Just a Classic Minute

24 more archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons

As if to prove the point that good humour never dates, this collection of archive Just a Minute includes episodes broadcast across four decades, from 1973 to 2009. As usual, players must attempt to speak for one minute on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation and while at the mercy of both the stopwatch and their fellow contestants’ buzzers. Mirth, merriment and silliness are bound to follow, in a fashion that has made ‘JAM’ a beloved institution not only in this country but also around the world. Nicholas Parsons welcomes listeners to each episode and gives his firm but fair adjudication to the many tricky challenges that ensue.

Regular players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton pit their wits against each other and guests Sheila Hancock, Jean Marsh, Magnus Pyke, Joan Bakewell, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Took, Jan Ravens, Brian Johnston, Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Simon Bates, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Fry, Pete McCarthy, Steve Frost, Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Maria McErlane, Julian Clary, Linda Smith, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard, Bill Bailey, Chris Neill, Charles Collingwood, Janey Godley, Shappi Khorsandi and Liza Tarbuck.

Please note: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, the sound quality may vary.

Cast and credits

Devised by Ian Messiter
Chaired by Nicholas Parsons
Episode selection by Michael Stevens
Music: The Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 64) by Chopin
With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle for archive assistance.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:

Episode Guide
1 01 October 1973
Featuring Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams

2 26 November 1973
Featuring Peter Jones, Jean Marsh, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams

3 19 January 1977
Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Magnus Pyke, Kenneth Williams

4 27 March 1979
Featuring Joan Bakewell, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams

5 9 May 1981
Featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Peter Jones, Barry Took, Kenneth Williams

6 25 April 1983
Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Jan Ravens, Kenneth Williams

7 16 May 1983
Featuring Brian Johnston, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams

8 30 June 1984
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams

9 1 February 1986
Featuring Simon Bates, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams

10 8 March 1993
Featuring Craig Ferguson, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo

11 8 January 1994
Featuring Stephen Fry, Peter Jones, Pete McCarthy, Paul Merton

12 4 February 1995
Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo

13 25 February 1995
Featuring Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Peter Jones, Paul Merton

14 22 June 1998
Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton

15 15 January 2001
Featuring Julian Clary, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Linda Smith

16 4 February 2002
Featuring Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice

17 29 July 2002
Featuring Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard

18 17 February 2003
Featuring Bill Bailey, Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Linda Smith

19 21 March 2005
Featuring Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Tim Rice, Linda Smith

20 24 July 2006
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins

21 3 March 2008
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Janey Godley, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey

22 12 January 2009
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton, Graham Norton

23 9 February 2009
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck

24 10 August 2009
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton


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