Just a Classic Minute

24 more archive editions of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons

This new collection of previously unpublished editions, first broadcast between 1979 and 2009, comes brimming with Just a Minute’s unique blend of wit, wordplay and one-upmanship beloved by listeners all around the world. Hilarity is guaranteed whenever the intrepid players attempt to speak without hesitation, repetition or deviation from the given subject, all whilst under the scrutiny of their fellow players and the stopwatch. Nicholas Parsons is once more in the chair to introduce proceedings and adjudicate on challenges.

Long-time players Kenneth Williams, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Paul Merton compete alongside guests including Joan Bakewell, Wendy Richard, Richard Stilgoe, Tim Rice, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Neil Mullarkey, Greg Proops, Blythe Duff, Maria McErlane, Stephen Frost, Stephen Fry, Jenny Eclair, Sue Perkins, Ross Noble, Fred MacAulay, Nick Revell, Gyles Brandreth, Charles Collingwood, Liza Tarbuck, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Chris Neill, Alun Cochrane, Chris Addison, Julian Clary, Ian McMillan, Shappi Khorsandi, the sadly missed Janey Godley and Richard Herring.


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, 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

All episodes first broadcast on BBC Radio 4:

Episode Guide
1 6 February 1979
Feat. Joan Bakewell, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Williams
2 12 January 1991
Feat. Peter Jones, Tim Rice, Wendy Richard, Richard Stilgoe
3 2 March 1996
Feat. Tony Hawks, Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton
4 15 February 1997
Feat. Peter Jones, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Derek Nimmo
5 31 January 1998
Feat. Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo, Graham Norton, Greg Proops
6 6 July 1998
Feat. Blythe Duff, Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo
7 13 July 1998
Feat. Stephen Frost,Peter Jones, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton
8 17 January 2000
Feat. Peter Jones, Stephen Fry, Maria McErlane, Paul Merton
9 26 February 2001
Feat. Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Graham Norton, Tim Rice
10 16 July 2001
Feat. Tony Hawks, Ross Noble, Sue Perkins, Tim Rice
11 2 February 2004
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Fred MacAulay, Maria McErlane, Nick Revell
12 9 February 2004
Feat. Charles Collingwood, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Liza Tarbuck
13 2 January 2006
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins
14 6 February 2006
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins
15 6 March 2006
Feat. Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Paul Merton, Chris Neill, Liza Tarbuck
16 22 January 2007
Feat. Alun Cochrane, Paul Merton, Chris Neill, Tim Rice
17 29 January 2007
Feat. Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Sue Perkins
18 5 March 2007
Feat. Tony Hawks, Paul Merton, Neil Mullarkey, Sue Perkins
19 13 August 2007
Feat. Alun Cochrane, Paul Merton, Chris Neill, Tim Rice
20 1 September 2008
Feat. Chris Addison, Julian Clary, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins
21 22 September 2008
Feat. Tony Hawks, Shappi Khorsandi, Ian McMillan, Paul Merton
22 17 August 2009
Feat. Gyles Brandreth, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Merton
23 31 August 2009
Feat. Janey Godley, Richard Herring, Paul Merton, Sue Perkins
24 7 September 2009
Feat. Charles Collingwood, Jenny Eclair, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton


©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd