Just A Minute

 
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a Nicholas story

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howsteanAug 20, 2010
 

 
from this week's BBC7 newsletter, for those who don't subscribe to it:


Without hesitation, repetition or deviation - the legendary host of Just a Minute is this month celebrating 10 years of taking his show, Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour, to the Edinburgh Fringe. The show - a mix of his own stand-up and chats with invited guests - is always a sell-out. One reviewer recently described him as "an icon of Post Modern Cool", and indeed he is. It's incredible to realise that he's has been entertaining the nation for over 60 years, and has clocked up 47 years as the inimitable host of Radio 4's popular panel game.

On Tuesday this week, two Just A Minute (or JAM as we call it round here) shows were recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe in the largest of the Pleasance venues - The Grand.

Well ahead of the doors opening, the audience queued round the venue in what seemed like an endless snake, patiently waiting to get in to see their favourite show, whilst a separate queue gathered and grew, anxiously waiting to see if there were any returned tickets.

I was lucky enough to be able to squeeze into the show, and it really was well-worth the wait.

Before the recording began, as usual, Nicholas did his warm-up, and so entertaining was he - it could easily have made a show in its own right.

The panellists were veteran comic Paul Merton, Fred MacAulay (fresh from recording MacAulay and Co) Jenny Éclair (the first female stand-up to win the Perrier Award, 15 years ago) and making his JAM debut - award-winning stand-up, Steven K Amos. The show sparkled with wit as the panellists competed fiercely to beat that buzzer.

You can hear the JAM Edinburgh recordings on Radio 4 next Monday 23rd August and Bank Holiday Monday 30th August.

At the end of the recording, which earned tumultuous applause, the panellists dashed off to different venues to perform their own shows. But as the audience filed out of the stifling hot theatre, I noticed a boy of about 9 or 10 hopping up onto the stage holding out a piece of paper - in the hope of getting Nicholas' autograph. The host stopped in this tracks, sat down and chatted to the young lad, whilst writing what I'm sure was a lovely autographed message.

I felt quite touched watching this popular, genial and courteous entertainer - now well into his eighties - having just recorded two gruelling shows, about to perform in his own show - and in between shows, also launching his second memoir at the Edinburgh Book Festival this week - wasn't too busy to stop and give a young fan the gift of his time so graciously.

Congratulations on your decade of performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, Nicholas, and may you entertain us with many more of your festival Happy Hours in Scotland's capital city.

Happy listening!
Mary Kalemkerian
Head Of Programmes
BBC Radio 7

 
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