Listen to a sample
Just a Classic Minute
- Author
- BBC Radio Comedy
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Publish Date
- 18 June 2026
- Run Time
- 11 hours 10 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
24 more archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons
As if to prove the point that good humour never dates, this collection of archive Just a Minute includes episodes broadcast across four decades, from 1973 to 2009. As usual, players must attempt to speak for one minute on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation and while at the mercy of both the stopwatch and their fellow contestants’ buzzers. Mirth, merriment and silliness are bound to follow, in a fashion that has made ‘JAM’ a beloved institution not only in this country but also around the world. Nicholas Parsons welcomes listeners to each episode and gives his firm but fair adjudication to the many tricky challenges that ensue.
Regular players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton pit their wits against each other and guests Sheila Hancock, Jean Marsh, Magnus Pyke, Joan Bakewell, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Took, Jan Ravens, Brian Johnston, Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Simon Bates, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Fry, Pete McCarthy, Steve Frost, Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Maria McErlane, Julian Clary, Linda Smith, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard, Bill Bailey, Chris Neill, Charles Collingwood, Janey Godley, Shappi Khorsandi and Liza Tarbuck.
Please note: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, the sound quality may vary.
Cast and credits
Devised by Ian Messiter
Chaired by Nicholas Parsons
Episode selection by Michael Stevens
Music: The Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 64) by Chopin
With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle for archive assistance.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:
Episode Guide
1 01 October 1973
Featuring Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
2 26 November 1973
Featuring Peter Jones, Jean Marsh, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
3 19 January 1977
Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Magnus Pyke, Kenneth Williams
4 27 March 1979
Featuring Joan Bakewell, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
5 9 May 1981
Featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Peter Jones, Barry Took, Kenneth Williams
6 25 April 1983
Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Jan Ravens, Kenneth Williams
7 16 May 1983
Featuring Brian Johnston, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
8 30 June 1984
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
9 1 February 1986
Featuring Simon Bates, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
10 8 March 1993
Featuring Craig Ferguson, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo
11 8 January 1994
Featuring Stephen Fry, Peter Jones, Pete McCarthy, Paul Merton
12 4 February 1995
Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo
13 25 February 1995
Featuring Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Peter Jones, Paul Merton
14 22 June 1998
Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton
15 15 January 2001
Featuring Julian Clary, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Linda Smith
16 4 February 2002
Featuring Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice
17 29 July 2002
Featuring Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard
18 17 February 2003
Featuring Bill Bailey, Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Linda Smith
19 21 March 2005
Featuring Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Tim Rice, Linda Smith
20 24 July 2006
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins
21 3 March 2008
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Janey Godley, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey
22 12 January 2009
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton, Graham Norton
23 9 February 2009
Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck
24 10 August 2009
Featuring Charles Collingwood, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton
© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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Details
- Author
- BBC Radio Comedy
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 11 hours 10 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 June 2026
- ISBN
- 9781529935066
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Genre
- Humour collections and anthologies, Hobbies, quizzes and games, Popular culture
Synopsis
24 more archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas ParsonsAs if to prove the point that good humour never dates, this collection of archive Just a Minute includes episodes broadcast across four decades, from 1973 to 2009. As usual, players must attempt to speak for one minute on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation and while at the mercy of both the stopwatch and their fellow contestants’ buzzers. Mirth, merriment and silliness are bound to follow, in a fashion that has made ‘JAM’ a beloved institution not only in this country but also around the world. Nicholas Parsons welcomes listeners to each episode and gives his firm but fair adjudication to the many tricky challenges that ensue.Regular players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton pit their wits against each other and guests Sheila Hancock, Jean Marsh, Magnus Pyke, Joan Bakewell, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Took, Jan Ravens, Brian Johnston, Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Simon Bates, Craig Ferguson, Stephen Fry, Pete McCarthy, Steve Frost, Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Maria McErlane, Julian Clary, Linda Smith, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard, Bill Bailey, Chris Neill, Charles Collingwood, Janey Godley, Shappi Khorsandi and Liza Tarbuck.Please note: Contains mild innuendo. The humour in these programmes sometimes reflects the era in which they were first broadcast. Due to the archive nature of some of the episodes, the sound quality may vary.Cast and creditsDevised by Ian MessiterChaired by Nicholas ParsonsEpisode selection by Michael StevensMusic: The Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 64) by ChopinWith thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle for archive assistance.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:Episode Guide1 01 October 1973Featuring Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams2 26 November 1973Featuring Peter Jones, Jean Marsh, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams3 19 January 1977Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Magnus Pyke, Kenneth Williams4 27 March 1979Featuring Joan Bakewell, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams5 9 May 1981Featuring Tim Brooke-Taylor, Peter Jones, Barry Took, Kenneth Williams6 25 April 1983Featuring Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Jan Ravens, Kenneth Williams7 16 May 1983Featuring Brian Johnston, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams8 30 June 1984Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Martin Jarvis, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams9 1 February 1986Featuring Simon Bates, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams10 8 March 1993Featuring Craig Ferguson, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo11 8 January 1994Featuring Stephen Fry, Peter Jones, Pete McCarthy, Paul Merton12 4 February 1995Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo13 25 February 1995Featuring Jenny Eclair, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Peter Jones, Paul Merton14 22 June 1998Featuring Steve Frost, Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton15 15 January 2001Featuring Julian Clary, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Linda Smith16 4 February 2002Featuring Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice17 29 July 2002Featuring Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Sue Perkins, Wendy Richard18 17 February 2003Featuring Bill Bailey, Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Linda Smith19 21 March 2005Featuring Tony Hawks, Chris Neill, Tim Rice, Linda Smith20 24 July 2006Featuring Charles Collingwood, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins21 3 March 2008Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Janey Godley, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey22 12 January 2009Featuring Charles Collingwood, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton, Graham Norton23 9 February 2009Featuring Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck24 10 August 2009Featuring Charles Collingwood, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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