Just a Minute: Difference between revisions

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A [[The BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4]] comedy [[Panel Game]] which has been broadcast since 22 December 1967 and is hosted by Nicholas Parsons, who has appeared in every single episode since its inception. It began in the year that Radio 4 launched, and...

 

'''Nicholas Parsons''': Ah, yes. I believe that is a correct challenge, so that's [[The Points Mean Nothing|a point]] to Report Siht, and you have 50 seconds to explain ''Just A Minute'', starting now. }}

 

The object of the game is for panelists to talk "for just a minute" on a given (often rather strange) subject, "without hesitation, repetition or deviation" (except they can repeat the subject or any words therein). These rules stemmed from creator Ian Messiter's old teacher, who told him to repeat everything he had just said without hesitating or repeating himself after accusing him of not paying attention to the lesson (Messiter added the rule about deviating personally).

 

'''Nicholas Parsons''': Yes, yes, two different words. So we give Report a point for an incorrect challenge, he's still got the subject, 35 seconds on ''Just A Minute'', starting now... }}

 

The game comes from attempts to try to keep within these rules, which whilst they appear to be simple, are very hard not to break. To speak for the full minute without being challenged is extremely difficult, and meritorious when achieved (though the most common cause is when the other players agree to ignore any mistakes in order to watch the poor sap struggle for a whole minute [or longer if Nicholas is feeling malicious as well]).

 

 

You score a point for a correct challenge (as well as all the rest of time left on that subject), being incorrectly challenged and for talking whilst the bell goes. You may also be awarded a bonus point for an incorrect challenge, if the audience likes it enough. The most common cause of a correct challenge is...

 

 

Repetition is the most common cause of disqualification, followed by Hesitation with Deviation quite rare. On more than one occasion individuals have challenged themselves.

A large number of people have appeared on the show, but there have been five "regular" players over the course of its history: Kenneth Williams, Derek Nimmo, Peter Jones, Clement Freud and Paul Merton...

 

 

 

 

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* [[Actor Allusion]]: Panellists will often be given subjects which in some way refer to their careers outside ''[[Just a Minute]]'', whether directly or indirectly. For example, Kenneth Williams, when given the subject of "Julius Caesar", took the obvious bait to quote his famous line "Infamy! They've all got it [[Incredibly Lame Pun|in for me]]!" from ''[[Carry On]] Cleo'', to huge audience applause.<ref> Clement Freud promptly buzzed him for repetition of "infamy".</ref>

* [[Blatant Lies]]: Panellists frequently resort to this if they get a historical or cultural subject about which they know nothing and yet about which they must now speak. Paul Merton is particularly fond of this device, using it to pursue surreal flights of fancy and/or play up his [[Book Dumb]] persona.

* [[Butt Monkey]]: Nicholas is frequently the target of good-natured but relentless abuse from the contestants (and, one feels, often somewhat less good-natured in the case of Kenneth Williams). Not only do the panellists constantly mock him, both during their monologues and in response to his judgements as chairman, but the game itself will often deliberately provoke this, setting subjects such as "The chairman's darkest secret".

* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: Many panellists over the years have peppered their speeches and/or banter with ''double entendres'' or otherwise suggestive language (often involving Nicholas somehow); notable "offenders" include Stephen Fry, Julian Clary, and Graham Norton.

** One of the most well remembered examples of this occurred in a 1992 episode in which Clement Freud won the subject of "records" with two seconds to go:

** In a 2012 episode, Ross Noble started on the subject of "[[Elvis Presley]]" with the following:

* [[Incredibly Lame Pun]]: The words of the subject can be interpreted however the panellists choose; this can lead to some very creative wordplay, particularly from Clement Freud.

'''Clement Freud''': If you buy a really expensive car that has lots of buttons and pushers which make the car go faster or more slowly, and there is one that illuminates the headlights and another "dim sum"... }}

* [[Large Ham]]: Many panellists have moments of this, since overacting is seen as an easy way to deliver a small number of words in a manner that eats up a lot of time. Kenneth Williams practically made an art form out of stretching every single word, while Gyles Brandreth and Graham Norton are among those who have most proudly carried on this tradition. Paul Merton tends to opt for another form of hamming it up by talking very loudly and energetically if he gets a subject with less than five seconds left on the clock.

 

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[[Category:Radio]]