Hello and welcome Andrew, nice to have you with
us.
You mention one of the episode list questions I get
mentioned most often - at least once a month someone writes to me
about this or the Derek Nimmo final eppy puzzle.
The order of shows isn't the same as that recorded. The
show you mention is the first show to be BROADCAST that featured Paul. But the
show that Paul first RECORDED is 393/22/5, 25 April 1989 with Paul, Derek Nimmo,
Peter Jones and Sir Tim Rice. His first show with Clement is in the following
season - 399/23/1, 17 March 1990 with Paul, Derek, Peter and
Clement.
If you are REALLY after some great early Paul form -
here's a round from his other first season show - in my humble opinion, the
funniest round in the show's history! (To be fair it is even funnier when you
hear Peter Jones's immaculate vocal timing) Enjoy!
Dean
NICHOLAS PARSONS: And you kept your recitation going until
the whistle went to gain that extra point and you are now in the lead Paul
alongside Derek Nimmo. And Peter Jones and Richard Murdoch are both together in
second place only one point behind. Paul would you take the next round, the
subject is my pet. Will you tell us something about a pet that you have, or just
my pet starting now.
PAUL MERTON: My pet is a cat called Zooby. This cat
is a peculiarly stupid cat...
BUZZ
NP: Derek Nimmo challenged.
DEREK NIMMO: Two cats.
NP: There were two cats, yes, and you've
only got one I'm sure so that's repetition...
PM: If the cat was a
schizophrenic, would that help me in any way?
RICHARD MURDOCH: He could
be a Siamese cat like in twins.
NP: Yes but in Just A Minute if you
repeat the word that is repetition. And so it is a correct challenge from the
other party which was Derek Nimmo, 56 seconds Derek on my pet starting now.
DN: My pet is a beautiful red retriever dog that I've had since it was
six months old. Had it trained by somebody in the part in Northamptonshire known
as Oney. It is a great chum to me and of course a wonderful pet. But more than
that, it is a personal friend with an ability...
BUZZ
NP: Paul
Merton challenged.
PM: I think you should extend your social life! If
this, if this red retriever is a personal friend! I once, I used to correspond
with a tortoise but I don't...
NP: So you're having him for deviation?
PM: Deviation, yeah!
NP: Because of his, er, oh yes, um, I think
what we'll do is give you a bonus point because we did enjoy the challenge Paul.
But ah I think within the bounds and the rules of Just A Minute Derek wasn't
actually being too devious. So he keeps going with 33 seconds on my pet starting
now.
DN: His name is Rufus, named after the King of that particular
appendage. And when I take him with me for a run in the park...
BUZZ
NP: Peter Jones has challenged.
PETER JONES: The dog was named
after a King's appendage?
NP: Yes I know!
PJ: Was it? I
didn't...
NP: Oh...
PM: Is that the reason you became friends?
NP: Oh dear! Now I have to judge on that and decide whether...
PJ: Well...
NP: ... it's deviation or not.
PJ:
Definitely deviation on somebody's part!
RM: He was trying it on the
dog!
NP: What happens Peter is you're going to get a bonus point for
your challenge, I can tell you that right away! Um if you can name it, if his
red hair which is why he was called Rufus by the way, that was William the
Second, is called an appendage or not, then of course maybe Derek wasn't
actually being devious.
DN: I meant his name.
NP: I think what
I'm going to do in this situation is put this to the superior wisdom and
judgement...
DN: Oh I don't want it!
NP: ...of our charming
audience...
DN: I'm fed up with this bloody dog! It doesn't exist
anyway! I hate dogs!
PM: So much for friendship! You're appearing on
Radio Four, this dog's at home waiting for you, a personal friend, probably
whipped up a custard or something.
NP: Yes that's right! Now you've
thrown the whole thing out of the window and given it over to Peter Jones.
Right, all right Peter, 23 seconds on my pet starting now.
PJ: My pet
was a blue rabbit called Jimmy...
BUZZ
NP: Paul Merton
challenged.
PM: I would suggest that you weren't heating it properly!
Probably keep it indoors and it'll...
PJ: Blue chinchilla rabbit, that's
what it was.
NP: Right well keep it, save it Peter because Paul gets
another point because we liked the challenge, Peter keeps the subject and a
point for an incorrect challenge and he goes on about his blue chinchilla rabbit
with um, 20 seconds left starting now.
PJ: But after a couple of years I
must say I had to admit it was rather boring. It didn't sort of give anything
much. A rabbit is pretty, you know...
BUZZ
NP: Derek Nimmo
challenged.
DN: Well hesitation and repetition of rabbit.
NP: Um
which one do you want?
DN: Well both really. Sometimes you give two
points, you know, you gave him...
NP: I will say no, yes I agree with
you Derek but only one point I'm afraid but 11 seconds on my pet starting now.
DN: My wife calls me my pet. I'm...
BUZZ
NP: Paul, I
know your challenge, but come on Paul, yes.
PM: No I was going to say
repetition of my, but of course that's, that's included in the subject.
NP: Oh I thought you were going to say if his gold... if his, if his
golden retriever was his pet, how could his, be the pet to his wife as well.
PM: No I wasn't going to say that! Um, mainly because I don't understand
what you just said!
NP: I'll be honest...
DN: There was no logic
in it!
PM: Then you're probably still upset about Sale of the Century
being cancelled!
NP: Yes!
PJ: Did your wife have you trained by
this man in Northampton?
PM: And did you ever turn blue?
NP: I
don't know who has the subject but I think it's actually still Derek Nimmo. And
six seconds on my pet starting now.
DN: Come here, my pet, she says to
me, go out and look for the doggy! I go to the lane and go to the whistle...
BUZZ
NP: Paul Merton challenged.
PM: Repetition of go.
NP: Yes you were going too much Derek. So Paul got in with three seconds
to go on the subject still my pet starting now.
PM: She used to be a
kitten, that was of course many months ago...
WHISTLE
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 3:58 PM
Subject: [just-a-minute] When was Paul Merton's first
episode?
Hi thanks for sharing the episodes to Just a Minute on the site. I belong to
a site that lets you download British tv and radio programmes & discovered
JAM just a few months ago. It's such a funny, clever programme. The site I
belong to has all the series back to the 90's but not before that.
What
I'm really after is the first episode that Paul Merton does. I heard Paul's
radio tribute for the death of Clement Freud, & he mentioned the first time
he (Paul) was on the show & Clement tried to throw him off by whispering how
badly the show was going, with the inference that Paul was causing it.
From what I can see on the episode list on this site Paul's first
episode was:
'4 April 1989, Nicholas Parsons with Paul Merton, Derek
Nimmo, Peter Jones and Richard Murdoch, coconut shies'
But I've listened
to the episode and Nicholas says 'we welcome back Paul Merton'. Also Clement is
not in it. So there must be an earlier episode. Can anyone clear this up?