21 October 1968                 3 November 1976
28 August 1982                   17 March 1990

Just as uproariously funny - and terrifically popular - today as when it first began on BBC Radio 4 in 1968. Just a Minute challenges contestants to speak for one minute on a given subject without repetition, hesitation or deviation.

Its mix of irreverent fun and ferocious competition has always attracted stellar names from the world of comedy and theatre, all of whom pit their wits - and their wit - against regular players including Kenneth Williams, Paul Merton, Derek Nimmo, Clement Freud and Peter Jones . Among the guests in these four archive programmes are Maureen Lipman, Geraldine Jones, Sheila Hancock, Alfred Marks, John Junkin and Tim Rice .

Nicholas Parsons, who has been at the helm of the series since it began, as chairman and occasionally as player, introduces this sparkling quartet of editions and provides fascinating background information on the game, as well as memories of its players and its devisor, Ian Messiter .