Just a Minute
Contents |
Host
Guest chairman (see Trivia for dates): Kenneth Williams, Clement Freud, Geraldine Jones, Ian Messiter
Co-hosts
Regular panellists: Clement Freud, Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Tony Hawks
Frequent guests: Pam Ayres, Sheila Hancock, Linda Smith, Jenny Eclair, Julian Clary, Chris Neill (former JAM producer)
Broadcast
BBC Radio 4, 22 December 1967 to present
BBC (unaired TV pilots) 1969, 1981
Mike Mansfield Productions for Carlton/ITV (partly networked), 6 January 1994 to July 1995 (3 series)
BBC1, 19 April to 26 May 1999 (20 episodes)
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.
Host, Nicholas ParsonsParsons 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 based on One Minute Please which in turn was devised by Ian Messiter, reputedly while he was riding on the top deck of a number 13 London bus.
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.
Early programmes were introduced thus: "Here to tell you about it is the Man of the Minute, Nicholas Parsons", later adapted to: "As the Minute Waltz fades away, here to tell you about it is our Chairman, Nicholas Parsons". Now no voiceover is used, Nicholas Parsons now says "Welcome to Just a Minute! (cheer) Hello, my name is Nicholas Parsons and, as the Minute Waltz fades away, it is my huge pleasure to welcome..." (etc.)
Guest chairmen:
7th October 1968: Kenneth Williams
14th October 1968: Geraldine Jones
21th October 1968: Kenneth Williams
16th February 1970: Clement Freud
23th February 1970: Kenneth Williams
12th January 1977: Ian Messiter (Clement Freud was delayed by the weather, Parsons took his place and so Messiter was asked to chair)
9th May 1983: Clement Freud
15th October 1983: Kenneth Williams
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
