Comic Details

Nicholas Parsons

Date Of Birth: 10/10/1923

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Videos

Arthur Haynes sketch with Nicholas Parsons


More Nicholas Parsons videos

Arthur Haynes sketch with Nicholas Parsons
Nicholas Parsons on Breakfast
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Biography

Nicholas Parsons was born in 1923, the son of a GP in Grantham, Lincolnshire, whose patients included the parents of Margaret Thatcher. After his education at St Paul's School, London – where he excelled in Latin, Greek and rugby – Parsons started an apprenticeship as an engineer to please his family, , even though he knew acting was his true passion, and earned a mighty 49p for a 48-hour week. He briefly worked in the Clydeside shipyards before studying engineering at the University of Glasgow.

He started doing impersonations, which landed him his first professional engagement on the radio, the joined an amateur concert party, before going into repertory as an actor at Bromley in Kent.

He moved to the legendary London cabaret circuit in the Fifties, where he was resident comedian at the famous Windmill Theatre for six months; and in 1956 teamed up with comedian Arthur Haynes in 1956. Parsons played his Straight Man on TV for a decade until Haynes's sudden death in 1966.

He then worked with Benny Hill, being a regular on his show from 1969 to 1974, as well as working solo - most famously hosting the Anglia Television game show Sale of the Century, broadcast weekly from 1971 to 1983.

Other notable TV appearances include playing himself in the 1988 Comic Strip Presents film Mr Jolly Lives Next Door; playing a vicar in Doctor Who in 1989; and guest hosting Have I Got News for You in 2005.

Parsons made his film debut in 1947, and appeared in many British comedy films in the Fifties and Sixties. He returned to the West End stage in 1967 to star in Boeing-Boeing, and has more recently taken the role of the narrator in the The Rocky Horror Show.

Parsons will also be forever linked with the Radio 4 panel game Just a Minute, whcih he has hosted since its first broadcast on December 22, 1967. During the late Sixties he also presented a two-part programme on Radio Four called Listen To This Space, a small part of the 'satire boom' of the time.

In 1976, he was asked to stand as Liberal Party candidate for Yeovil. He refused – allowing an unknown newcomer called Paddy Ashdown to fight, and win, the seat

Between 1988 and 1991 Parsons was Rector of the University of St Andrews, and was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his work there. And in 2005 he became honorary chairman of the International Quizzing Association.

He is also active in the Grand Order of Water Rats charity, and was president of the Lord's Taverners chairty in 1998-1999. He also works for the NSPCC, the Variety Club and Childline. In 2004, he was awarded OBE.

He continues to tour a one-man show, which is esecially popular on cruise ships, and in 2000 started an annual stage chat show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

His autobiography, The Straight Man - My Life In Comedy, was published in 1994.

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Reviews
Nicholas Parsons Happy Hour
Nicholas Parsons Happy Hour

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2006 -
Just A Minute
Just A Minute

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2006 -
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Comments

I have always thought he was (and still is) a gentleman

Tony Dray, March 2012


Nicholas Parsons is an absolute legend!

Anonymous, August 2011




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News
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Where can I see Nicholas Parsons next?

Where can I see Nicholas Parsons next?

17:10~18:10 - Thursday 1st Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Friday 2nd Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Saturday 3rd Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Sunday 4th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Monday 5th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Wednesday 7th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Thursday 8th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Friday 9th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Saturday 10th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Sunday 11th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Monday 12th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Wednesday 14th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Thursday 15th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Friday 16th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Saturday 17th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
17:10~18:10 - Sunday 18th Aug, '13
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Prices: £6 (previews) to £13
Show: Nicholas Parsons' Happy Hour [2013]
Show starts: 17:10
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Products
Book (1994):
The Straight Man: My Life in Comedy
Nicholas Parsons autobiography

Nicholas Parsons's Shows: