Talk:Just a Minute

Participants
"For the first few decades of the programme, there were four regular competitors..." It's only been broadcast since 1967, so the word 'few' seems overly vague. Two would be 'a couple' and four would be its entire run so far, so does this mean three, or 'three-ish'? The-Dixie-Flatline (talk) 03:58, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

History

 * "....recalling a Latin master (Parry Jones) from his school days who punished him with the task of speaking for sixty seconds without hesitating or repeating himself. To this, he added a rule preventing players deviating from the subject presented by the show's chairman, as well as a scoring system based on panellists' correct and incorrect challenges."

This slightly contradicts the history on the program's own website which states:


 * "He suddenly remembered being given the horrible task of speaking for one minute without hesitation or deviation by one of his school masters".

Therefore I have amended the article to reflect this. Myredroom 15:58, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

This does not seem terribly realistic, since I played the same game in 1st Sandiacre Wolf Cubs in the late nineteen forties, which is possibly where Parry Jones had encountered it. Certainly Messiter did not "invent" it, merely adapted it for radio. Charmbrights (talk) 11:20, 29 June 2014 (UTC)

Original title
This programme was originally called "One Minute Please", so should this be added to the history section? ACEO 18:52, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
 * I can't find any reference to this on the BBC's pages or anywhere else on the Web (after a brief search). Could you source it perhaps? Chris 42 19:27, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
 * One Minute Please was a different programme with about 15 years between the shows. Dean B (talk) 20:10, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

Audiobook releases
I can find no trace online of a 'Best of 2016' release ever existing, which is odd. Is this correct? If so the article is currently wrong.

TV version 'Object' round
It's not a "Mystery Object" round - it was perfectly obvious what the object was - the point was that the panel had to talk about an object which appeared in the middle of the desk on a revolving turntable, rather than a subject. Fixed. 217.155.138.250 16:19, 20 April 2007 (UTC)
 * No, there was a bonus point offered for guessing what the object was, and in about half the shows it wasn't guessed. So mystery object seems a fair description. Dean B (talk) 20:13, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

Quick/initial GA review
Someone else will come along and conduct a more formal review soon. My initial observation, and the article's major hurdle to GA status, is the lack of reliable sources. The geocities site, that is frequently cited, is not a RS. At one paragraph, the lead does not adequately cover the article. There are a lot of bullet points, which I'd delistify and turn into prose. Anyway, I'm not going to bother officially putting this on hold -- I have a feeling that another reviewer would quick fail this because of the sources issue. Run a Google search and try to collect better references. The rationale for File:Just a Minute.jpg does not make clear why the image is actually required? I think it's there for pretty picture sake. The JPS talk to me  20:09, 7 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I've tried to improve the article, including finding a better source for references. ISD 18:45, 10 September 2007 (UTC)
 * What about bbc.co.uk?  The JPS talk to me  18:54, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

Examples of making the full minute in one attempt
It would be nice to know how many times a contestant has been able to speak for the full minute without challenge. Also, a transcript of some of the full minute speeches would be fun to see. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.144.161.223 (talk) 09:45, 18 September 2007 (UTC)
 * I've added an example performed by Sheila Hancock. ISD 13:47, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

GA nomination – on hold Symbol wait.svg
Having reviewed this article, I am happy that it meets the GA criteria in respect of neutrality and stability. However, I have concerns regarding:


 * 1) Broad coverage – For a show that's been running for nearly 40 years, I would expect that an article would devote some space to its critical and cultural impact. This seems to be a pretty major defect in the article as it stands.
 * 2) Images – Fair use rationale is OK but,I'm not convinced that free use images of Nicholas Parsons and the other regulars can't be obtained and used in this article.
 * 3) Well-written, factually accurate and verifialble: I have some specific concerns here
 * Lead
 * Should be longer per WP:LEAD
 * “...which has been running continuously since its first broadcast on December 22, 1967...” - awkward use of English; reads like it has been broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 40 years!
 * “Just a Minute is one of the longest running programmes on Radio 4, as both were created in the same year.” - Again, awkward English; I don't think one uses the verb “created” for a radio station.
 * History:
 * “Originally known as One Minute Please”. - when did the name change to Just A Minute? Lead should reflect that series was originally known by a different name.
 * “A pilot for the show was created in 1967...” - I think the correct verb here should be “recorded”.
 * “The chairman was originally planned to be Jimmy Edwards, but he was replaced with Parsons, who has chaired the show ever since” - You don't need a comma after “Edwards” (“but is a conjunctive word”); insert “Nicholas” before “Parsons” as this is the first time in the body of the text (as opposed to the lead) that he is mentioned; did Jimmy Edwards ever present the show? The text, as written, is unclear as to whether he was replaced before or after the pilot.
 * “The show broadcast on 10 July 2006 featured the highest scorer, Paul Merton, with a record-shattering 24 points (beating his previous record of 23 points)” - Achieving a score of 24 beating a previous best of 23 is hardly “record-shattering”! Again, the English here is torturous. Suggest “Paul Merton currently holds the record for the highest score reached by a contestant, attaining a score of 24 on the show broadcast on 10 July 2006 (beating his previous record of 23 points)”
 * Rules
 * “the rulings do not seem to be consistent” - please “avoid use of weasel words”.
 * “The general rule as stated by Nicholas Parsons is that Just a Minute is a radio show so they must go on sounds alone, which is why saying "BBC" is considered repetition” - citation needed here.
 * Participants
 * “The host of Just a Minute is Nicholas Parsons. He has held this position since the show's inception”. - This contradicts the line in the paragraph above that states “There were three panellists and a chairman, with the latter position 'rotating' each week and the previous incumbent joining the panel.”. Which is correct?
 * “Third was Peter Jones, who once said that in all his years of playing the game, he never quite got the hang of it” - A citation is required here.
 * “However, Paul Merton is now considered a regular” - How long has Merton been on the show? Have there been any other regulars outside of Merton and the original four?
 * TV versions
 * “In 1994, nine shows were broadcast on a regional London channel” - which channel? Are broadcast dates available?
 * “Two additional variations were added” - what other variations were added?
 * “Later that year, another five instalments were broadcast in a very similar style to the first nine” - was this by the same broadcaster as the first nine?
 * “In 1995, fourteen more episodes were broadcast” - on what channel?
 * “In 1999, the BBC tried televising the show. Twenty episodes were recorded over a single week in Birmingham.” - Were these broadcast? By which BBC channel?
 * Other formats
 * “Just a Minim” - wikilink Minim with Half note
 * External links
 * Link to Just a Minute transcripts would appear to violate WP:COPYRIGHT and should be removed.

Accordingly, I am placing the article on hold for a period of seven days to enable the editors to address the issues raised above. I will revisit the article then and pass/fail as appropriate. Feel free to ping me at my talk page if you need clarification or you feel you've made the necessary changes and want me to revisit. Good luck! - Joe King 18:54, 2 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Since one week has passed and next to nothing has since been done with this article, I am failing it. - Joe King 17:21, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

Regarding this paragraph:

"Nicholas Parsons was once a guest host on an April 2005 edition of BBC One's satirical panel game, Have I Got News for You. He surprised Paul Merton's opposing team captain, Ian Hislop, by asking him to talk about "Taking advice from your lawyer" within the Just a Minute rules. At one point, one of the guests, Chris Langham, challenged for deviation, claiming it was the wrong programme."

Surely this is too much detail about a minor joke in one show to justify a whole paragraph. Why this gag out of thousands? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paulmarkj (talk • contribs) 17:09, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

Section on tactics?
Having listened to JAM for 30 years I have noted a few tactics (some of which are in the article) employed on the show from buttering up Nicholas Parsons, being awarded bonus points for humorous interruptions, lists, buzz in with 1 second to go, move the subject to your expert field, claim an incomprehensible subject is actually the name of an old pet and incorporating previous subjects in later rounds to keep going. Also the cruel tactic (sometimes not the courtesy referred to elsewhere) of the contestants and programme makers by NOT blowing the whistle when the minute is up or NOT interrupting a faltering speaker when they make obvious mistakes who, when they realise, makes further speech within the rules more difficult. Perhaps suitable for a new section? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.147.70.168 (talk) 15:57, 26 April 2011 (UTC)
 * If you want to add something like this, you need to find somewhere authoritative where this has been written about, a reference. Otherwise it becomes just individual commentary which isn't suitable for an encyclopaedia. Dean B (talk) 23:42, 21 July 2011 (UTC)

One of the regulars (Clement Freud I think)when I used to listen to it many years ago now used to talk very slowly in order to use the time up. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.164.239.37 (talk) 23:38, 11 March 2012 (UTC)

Mike Harding
Mike Harding was apparently a guest on the show at least once (1984-06-02) but I can find no online corroboration of this. Is this correct? Danceswithzerglings (talk) 22:11, 20 July 2011 (UTC)
 * No, he was never on Just A Minute - the date you give is for one of his appearances on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. Dean B (talk) 23:40, 21 July 2011 (UTC)
 * Apologies, you're quite right - I mixed up the two. Danceswithzerglings (talk) 01:16, 22 July 2011 (UTC)

Reads like Just a Minute
Having just listened to this very program, I read the article and noticed that the voice narrative whilst reading was that of Paul Merton who'd been tasked to talk for a minute about the show's Wikipedia article.

...As much as I realise this has no merit with regards to improving the article, I do believe some of you would enjoy a good chuckle. JaeDyWolf ~ Baka-San (talk) 21:15, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

Aung San Suu Kyi
Can someone add in section where Aung San Suu Kyi mentions that she used to listen to Just a Minute on the World Service. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.180.170.163 (talk) 16:34, 19 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Here's a reference from 2012. But I'm not sure it would make an entire section. Martinevans123 (talk) 17:51, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Gyles Brandreth chaired the programme
This article correctly says that Nicholas Parsons is the normal chair, but does not point out that on the fourth of June 2018, Gyles Brandreth chaired the programme. Vorbee (talk) 17:54, 4 June 2018 (UTC)
 * I don't think one (or indeed two) weeks' deputising by Brandreth really challenges the notion of "normal"? All the exceptions are listed in the infobox - a total of just 11 episodes over the course of 52 years? Martinevans123 (talk) 17:48, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Why WikiProject television?
Above, it says that the article is of interest to various WikiProjects, and then includes WikiProject Television. Why is this one included here? I thought that "Just A Minute" was just a radio programme. Vorbee (talk) 17:30, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * The section on "TV versions" is quite extensive? Martinevans123 (talk) 17:44, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

List of participants/those with 20+ appearances
I suspect these lists are drawn from Just-A-Minute.info, which has not been updated since Nov 2017. The lists are likely to be incomplete, therefore, and some have probably topped 20 appearances in the interim (Fred McCauley, for example, was on 18 back then, and I think I have heard him recently). If we lack the info, and the dedication, to bring and keep these up to date, should they be scrapped? Kevin McE (talk) 17:06, 28 January 2020 (UTC)

Future editions?
What is the future of the show? I've seen ideas floated for Gyles Brandreth to take up the position of chairing the programme. Will it continue? Either way I know it won't replace Nicholas Parsons but will more episodes eventually be recorded and broadcast? 314WPlay (talk) 16:10, 19 October 2020 (UTC)

There don't seem to be any plans for another series at the moment, presumably due to Covid. MFlet1 (talk) 20:17, 11 November 2020 (UTC)


 * If we find some kind of confirmation in a source that the another series will not be planned then we have to change some wordings, but for now it's fine. Sorry I didn't find your reply earlier! 314WPlay (talk) 16:03, 18 December 2020 (UTC)

No worries, in fact I recently got a BBC email informing me that new episodes are being recorded with a virtual audience. It looks like for the time being they're going to have guest hosts, starting with Paul Merton and Gyles Brandreth. MFlet1 (talk) 16:33, 18 December 2020 (UTC)

Just found an online source with this info and more details - I've added this to the article. MFlet1 (talk) 17:02, 18 December 2020 (UTC)

Vagueness in Audiobook releases section
The Audiobook releases section currently ends with:

"Controversially,[citation needed] more than half the selected episodes featured Freud despite the revelations about him in the previous year."

Leaving aside the absent citation, this article does not otherwise mention the revelations. If they are worthy of inclusion in this article, I believe they need some further description to be useful, what was revealed? I don't know anything beyond what I read when I checked out the Wikipedia article on Freud, and I don't have a good sense of how to reasonably and fairly describe them in a manner that would be both fair and in proportion to their importance to an article about Just a Minute. Can somebody better acquainted than I either revise this reference or remove it from the article? Cafemusique (talk) 13:58, 9 November 2022 (UTC)