Just A Minute

 
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From Feb 05 Radio Time - Interview with Nicholas Parsons

Messages in this topic: 1
Gregory AugerDec 21, 2007
 

 
This is from a Febuary 2005 Radio Times:

Just a Minute has been around for 38 years now. What makes it so enduringly popular?
The BBC have just brought out a series a Just a Classic Minute tapes and they asked me to write an introduction for each one. Listening to the programmes from the early days, you see how much it's evolved. I can say with all confidence that the show is definately funnier now than it was in the past. It was very formalised then, and undisciplined in many ways. Over the years I've refined the rules, sharpened up the pace and made subtle changes.

Such as?
Well originally the third rule was "no deviation from the subject". A few years ago, we were taken to task on Points of View by a listener who said, "Nicholas Parsons now takes this to mean deviation from anything". They asked me to defend it the next week. I said that I realised as the regular players got clever and more refined in their listening and challenges, taht we had to broaden the scope. Just deviation allowed them to challenge in really funny ways. That's what helps to create the show longevity. If we'd stuck rigidly to the hard-nosed interpretation of the rules, it would have got a bit boring.

You're also pretty enduring. Is there a Parsons-Plan diet?
I believe if you exercise your mind as well as your body, they both keep a little bit younger. Just a Minute is a huge workout for the brain. It keeps you on your mettle.

So far you've proved irreplaceable. But there will come a time when...
This question makes me think you're implying  I have very little life left.

Not in any way whatsoever. But you can't go on indefinately.
If the show does go on, they'll find someone else.

Amd have you had any thoughts on who it should be?
No! I don't want to think who it might be. But there's nobody in showbusiness who's irreplaceable.

You've also got Masters of the Quiz on Radio 4 this weekend, which you wrote and are presenting.
Yes, we've been interviewing lots of people associated with quizzes and quiz shows. We've not only met presenters such as Chris Tarrant and William G Stewart, but all kinds of players. I learnt through my research that quizzing is a growing pastime right around the country - they have leagues, there's a national quiz association, and people even have individual rankings!

Aren't they all geeks?
No. In any area you'll find anoraks, but what I've discovered is that whereas in the past you'd associate this sort of thing with geeks, as you call them, there are actually a lot of very intelligent people out there who are just facinated by knowledge for its own sake - it's becoming a huge new subculture. It's exercising your brain, just like Just a Minute.

You're involved with the Grand Order of Water Rats, which I'm told is a charity. Do rodents really need our money?
It's not for rats. It's a fraternity for the variety world, to help fellow performers who have fallen on hard times.

So what's that got to do with rats?
"Rats" spelt backwards is "star".

One final question: do you think you could speak for 60 seconds without hesitation, repetition or deviation?
What's the subject?

The subject is Nicholas Parsons.
Nicholas Parsons is the chairman of Just a Minute, a programme which has been running for many years now - 28 in fact. He first got the job when the pilot was planned back in 1967, and he's not missed a single performance since then. It's amazing to think a man of all his tender years can still keep going and do all the things that are necessary, without hesitation, repetition or deviation. He has been accused of doing that, and of course the regular players of the game try to take his to task and make sure that he will trip up and so forth, and they will get points and perhaps win the game and go for the full 60 seconds without hearing the whistle blown. It is an amazing...

Challenge! Repetition of "amazing".
How do you know? Where you listening?

Intently but you managed 48 seconds, which is pretty impressive - thank you.

 
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