Paul Merton’s Just A Minute quest reaches milestone as he overtakes Kenneth Williams on appearance list
In the first episode of the new series (TX Monday 22 February, 6.30pm) Paul Merton clocks up 347 episodes on the Radio 4 panel show Just A Minute, overtaking the legendary player of the game Kenneth Williams and becoming the second most featured panellist on the show.
Published: 17 February 2016
I would like to say without hesitation, deviation or repetition that I am amazed, astonished, thrilled, seasick and severely gobsmacked.
Clement Freud, who appeared regularly in the series from the very first episode in 1967 until his death in 2009, retains top position with 544 episodes to his name. It will take a while for anyone to catch up with him as that is a whole 32 series' worth of appearances.
Paul Merton says: “Having over taken Kenneth Williams' total number of appearances on Just A Minute, I would like to say without hesitation, deviation or repetition that I am amazed, astonished, thrilled, seasick and severely gobsmacked.”
Sioned Wiliam, Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Comedy, says: “Paul has well and truly joined the pantheon of the all-time great players of Just A Minute with his brilliant flights of fancy and sparkling wit. And it will only take him another decade to overtake the phenomenon that was Clement Freud...”
Nicholas Parsons says: “Paul Merton is one of the outstanding players of Just A Minute. Since his first appearance in 1989, he has been consistently amusing, clever and witty at playing this amazingly difficult game. He is also a very generous player. He is more concerned with contributing and making sure we have a good show than striving to win and impose his personality on the programme – though he does frequently finish up with the most points! His occasional verbal excursions when he takes a subject into the realms of fantasy are delightfully surreal moments in the show. His contribution over the years has been consistent and amazing and it is always a pleasure when he is part of the team. He deserves the record he has achieved and long may he be around to improve on it and give more pleasure to the thousands who tune in regularly to hear him playing Just A Minute”.
The programme goes into its 74th series, and episode one will be the 865th, but the rules remain the same: the contestants are challenged to speak for one minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition on any subject that comes up on the cards.
The format of Just A Minute was created by Ian Messiter and producer David Hatch, who put the pilot for the new game show before a BBC development board, who weren’t sure that the series would run for more than six episodes. Nicholas Parsons was appointed as the host, presiding over panellists including Derek Nimmo, Clement Freud and Kenneth Williams. It was first transmitted on 22 December 1967 and 48 years, and a total of 864 editions later, Nicholas continues to attempt – and largely succeeds – in keeping control over a roll-call of loquacious celebrity contenders.
Much-loved Kenneth Williams was a stalwart of the programme and appeared 346 times over the course of 20 years (1968-1988). With his death there was a fear that the show would fade with him, but this wasn’t to be the case as new comedians stepped in to continue the show’s popularity, including Julian Clary, Stephen Fry, Graham Norton, Jenny Éclair, Sue Perkins, Ross Noble and Paul Merton.
Notes to Editors
The rules of the game remain the same. Four contestants are given 60 seconds to speak on a subject shown on a card, but they have to do so without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the theme. Only the word or phrase on the card may be repeated. For each correct challenge, the challenger is given one point. For an incorrect challenge, the person being challenged receives the point. There is a point for speaking when the whistle blows and a bonus point for speaking for the whole minute without interruption.
Recent panellists include Phill Jupitus, David Mitchell, Sue Perkins, Russell Kane, Miles Jupp, Josie Lawrence, Dara O Briain, Graham Norton, Shappi Khorsandi, Gyles Brandreth, Susan Calman, Jenny Eclair, John Bishop, Miles Jupp, Bill Bailey, Russell Kane, Julian Clary, Kevin Eldon, Ross Noble, Jack Dee, Liza Tarbuck, Marcus Brigstocke, Paul Merton, Rick Wakeman, Ross Noble, Josh Widdicombe, Sheila Hancock, Chris Addison and Tony Hawks.
There are three series of Just A Minute a year, with special editions recorded at Edinburgh Festival.
About BBC Radio Comedy
BBC Radio Comedy goes from strength to strength, ever popular long-running shows such as Radio 4’s Just A Minute and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue continue to delight audiences, and the seam of topical shows remains strong with The Now Show, The News Quiz, Dead Ringers and the Rose d’Or winner Newsjack on BBC 4 extra. The department make a wide range of shows from stand-up and sketch formats, such as the award-winning Mark Steel’s In Town and John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme respectively, and sitcoms such as Ed Reardon and Clare In The Community.
As well as working with established and much-loved comedy stars, BBC Radio Comedy gives many writers and performers their first ever radio shows. The team spends much time working with brand new writers who come through the open door shows and The BBC Radio New Comedy Awards, which seek out the brightest new comedy stars every year. Previous finalists include Peter Kay, Alan Carr and Sarah Millican.
An example of the enduring popularity of comedy podcasts can be seen in the fact that Radio 4’s Friday Night comedy continues to be one of the most popular podcasts from the BBC, as well as consistently topping the list of BBC programmes listened to on-demand through BBC iPlayer Radio.
Radio 4’s comedy programmes have a weekly reach of 5.56m according to the latest RAJAR figures.
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