Just A Minute

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From: "george@..." <george@...>
To: just-a-minute@...
Sent: Sunday, 23 February 2014, 10:25
Subject: [just-a-minute] 21st Feb Recordings

So ... a quick review of the recordings that took place, at BBC Broadcasting House.
Two shows (naturally) with: Paul Merton, Holly Walsh (new), Miles Jupp and Graham Norton.

We turned up slightly late (around 6:15 - doors open at 5:45!!) to claim our tickets to find that we were #75 in the standby list.  There are production tickets and 200 gauranteed tickets.  Just shows how popular the show is.  Anyway ... my wife and I managed to squeeze in to the theatre due to the kindness of some of the ushjers at BBC House.  My wife has trouble standing, and it was standing room only when we made our way to the door prepared to walk away.  However, they offered my wife a seat and me standing room, which we agreed to.  As we walked in, the kind usher then offered me a seat and we were sneaked in the back behind one of the sound boards.  We had to crane our necks a bit to see the panel, but it was great to be there.

Nicholas milked his entrance superbly with a sneaky reveal from behind the curtain and then after coming out gave a nice short warm-up and introduced the competitors.  I think Graham got the biggest cheer.

Recording One (Due for 3rd March apparently):
Subjects in order:
"The Tempest" (Paul Merton).  Graham Norton provided the first challenge of the game.
"The consequences of excessive politeness" (Miles Jupp)
"Endangered species" (Hol ly Walsh)
"Inside the glove compartment of my car" (Graham Norton)
"Oliver Cromwell" (Paul Merton)
"Cardigans" (Miles Jupp)
"Just a Minute in different languages" (Holly Walsh)
"Boxer Shorts" (GN)

Highlights:  There was a brief pause after the second subject because Miles Jupp was not being picked up properly through the microphone and Nichols made a couple of comments about him speaking softly compared to his usual delivery.  Miles worked through the very technical challenge of moving his microphone closer to him and we resumed recording, but the joke of Miles speaking softly continued through the recording.

Holly Walsh took an early lead after challenging early on and it was a lead she never relinquished, and yet Nicholas still gave her the benefit of the doubt a few times as it was her first game.

"Olver Cromwell" proved a natural subject for Graham Norton able to show off his deep knowledge of history, and bring a few jokes in there as well. ;)

"Cardigans" was a natural subject for Miles Jupp, and it segwayed into a fantastic artistic tangent that was hugely funny.

As I mentioned the final subject ended with Holly Walsh winning the game at her first attempt, and Nicholas saying it had never happened before (I'm sure it has :P).  A good show.

Recording Two (later broadvast can't remember date)
"A shotgun wedding" (Graham Norton)
"Lord Reith" (Holly Walsh)
"Sledging" (Miles Jupp)
"A parachute jump" (Paul Merton)
"Personal hygiene in the 10th Century" (Graham Norton)
"London Pidgeons" (Holly Walsh)
"Where I would be tonight if I wasn't here" (Miles Jupp

Highlights:
Nicholas got into his usual flummox about the fact that it was the second recording, and that sometimes they go out in a different order and then explained to the audience that they record two shows at a time (the whole myth broken :P).  I am curious to see if it makes the final cut.  There was a wonderful haggle over the subject of "Lord Reith" which started out as "Sir John Reith".  Nicholas asked Holly if she knew who he was (in truth Nicholas kept calling her 'Darling' throught the recording and reverting to his usual way of treating female contestants) and she replied she did and then challenged back (but not agressively in any way) if he was not now "Lord Reith".  The production team had to then intervene quietly in Nicholas's ear that she was right and they'd made a mistake.  The subject got changed, but Holly missed the fact the John had been dropped.
Graham then revealed his parachuting prowess to the audience which was fascinating and intruiging and you have to simply hear it rather than me write it up.
Holly then completely endeared herself to Nicholas because under pressure to talk in the next subject (personal hygiene) she likened Nicholas to manure, welll, 10th century manure.  Her game went downhill from there.

In truth there were a number of jokes, as usual, at Nicholas's expense which he did well to be the butt of, and try and throw out a few himself.  He did appear to be struggling to remember things, and hear things, but he worked hard to make up for his mistakes and there were a few jokes off the back of that as well.  The panel were clearly enjoying each other's jokes and Miles's face was red by the end of the show from laughing.  I genuinely think he challenged less because he was having so much fun and laughing so hard.

Holly then had to leave straight away as she was due on stage straight after the show, and then there were a few pick-ups, one of which was one of Nicholas's off Holly, and he had to do it a few times as she wasn't there.

I don't think the shows were in the top 10 ever made, but they were still very funny at times.  It was a great night out.  Thanks again to the BBC ushers who helped us squeeze in.