UKH

Passed away at age 96.

I feel rather sad. I was in awe of his faultless adjudication on Just a Minute despite it all being unscripted.

In reply to Removed User:

How very sad (though never a tragedy when nonagenarian passes on). When you heard him on air you'd have thought he was in his 50s! If I had a mind that quick while 20 years younger I'd be more than happy.

In reply to Removed User:

I was just about to start a thread- well, it only takes just a minute, but some one beat me to it !

I remember listening with my nan to  Radio 4/ Just A Minute  over 50 years ago ( she refused to have a TV ) and probably heard the very first episode  and  I've been listening off and on since then.

Here's an episode from 1968, with Kenneth Williams, Clement Freud and Geraldine Jones.

youtube.com/watch?v=4kcEeiP7l44&

In reply to Removed User:

End of an era. He first presented Just a Minute in the year I was born.

And never forget Sale of the Century!

There must be a national day of mourning /holiday of some sort surely? 

In reply to Removed User:

I went to see I'm Sorry I'm Haven't A Clue recently which had Jack Dee's affectionate parody of Just A Minute in it. I've listened to Just A Minute since childhood, it's hard to think of anybody else who could do such a fine job.

RIP Nicholas, thanks for the memories and the dinner time mirth.  

In reply to Removed User:

100% agree.  Its a great show and in a mixed bag of comedies on Radio 4 was always great to listen to.  

The guests were always pretty good too.  But who would replace him?  I think GNorton would be a good fit.  Has a very quick wit (an essential prerequisite for the job) and knows the players well.

In reply to TheDrunkenBakers:

Along with Gardeners Question Time, one of the two programmes I scramble to switch off on Radio 4! Parsons always seemed ok though.

In reply to Robert Durran:

Surely The Archers Omnibus (with maddening squeeze box signature tune) beats anything?

In reply to Pyreneenemec:

That would've been repetition!

In reply to Rog Wilko:

 No, I like the Archers. It has varied and changing story lines. Just a Minute is a one trick show which only ever deserved a minute, not decades! Now would seem a good time to let it go quietly.

In reply to Robert Durran:

Huzza! There is something in the world that you actually like!

In reply to Robert Durran:

'Take out Nicolas Parsons' - anyone remember that comic Strip episode in which he appeared?

In reply to Removed User:

Very sad news. Radio 4 is the only radio station I ever listen to in the car, and so I've spent hours daily listening to it over the past few years driving to and from work. Just a Minute was always a great boost on the journey home after work.

In reply to Removed User:

A very great shame.   It was always entertaining, with occasional flashes of brilliance such as David Tennant speaking for a minute on his first go, and stringing someone who had been speaking for a minute already along for a minute and a half.

In reply to tehmarks:

I like loads and loads of things. 

In reply to Removed User:

RIP, absolute legend! As well as enjoying Just a Minute, I also found his life story fascinating whenever he was interviewed about it on TV. Particularly his engineering work in Glasgow and surviving the Blitz.

In reply to Robert Durran:

I am by no means a gardener but listening to people who really know their stuff is never time wasted whatever the topic.

In reply to Rog Wilko:

I completely agree - I hadn't realised he was in his 90s!

In reply to DaveHK:

True, but I just find the whole tone of it irksome and sort of smug for some reason. I switch over to Classic FM.

In reply to Timmd:

Coincidentally, I went to see I'm sorry I haven't a clue just last night, and Jack Dee's parody was excellent.

In reply to Robert Durran:

See, I listen to GQT (as it's called by aficionados) not for the expertise or practical knowledge, particularly, but for the timeless rhythm and feel of it, redolent of Sunday afternoons since 1975.

In reply to Robert Durran:

Funnily enough I loath Just a Minute, it was one of the programs - the Archers is another - where I can't get to the off switch fast enough when the signature tune came on.

Respect to Parsons though, that's a long life lived well to the end.

In reply to Rog Wilko:

Even Woman's Hour?  We desperately need a Man's Hour given most of the content on R4

In reply to Siward:

very handy if you need a nap too

In reply to wercat:

Women's hour is a great programme. Unfortunately it's on at a rubbish time of day, but the highlights at the weekend are good,

In reply to Robert Durran:

Repetition of 'loads' (sorry!)

In reply to Robert Durran:

...but grumpily.

Edit: Perhaps UKC is where you vent about things, and in every day life you're chilled.

In reply to Timmd:

I honestly don't know how you get that impression. I think you are only noticing things selectively.

I said that there are only two programes on Radio 4 that I switch off. That seems to me an overtwhelmingly positive endorsement of the programming.

In reply to Robert Durran:

Fair enough. It was meant in good spirit either way.

In reply to Robert Durran: I think I mis-remember you posting about kicking a supermarket self service whatsit, that'll be what it was.