Just a Classic Minute: v. 1 (Radio Collection)

The first broadcast on this set, from the late 1960's, came as a real shock to me. Firstly, there are only three contestants, not the four which I thought had always been the case. The pace of the show is far faster than today, and with a different interpretation of the rules! Repetition is frequently allowed- this was before the rule allowing only the subject on the card to be repeated. So you keep expecting challenges which don't come! There are other substantial differences which you will hear on these discs.

But the essence of the show, which is the performance and the interplay of the contestants, is there from the beginning. Kenneth Williams is hilarious, although he does get upstaged by Peter Cook on one show; in fact Cook virtually takes over the game. And there are those wonderful jibes at Nicholas Parsons, present all those years ago, just like today.

A wonderful collection of classic radio comedy.


Motorway Delight   February 1, 2005
A. S. Bolton (England)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I was bought this as a birthday present and it is the perfect antidote to boring motorway journeys. There are probably a large number of people who wondered who the barmy woman was, laughing her head off whilst driving along the M4!! Seriously, whenever I felt myself yawning and in danger of dozing off at the wheel, a round of this compilation was far more efficient at waking me up than any motorway service station. Clement Freud, Kenneth Williams along with their guests and co-stars are perfect for long journeys. I will be buying as many more as the BBC feel able to release.


Absolutely hilarious!   August 16, 2004
Mr. F. Woodroffe (Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This collection of episodes of Just A Minute span thirty six years, from its unsure beginnings to the glory days of the seventies and eighties with the legendary lineup of Messrs Williams, Freud, Nimmo and Jones diplaying their customary wit nd verbal dexterity, to the early nineties when more modern talents such as Paul Merton and Stephen Fry were enlisted. Preceding each episode, Nicholas Parsons gives a brief introduction, explaining the evolution of the programme and tells interesting anecdotes concerning the game and the players.

If you enjoy wordplay based comedy, then this collection cannot be too highly recommended.