland]], known to BBC listeners as the chairman of the panel show ''Country Questions'' and a regular team member on ''[[Round Britain Quiz]]'' and panellist on ''[[Any Questions?]]''<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/20/20?order=asc&q=%22JAck+Longland%22#search "Jack Longland"], BBC Genome. Retrieved 3 May 2021</ref> Although, unlike Arlott, Longland had no particular association with cricket he too was billed as umpire until 1962, after which he was billed as "in the chair", as were his successors.<ref name=g2>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=0&q=%22My+Word%22%3A+%22Longland%22%3A+%22Umpire%22&media=all&yf=1923&yt=2009&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00#search "My Word: Longland: Umpire"], BBC Genome. Retrieved 2 May 2021</ref>