For generations, Christmas breaks have been defined by the classic murder mystery board game Cluedo, a creation born from the darkness of World War II blackouts in a Birmingham kitchen. Yet the man behind the world's second-best-selling board game never reaped the multi-million pound fortune his invention generated.
The Lockdown Project That Captured the World
Anthony Pratt, a professional pianist, conceived the game to combat boredom during enforced blackouts, treating it as a side project while working in an engineering factory making tank parts. His daughter, Marcia Lewis, 72, has now revealed how this wartime "lockdown project" almost looked completely different and how her father sacrificed a vast financial windfall.
"It was a lockdown project during the war," Marcia explained, drawing a parallel to modern times. "My husband built a model railway during the Covid lockdown, whereby my dad invented Cluedo. The lockdown was a bit different under the air raid conditions in Birmingham, which was a major target."
From 'Murder!' to Mustard: The Evolution of a Classic
Originally titled 'Murder!', the game was inspired by Pratt's performances at luxurious country hotels and his love of detective fiction from authors like Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle. His wife, Elva, crafted the original board design.
Early prototypes featured ten characters, including Colonel Yellow, Mr Gold, and Mrs Silver, and weapons like a bomb, a poisoned syringe, and an axe. The game was designed for eight players, not six, meaning games could last for hours.
When Waddingtons secured the patent in 1949, they made crucial changes. "Waddingtons thought that yellow wasn't a suitable colour for a man of military standing," Marcia said, explaining how Colonel Yellow became Colonel Mustard. The player count and weapon list were also streamlined to create the faster-paced game known today.
A Legacy of Joy Over Riches
Despite the game's phenomenal success, with over 150 million copies sold worldwide, Pratt's financial reward was limited. He sold the international rights for just £5,000 before Cluedo achieved global acclaim.
"He ought to have become a multi-millionaire," Marcia acknowledged. However, she stated her father was not overly troubled, taking pride instead in creating something that delivered "happiness and joy" to countless families. "In the end I think my dad was just proud of what he achieved and wanted to be remembered as creating something which has brought so much joy and entertainment instead of somebody who just made a lot of money."
Marcia has now donated early game versions, letters, and keepsakes to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, ensuring the story of this iconic Birmingham invention remains where it began. "The archive belongs in Birmingham where it all began," she said, cementing the city's role in creating a piece of global cultural history.
