Just a Minute

Contents

Host

Nicholas Parsons (some programmes: Kenneth Williams)

Regular panellists

Clement Freud, Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Tony Hawks

Broadcast

BBC Radio 4, 1967 to present

BBC (TV pilots) 1969, 1981

Carlton for ITV, 1994-1995

BBC1, 1999

Synopsis

Simple but skilful panel game where celebrities have to talk on a given topic without hesitation, repetition or deviation. It is heavily based on the 1951 BBC radio format One Minute Please.

Breaking any one of these rules allows one of your three opponents to challenge and, if a correct challenge is made, you get the topic for the remainder of the minute. You pick up one point for each correct challenge, and a bonus point if you're the person still speaking when the whistle blows at the end of the minute.

Parsons was not the original host for the show. Originally, the moustached wonder Jimmy Edwards was lined up, but as the show was recorded on a Sunday he refused to give up his game of polo!

Most of the fun comes from the clever challenges made by the celebrities. The television version works, but whether it's as good or better than the original radio version is rather doubtful.

Inventor

The programme was devised by Ian Messiter and has been running for many years on Radio 4, since 22nd December 1967 to be precise.

Theme music

The introductory music is The Minute Waltz by Chopin.

Trivia

Kenneth Williams was allowed to host a few of the early programmes when he thought he could do a better job than Parsons.

Merchandise

Just a Minute (volume 2) Audio cassette from the Radio 4 version
Just a Minute (volume 3) Audio cassette from the Radio 4 version
Just a Minute (volume 4) Audio cassette from the Radio 4 version

Web links

BBC Radio 4

Wikipedia entry

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