Just a Minute: Series 56-60

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Panel Game

By: BBC Radio Comedy

Narrated by: Nicholas Parsons, Various

Five complete series of the ever-popular panel show, hosted by the late Nicholas Parsons.

December 2022 marks 55 years of Just a Minute, Radio 4's longest-running and most beloved panel game. To commemorate this milestone, this special collection comprises five classic series of the hit show from 2010 and 2011, featuring a wealth of favourite panellists attempting to prove they have the gift of the gab.

Ready to pounce on hesitation, repetition or deviation is chairman Nicholas Parsons, while among the players are longtime regular Paul Merton; current JAM host Sue Perkins and Sheila Hancock (who first appeared in the second ever episode). Making their debuts on the show are celebrities Rick Wakeman, Kevin Eldon, Sir Terry Wogan and Fi Glover.

Other famous names showing off their verbal dexterity include Julian Clary (who reveals, among other things, what he thinks of New Year's Eve Parties); John Sergeant (explaining why it takes Two to Tango); Alun Cochrane (riffing on What Makes Me Furious); Stephen Fry (speaking on The Right Way to Greet Someone) and Josie Lawrence (who shares her ability to Leave on a High).

Listen as they take these topics, and many more, in their comic stride—can they achieve the coveted goal of speaking for sixty seconds without being challenged? (It sounds like a breeze, but it's harder than you think...)

Cast and credits

Devised by Ian Messiter

Produced by Tilusha Ghelani

Chairman: Nicholas Parsons

Series 56 featuring: Paul Merton, Julian Clary, David Mitchell, Gyles Brandreth, Josie Lawrence, Charles Collingwood, Chris Neill, Justin Moorhouse, Tony Hawks, Dave Gorman, Jenny Eclair, Pam Ayres, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck

Series 57 featuring: Paul Merton, Jenny Eclair, Gyles Brandreth, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck, John Sergeant, Tony Hawks, Ross Noble, Sheila Hancock, Shappi Khorsandi, John Bishop, Fred Macaulay, Stephen K Amos

Series 58 featuring: Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Alun Cochrane, Sue Perkins, Kevin Eldon, Julian Clary, Sheila Hancock, Ian McMillan, Gyles Brandreth

Series 59 featuring: Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Shappi Khorsandi, Rick Wakeman, Sheila Hancock, Sue Perkins, Marcus Brigstocke, Ross Noble, Tony Hawks, Liza Tarbuck, Sir Terry Wogan, Julian Clary, Graham Norton

Series 60 featuring: Paul Merton, Stephen Fry, Josie Lawrence, Julian Clary, Gyles Brandreth, Jenny Eclair, Sue Perkins, Graham Norton, Tony Hawks, Fi Glover

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 4 January-22 March 2010 (Series 56), 2 August-13 September 2010 (Series 57), 8 November-13 December 2010 (Series 58), 7 February-28 March 2011 (Series 59), 16 May-20 June 2011 (Series 60)

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