<P> Some games require suggestions or topics . Depending on the game, these may be solicited directly from the studio audience during the taping, or written down by the audience and / or production staff in advance and then randomly drawn for the performers' use . The host uses a buzzer to signal the end of a game, or of individual sections in the rapid - fire games . </P> <P> The show has a visual opening sequence that changed over the series . In the first series, the title sequence shows clips from the actual show under the main theme . The sequence introduced in the second series features shots of actors in various styles of dress and activity whose exposed skin had been blackened out as though the actors are performing blackface as a special effect, and in between scenes, there is a shot of Clive's hand pressing his buzzer . The final sequence features a white line on a red screen, out of which a series of four characters, drawn simply as white outlines, appear and interact . The style is similar to that of La Linea by Osvaldo Cavandoli . The same line figures are superimposed above a picture of Los Angeles' famous Hollywood Sign for the last series . The British version's theme song was written by Philip Pope . </P> <P> Whose Line Is It Anyway? was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson in 1988 as a radio show on BBC Radio 4 . This early incarnation of the show is notable as being the origin of the show's tradition of having the performers read the credits in an amusing style; as it was a radio show, it was necessary for somebody to read the credits, and it was decided that it might as well be done as part of the programme proper, rather than being done by a traditional BBC Radio announcer . This approach to reading credits was pioneered by the earlier BBC radio show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again . The title of the show itself is a comedic riposte to another radio show that moved to television, What's My Line, merged with the title of a 1972 teleplay (and eventual theatrical play) Whose Life Is It Anyway? . The radio series consisted of six episodes, with Clive Anderson as host, with John Sessions and Stephen Fry as regulars . </P> <P> Originally, the producers asked the BBC to move to television; however the BBC was hesitant about this move . By this time, an already eager Channel 4 bought the show . Believing the show would become a hit, Channel 4 ordered 13 episodes for the first series, uncommon in the UK where a TV series often consists of just six episodes in its first year . However, this came as a problem between two cast members . Original plans were to have Sessions and Fry as regulars with the rotation of two performers, but Stephen Fry pulled out as he was often scared performing it on radio, however, Sessions, with some persuasion from Fry, continued his role on the show . With the exception of Sessions in the first series and Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie starting with the seventh and eighth series (respectively), there were no fixed regulars on the show, though there were many recurring regulars (including four appearances by Fry). </P>

Who was the first host of whose line is it anyway