Nicholas Parsons misses his first Just A Minute in 50 years | Now THAT's deviation

Nicholas Parsons misses his first Just A Minute in 50 years

Now THAT's deviation

Nicholas Parsons has missed his first episode of Just A Minute in more than 50 years.

Gyles Brandreth stepped in to replace the  94-year-old on the episode which aired tonight, saying his friend deserved ‘a day off’

And BBC Studios' head of radio comedy Julia McKenzie reassured fans on Twitter that Parsons was ‘totally fine’.

She tweeted: ‘Just to reassure those listening to the very unexpected Just A Minute on @BBCRadio4 at the moment - the apocalypse is not upon us - @GylesB1 kindly stepped in to give Nicholas Parsons a couple of days off. NP is totally fine and is still the guvnor as per the last 50 years.’

Another episode of the show is due to be recorded in London on Wednedsay.

Parsons has chaired the programme which is currently in its 81st series for more than 900 episodes.

When introducing the latest episode, which featured Tony Hawks, Sara Pascoe, Josie Lawrence and Paul Merton, Brandreth said: ‘After 50 years at the helm [he] quite rightly thinks he should be allowed a day off.’

And as the show aired, the former Conservative MP added: 'An honour (If daunting) standing in for the irreplaceable Nicholas Parsons tonight. Happily he’s back in a fortnight!'

Listeners joked on Twitter that Parsons' absence meant it was 'the end of days' with one, Iain Brassington, tweeting: 'Somewhere, the captain of a nuclear submarine is trying to work out what it means when Nicholas Parsons isn't hosting #justaminute.'

Parsons has chaired Just A Minute since the pilot in 1967. Jimmy Edwards was originally due to fill the role but was unavailable on Sundays, the proposed recording dates. Parsons, who was supposed to be a panel member, was persuaded to step in instead. Even though he did not really want the job, he reluctantly took the job, supposedly just for the pilot episode, on the understanding he could be a panelist if the show was picked up.

In an interview at the end of last year, Parsons said he had no intention of stepping away from showbusiness, insisting:  'I have never considered retiring. I will endeavour to keep going as long as I’ve got the mental stamina and the ability to perform.'

Published: 4 Jun 2018

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