Radio 4 panel game started 1967

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It appears your browser does not have it turned on. Please see your browser settings for this feature. EMBED for wordpress. Jimmy Edwards was originally billed as host, although he was replaced by Nicholas Parsons. Parsons chaired almost every game in some early episodes, the host and the panel swapped positions until his death in Following a series of guest hosts the role of chair was taken over by Sue Perkins in The theme music to the show is The Minute Waltz by Chopin, which actually - if allowed to play in full - lasts longer than a minute.

In Just A Minute , the panellists talk on a given subject, but obey three rules while doing so. They must avoid:. However, due to challenges over time, it now means not being able to repeat words or even letters For example, 'BBC' is considered repetition because of the two B's.

Certain words such as 'the' or 'and' are usually allowed except under extreme circumstances say, when repeated five or six times. The given subject on the card is however allowed to be repeated. Even if the audience is laughing, you have to continue talking. Now the concept is considered in a broad context. Examples include deviation from the English language, grammar, truth or logic.

If a person challenges correctly, the challenger scores one point and takes control of the subject for the rest of the minute, unless someone else challenges them correctly. An incorrect challenge results in the speaker being given a point and being allowed to continue for the remaining time left. However, bonus points are given for amusing challenges, even if they are wrong.

Whoever is talking when the minute is up scores a bonus point. If someone manages the rare feat of talking about the subject for a whole minute, unchallenged, they score another bonus point. Below is an example of this being achieved, performed by Sheila Hancock on the subject of 'how to win an argument' Well it varies according to the person you are arguing with. Should it be a child you are having a contretemps with, the ideal is deviation tactics. He was also not present for two recordings in series 85 one right after the other episode and on August 19th and 26th of Gyles covered for both recordings.

In , a year after Parsons' passing in January , a new series of 10 episodes aired on BBC Radio 4 with guest hosts presenting the programme each week.

Also, due to COVID, the episodes were recorded with the hosts and panellists playing the game from home and with a virtual audience. The panellists are invited, in rotation, to speak for one minute on a given subject which they are normally not informed of in advance , without "hesitation, repetition or deviation". Over the years, the application of these rules has been inconsistent, and their interpretation is the focus of much of the comic interplay between those appearing, who often challenge the chairman's rulings.

In the early years, the rules were more complicated, as special rules were sometimes tried out in addition, on a one-off basis: a ban on the word "is" might apply in a round, for example. But the three basic rules have always applied:.

A panellist scores one point for making a correct challenge against whoever is speaking, or the speaker gets a point if the challenge is deemed incorrect. If a witty interjection amuses the audience, but is not a correct challenge, at the chairman's discretion the challenger can nevertheless be awarded an extra point the "bonus point" rule.

A player who makes a correct challenge takes over the subject for the remainder of the minute, or until he or she is successfully challenged. The person speaking when the whistle blows after 60 seconds also scores a point. An extra point is awarded if a panellist speaks for the entire minute without being challenged. It is rare for a panellist to speak within the three cardinal rules for any substantial length of time, whilst both remaining coherent and being amusing.

Therefore, to speak for the full minute without being challenged is a special achievement. However, if a panellist is speaking fluently on a subject, staying reasonably within the three rules, and seems likely to speak for the whole minute, the other panellists often refrain from challenging. On occasion a similar courtesy has been extended by the whistle-blower, who will refrain from indicating the end of the minute so as to not interrupt a panellist in full and entertaining flow this once led to Paul Merton speaking for one minute and thirty seconds on the topic "Ram-raiding".

There are also occasions when players choose not to buzz because the speaker is amusing the audience by performing badly. Below is an example of a speech given by Sheila Hancock which lasted for a full minute without being challenged the subject was "How to win an argument" :.

Well it varies according to the person that you are arguing with. Should it be a child that you are having a contretemps with, the ideal is deviation tactics. For instance Lola Lupin who I mentioned before won't eat her dinner.

So what I do is say, "Yes it is rotten food, let us sing a song", making sure that that particular chanson has a few vowels in it that require her to open her mouth! During which I pop the spoon in and I have won the argument. However if it is an argument with a person that knows their subject what I do is nod sagely and smile superciliously, let them ramble on, and at the end I say "Well I'm sorry, I think you're completely wrong", turn on my heels and leave.

On rare occasions, panellists will sometimes challenge themselves, usually by mistake or for laughs.