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Just a Minute

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Just a Minute
Nicholas Parsons during a show recording at the Pleasance Grand, Edinburgh.
GenrePanel game
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
Hosted byNicholas Parsons
(1967–present)
StarringRegular panellists
Derek Nimmo
(1967–1999)
Clement Freud
(1967–2009)
Kenneth Williams
(1968–1988)
Peter Jones
(1971–2000)
Paul Merton
(1989–present)
Frequent guests (at least 30 appearances)
Sheila Hancock
(1967–present)
Andree Melly
(1968–1976)
Aimi Macdonald
(1968–1983)
Tim Rice
(1980–2009)
Gyles Brandreth
(1982–present)
Wendy Richard
(1988–2003)
Tony Hawks
(1992–present)
Jenny Eclair
(1994–present)
Kit Hesketh-Harvey
(1994–2010)
Graham Norton
(1996–present)
Julian Clary
(1997–present)
Linda Smith
(1999–2005)
Sue Perkins
(2000–present)
Ross Noble
(2000–present)
Created byIan Messiter
Produced byDavid Hatch
(1967–1975)
(1979–1981)
Simon Brett
(1969–1975)
John Cassells
(1973)
Bob Oliver-Rogers
(1973–1974)
John Lloyd
(1974–1976)
John Browell
(1976–1978)
Pete Atkin
(1982–1986)
Edward Taylor
(1987–1991)
Sarah Smith
(1992–1995)
Anne Jobson
(1994–1998)
Chris Neill
(1998–2000)
(2004)
Claire Jones
(2001–2006)
(2008–present)
Tilusha Ghelani
(2007–2008, 2010–present)
Original release22 December 1967 –
present
No. of series61
No. of episodes774 [1]
Opening themeThe Minute Waltz by Frédéric Chopin
WebsiteJust a Minute

Just a Minute is a BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons. Its first transmission on Radio 4 was on 22 December 1967, three months after the station's launch.[2] The Radio 4 programme won a Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in 2003.[3][4]

The object of the game is for panellists to talk for sixty seconds on a given subject, "without repetition, hesitation or deviation". The comedy comes from attempts to keep within these rules and the banter among the participants. In 2011 comedy writer David Quantick ascribed Just a Minute's success to its "insanely basic" format, stating, "It's so blank that it can be filled by people as diverse as Paul Merton and Graham Norton, who don't have to adapt their style of humour to the show at all."[5]

History

The idea for the game came to Ian Messiter as he rode on the top of a number 13 bus. He recalled Percival Parry Jones, a history master from his days at Sherborne School who, upon seeing the young Messiter daydreaming in a class, instructed him to repeat everything he had said in the previous minute without hesitation or repetition.[6] To this, Messiter added a rule disallowing players from deviating from the subject, as well as a scoring system based on panellists' challenges.[7]

The idea for the show was first used in One Minute Please, chaired by Roy Plomley. Whilst the fundamental rules were the same, the game was played in two teams of three rather than with four individual contestants. The show was broadcast between 1951 and 1957.[8] Previous incarnations of the programme included a 1952 version in South Africa, as well as a television version on the DuMont network in the United States.[9]

A pilot for the show was recorded in 1967, featuring Clement Freud, Derek Nimmo, Beryl Reid and Wilma Ewart as panellists. The chairman was originally planned to be Jimmy Edwards but he was unavailable on the proposed recording dates and was replaced by Nicholas Parsons. Whilst executives at the BBC disliked the pilot, its producer, David Hatch, threatened to resign if he could not oversee a full series. Not wishing to lose Hatch, the BBC acquiesced.[8]

The show's theme music is Frédéric Chopin's piano Waltz in D flat major, Op. 64, No. 1, nicknamed the "Minute Waltz" (which, despite its name, lasts longer than the 60 seconds taken to complete a round of Just a Minute).

Rules

The four panellists are challenged to speak for one minute on a given subject without "repetition, hesitation, or deviation". Over the years, the application of these rules has been inconsistent and is thus the focus of much of the banter on the programme as Parsons' rulings are challenged. In the first three series, the rules were more complicated and sometimes applied on a one-off basis — a ban on the word "is" might apply in a round, for example. But the basic rules remain quite straightforward.

  • "Repetition" means the repetition of any word or phrase, although challenges based upon very common words such as "and" are generally rejected except in extreme cases. Words contained in the given subject are exempt unless repeated many times in quick succession. Skilful players use synonyms in order to avoid repeating themselves. The term "BBC" can be successfully challenged for repetition of "B".
  • "Hesitation" is watched very strictly: a momentary pause before resumption of the subject can give rise to a successful challenge, as can tripping over one's words. Even pausing during audience laughter or applause (known as "riding a laugh") can be challenged.
  • "Deviation" means deviating from the subject, but has also been interpreted as "deviating from the English language as we know it", "deviation from grammar as we understand it", deviating from the truth, and deviation from logic, although leaps into the surreal are often allowed.

A panellist scores a point for making a correct challenge against whomever is speaking, while the speaker gets a point if the challenge is deemed incorrect. However, if a witty interjection amuses the audience, even though it is not a correct challenge, both the challenger and speaker may gain a point, at the chairman's discretion. A player who makes a correct challenge takes over the subject for the remainder of the minute, or until he or she is correctly challenged. The person speaking when the 60 seconds expires also scores a point. An extra point is awarded when a panellist speaks for the entire minute without being challenged.

It is unusual for a panellist to speak within the three cardinal rules for any substantial length of time, whilst remaining coherent, and also being amusing. Therefore, to speak for the full minute without being challenged is a special achievement. However, if a panellist is speaking fluently on a subject, staying reasonably within the three rules, and seems likely to speak for the whole minute, the other panellists will often refrain from buzzing in. On occasion a similar courtesy has also been extended by the whistle-blower, who will refrain from indicating the end of the minute so as to not interrupt a panellist in full and entertaining flow (this once led to Paul Merton's speaking for one minute and forty seconds on the topic "Ram-raiding").

Below is an example of a speech given by Sheila Hancock which lasted for a full minute without being challenged. The subject was "How to win an argument".

"Well it varies according to the person that you are arguing with. Should it be a child that you are having a contretemps with, the ideal is deviation tactics. For instance Lola Lupin who I mentioned before won't eat her dinner. So what I do is say, "yes it is rotten food, let us sing a song", making sure that that particular chanson has a few vowels in it that require her to open her mouth! During which I pop the spoon in and I have won the argument. However if it is an argument with a person that knows their subject what I do is nod sagely and smile superciliously, let them ramble on, and at the end I say "well I'm sorry, I think you're completely wrong", turn on my heels and leave. I..."[10]

On rare occasions, panellists will challenge themselves, usually by mistake or for laughs.[11] The game rewards those that make entertaining challenges, even if they do not speak for very long. If successful, last-second challenges can be especially rewarding, as they allow one to speak for a short time but earn two points—one for the challenge and one for being the last speaker.

The game is then scored and a winner declared, but the attraction of the show lies less in the contest than in the humour and banter among participants and the chairman.

Participants

Clement Freud: Panelist 1967-2009

Nicholas Parsons has chaired the show since its inception. On nine occasions he has appeared on the panel, and others have acted as chairman including Clement Freud, Geraldine Jones, Andrée Melly and Kenneth Williams. Ian Messiter was chairman on one occasion in 1977, when Freud arrived late and Nicholas Parsons took his place on the panel.[12] Parsons has appeared on every show, either as chairman or panellist.

Each programme features four panellists, with the exception of six shows in 1968 and another at the end of the 1970–1971 season when there were three.

Until 1989, Ian Messiter sat on the stage with a stopwatch and blew a whistle when the speaker's minute was up (originally a cuckoo). He was replaced by a series of different whistle-blowers. Sarah Sharpe is the current incumbent. Messiter continued to be involved with the show, setting the subjects until his death in 1999.

Paul Merton: Panelist 1989-present

There have been five regular competitors in the show's history: Clement Freud, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams and Paul Merton. Freud and Nimmo appeared from the first programme in 1967, while Williams joined in the show's second series in 1968. Jones made his début in 1971. After Williams' death in 1988, Merton (a long-time fan of the show) contacted the producer at Nicholas Parsons' suggestion and was invited to participate during the following year.[13] Nimmo died in 1999, Jones in 2000 and Freud in 2009, leaving Merton as the only regular panellist, albeit not in every show.

Each of the regulars brought their individual style to playing the game. Clement Freud liked to list examples and to challenge with only a few seconds to go. He was among the show's more competitive players, regularly referring to the rules and deprecating any deviation from them. Derek Nimmo frequently improvised descriptions of his experiences abroad, often on theatrical tour. He also was highly competitive and berated the chairman frequently. Peter Jones once said that in all his years of playing the game, he never quite got the hang of it, though his self-deprecating, laconic style suited the essential silliness of the game. Kenneth Williams was often the star of the show: his flamboyant tantrums, arch put-downs, and mock sycophancy made him the audience's favourite. Williams often stretched out his speeches by extending every syllable to breaking point (some words lasting for up to three seconds), and his regular mock-anger often included the complaint, "I've come all the way from Great Portland Street", which was close to where the show was recorded.[14] Merton frequently launches into flights of fancy, such as claiming to have had unusual occupations or to have experienced significant historical events. He also often wins points by challenging just before the whistle or for humorous challenges.[14]

Over the 40-year history of the show, there have been many other panellists. Those to have appeared frequently — more than 20 times each — are Gyles Brandreth, Julian Clary, Barry Cryer, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Sheila Hancock, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Aimi MacDonald, Andree Melly, Chris Neill, Ross Noble, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins, Tim Rice, Wendy Richard, Linda Smith and Liza Tarbuck.

Others to have appeared as panellists on the programme are: Chris Addison, Ray Alan, Juno Alexander, Stephen K. Amos, Toni Arthur, Pam Ayres, John Baddeley, Bill Bailey, Joan Bakewell, Isobel Barnett, Lucy Bartlett, Simon Bates, Jeremy Beadle, Elisabeth Beresford, Teddie Beverley, Carol Binstead, John Bishop, Barbara Blake, Marcus Brigstocke, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Janet Brown, Rob Brydon, Rob Buckman, Jason Byrne, Ian Carmichael, Barbara Castle, Jo Caulfield, Lorraine Chase, Alun Cochrane, Denise Coffey, Charles Collingwood, Peter Cook, Bernard Cribbins, Jack Dee, Hugh Dennis, Blythe Duff, Kevin Eldon, Kenny Everett, Wilma Ewart, Craig Ferguson, Lynn Ferguson, Fenella Fielding, William Franklyn, Liz Fraser, Emma Freud, Stephen Frost, Graeme Garden, Rhod Gilbert, Annabel Giles, Fi Glover, Liza Goddard, Janey Godley, Dave Gorman, Jeremy Hardy, Diane Hart,[15] Richard Herring, Thora Hird, Ian Hislop, Renee Houston, Robin Ince, Charmian Innes, Eddie Izzard, David Jacobs, Martin Jarvis, Brian Johnston, Geraldine Jones, John Junkin, Phill Jupitus, Miles Jupp, Miriam Karlin, Russell Kane, Gerry Kelly, Henry Kelly, Shappi Khorsandi, Miles Kington, Josie Lawrence, Bettine Le Beau, Helen Lederer, Maureen Lipman, Moira Lister, Sean Lock, Josie Long, Fred MacAulay, Lee Mack, Jacqueline MacKenzie, Miriam Margolyes, Alfred Marks, Betty Marsden, Jean Marsh, Pete McCarthy, Maria McErlane, Alistair McGowan, Pauline McLynn, Ian McMillan, Mike McShane, Ian Messiter, Millie, David Mitchell, Warren Mitchell, Bob Monkhouse, Patrick Moore, Justin Moorhouse, Richard Morton, Neil Mullarkey, Jimmy Mulville, Richard Murdoch, Dara Ó Briain, Owen O'Neill, Michael Palin, Nicholas Parsons, Lance Percival, Greg Proops, Marjorie Proops, Libby Purves, Magnus Pyke, Caroline Quentin, Jan Ravens, Beryl Reid, Nick Revell, Kate Robbins, Kenneth Robinson, Willie Rushton, Prunella Scales, John Sergeant, Lee Simpson, Paul Sinha, Tony Slattery, Arthur Smith, Victor Spinetti, Richard Stilgoe, Elaine Stritch, Una Stubbs, Eleanor Summerfield, Jim Sweeney, Christopher Timothy, Sandi Toksvig, Barry Took, Tommy Trinder, Joan Turner, Stanley Unwin, Richard Vranch, Rick Wakeman, Suki Webster, Katharine Whitehorn, June Whitfield, Simon Williams, Anona Winn, Terry Wogan, Michael Wood and Victoria Wood.

Recording locations

The first show in 1967 was recorded in the Playhouse Theatre in central London, and the 35th anniversary show was also recorded there, and broadcast on New Year's Day 2003.[16][17]

Most shows in the first 30 years were recorded in the Paris Theatre in central London. In 1992, the then-new producer, Sarah Smith, took the show outside central London and recorded some shows in nearby Highgate.[18] A year later, the show left Greater London for the first time; the first such shows broadcast were recorded in Bury St. Edmunds and Llandudno.[19][20] The show started going to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1993 and has been there every year since.[21] Currently most shows, though not all, are recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in central London. On the PM programme on 2 Nov 2011, Nicholas Parsons announced that two episodes of the show were going to be recorded in Mumbai, where he said the show has a large following. Two shows were recorded at the Comedy Store, Mumbai on the 1st February 2012, featuring Paul Merton and Marcus Brigstocke along with two Indian comedians; Anuvab Pal and Cyrus Broacha. During the recording it was stated that the two shows were expected to air in mid-March that year.

TV versions

Several television versions have been attempted. Two pilot episodes were recorded for television in 1969 and 1981 but never broadcast, except in documentaries about Kenneth Williams.

In 1994, 14 shows were broadcast on Carlton Television, ITV in London. Two additional variations were added: a round in which the team were presented with a mystery object to talk about, rather than a subject, and another round where the audience suggested a topic. Nicholas Parsons chaired the show, and Tony Slattery featured in all programmes. Other panellists were Tony Banks, Tony Blackburn, Jo Brand, Ann Bryson, John Fortune, Clement Freud, Mariella Frostrup, Jeremy Hardy, Tony Hawks, Hattie Hayridge, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Helen Lederer, Pete McCarthy, Neil Mullarkey, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton, Nick Revell, Ted Robbins, Lee Simpson, Arthur Smith, Jim Sweeney and Richard Vranch.

In 1995, fourteen more episodes were broadcast. Just a Minute became a team game, with the Midlands and London playing against each other, under team captains Tony Slattery and Dale Winton. Each player earned individual points, which were totalled for each team at the end of the show. Nicholas Parsons again chaired the shows. The gimmick of the audience choosing a subject was abandoned in this series. Other panellists were Tony Banks, Tony Blackburn, Craig Charles, Clement Freud, Mariella Frostrup, Liza Goddard, Jeremy Hardy, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Helen Lederer, Carolyn Marshall, Graham Norton, Su Pollard, Wendy Richard, Arthur Smith, Jim Sweeney and Richard Vranch. Both this series and the series before were produced by Mike Mansfield.

In 1999, the BBC televised the show, with 20 episodes recorded during a single week in Birmingham. Nicholas Parsons was again the chairman. There were no regular panellists but those appearing were Pam Ayres, Clare Balding, Isla Blair, Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Ken Bruce, Michael Cashman, Barry Cryer, Stephen Frost, Liza Goddard, Tony Hawks, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Richard Morton, Tom O'Connor, Su Pollard, Steve Punt, Wendy Richard, John Sergeant, Brian Sewell, Linda Smith, Richard Vranch and Gary Wilmot. The series was produced by Helena Taylor.

During the weekend of March 5th-6th 2011 a further TV version was attempted during the 24 Hour Panel People marathon broadcast by David Walliams for Comic Relief. This was streamed live online, with edited highlights being shown on BBC Three. The programme was hosted by Parsons with Shelia Hancock, Tony Hawks, Lee Mack and Walliams as panellists. [22]

14th November 2011 marked the beginning of a recording of a new TV series. The series will appear for ten episodes in BBC Two's daytime schedule and will be broadcast in March 2012.[23]

Other formats

A Swedish version of the show, called På Minuten, has been broadcast on Sveriges Radio P1 since 1969. It has also been mentioned in other BBC panel games: the similarly long-running I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue includes a musical parody entitled "Just a Minim", in which the contestants must sing a song, but sticking to the rules of Just a Minute. Clue also mocks (albeit affectionately) Just a Minute and especially Nicholas Parsons frequently. The Unbelievable Truth also mentions Just a Minute on several occasions; usually when panelists who are meant to buzz in to reveal truths instead buzz in for the rules of Just a Minute (hesitation, deviation or repetition). This is often met by mock-outrage by host David Mitchell who deducts points from panelists for playing the wrong game.

See also

References

  1. ^ "http://just-a-minute.info/eps.html". Geocities.com. Retrieved 2009-06-07. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  2. ^ BBC Radio 4 was launched on 30 September 1967, around three months before Just a Minute was created.
  3. ^ "2003 Winners". Sony Radio Academy Award. Archived from the original on 2004-12-05. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  4. ^ "Sony Radio Awards 2003: Winners". BBC News. 8 May, 2003. Retrieved 2010-10-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ guardian.co.uk, 17 May 2011, Just a Minute: why it's never paused
  6. ^ "Messiter's game show magic". BBC News. 1999-11-24. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  7. ^ "Just a Minute". BBC. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  8. ^ a b "Just a Minute". UK Game Shows.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  9. ^ "Ian Messiter (obituary)". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "Episode 633". Just a Minute. Season 50. 2005-07-25. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Episode 436". Just a Minute. Season 30. 1994-01-15. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  12. ^ "Episode 230". Just a Minute. Season 11. 1977-01-12. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Clement Freud on Just a Minute: A Celebration, BBC Radio 4, 26 May 2009
  14. ^ a b "H2G2 - Just a Minute". BBC. 2000-06-30. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  15. ^ "Diane Hart - Obituaries, News". London: The Independent. 2002-03-04. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  16. ^ "Episode 1". Just a Minute. Season 1. 1967-12-22. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  17. ^ "Episode 577, 35th Anniversary Special". Just a Minute. Season 45. 2003-01-01. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "Episode 415". Just a Minute. Season 28. 1992-01-04. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Episode 424". Just a Minute. Season 29. 1993-01-02. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  20. ^ "Episode 426". Just a Minute. Season 29. 1993-01-16. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  21. ^ "Episode 445". Just a Minute. Season 31. 1994-12-31. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episode= ignored (help)
  22. ^ "24 Hour Panel People". BBC. March 2011.
  23. ^ "Just A Minute to be adapted for TV for 45th anniversary". 20 October, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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