Nicholas Parsons imitates Kenneth Williams: Just a Classic Minute, Volume 5

As with previous editions in the series, this collection of Just a Minute episodes is a selection of four from across the decades of the long-running and successful Radio 4 comedy show, with some added commentary from Nicholas Parsons about each episode. This time Paul Merton joins Nicholas Parsons for those interludes, adding a welcome new angle as the Nicholas Parsons comments between episodes on previous volumes had started to get a little bit too similar to each other.

But of course, the real fun comes from the episodes themselves, especially the one where Nicholas Parsons – briefly an impersonator early in his show business career – revives that skill to imitate Kenneth Williams, adding a moment of comic genius to that show.

We also get to enjoy an early example of the even more surreal than now Paul Merton along with a good spread of examples of how some new guests take to the show easily whilst others struggle.

Of course, even the experienced players find it tough at times and in one of the shows the others let Peter Jones struggle on with a subject deciding there were more jokes to be had in letting him repeat, deviate and hesitate as he dried up, rather than interrupting him. Even Nicholas Parsons joins in, only bringing the round to an end after 1 minute 15 seconds.

All in all, great fun.

Buy Just a Classic Minute Volume 5 from Amazon here.