Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

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BBC Radio Comedy

Sue Perkins chairs these two scintillating series from 2025 
 
The BBC’s longest-running radio panel game is back for twelve more episodes, as host Sue Perkins challenges contestants to extemporise for 60 seconds on any subject that comes up on the cards – without hesitation, deviation or repetition. 
 
Topics include Snake Oil, Getting Butterflies, Negotiating with a Toddler, The Life of a Strawberry, Mr Darcy, When I Was Staying at The White Lotus, My Favourite Pizza Topping, Oasis Tickets and Paddington Bear. Tackling these tricky themes are a host of star guests including Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Julian Clary, Josie Lawrence, Desiree Burch, Emma Sidi, Paterson Joseph, Charlotte Ritchie, Daliso Chaponda and – returning to play the game after ten years away – Stephen Mangan. 
 
All are funny, fluent and fearless – but can they avoid trips, slips, stutters and hiccups to gain the glory of a perfect, uninterrupted minute? 
 
 
Production credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Chaired by Sue Perkins 
Produced by Rajiv Karia and Georgia Keating 
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls 
Sound Editor: Marc Willcox 
Executive Producer: James Robinson 
Additional material by Eve Delaney 
 
Series 94 featuring: Paul Merton, Laura Smyth, Julian Clary, Desiree Burch, Tony Hawks, Ian Smith, Zoe Lyons, Charlotte Ritchie, Josie Lawrence, Ivo Graham, Sara Pascoe, Daliso Chaponda 
 
Series 95 featuring: Paul Merton, Lucy Porter, Zoe Lyons, Stephen Mangan, Tony Hawks, Desiree Burch, Gyles Brandreth, Emma Sidi, Julian Clary, Paterson Joseph, Rachel Parris 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 January-24 February 2025 (Series 94), 18 August-22 September 2025 (Series 95) 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Just a Minute 2025: The Complete Series 94 & 95

The BBC Radio 4 Topical Comedy

Five sparkling series of the evergreen BBC Radio 4 panel show 
 
Just a Minute has been entertaining generations of listeners since its first series in 1967. This collection of five series from 2018-2019, commemorating the programme's 55th anniversary, contains the last ever episodes chaired by broadcasting legend Nicholas Parsons, as well as several shows in which Gyles Brandreth sits in for him as temporary host. 
 
Between them, they keep the scores and the peace, as players including newbies Sara Pascoe, Angela Barnes, Cariad Lloyd, Phil Wang, Ed Byrne and Kiri Pritchard-McLean join regulars such as Paul Merton, Pam Ayres, Josie Lawrence and Julian Clary to pit their wits against each other. One of them will achieve the rare feat of speaking for a full minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation - but who? 
 
Among the subjects stretching the panellists' linguistic elastic to breaking point are 'Fishnet Stockings', 'The Wild West', 'The Theory of Evolution', 'George V', 'Bad Apples' and 'Pasta'. So sit back and marvel at their wonderful way with words, as they show off their ingenuity, invention and improvisational skills in a bid to trounce the competition and secure the game. 
 
Cast and credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Produced by Matt Stronge and Richard Morris 
Chairman: Nicholas Parsons 
Temporary chairman: Gyles Brandreth (Episodes 4 and 5, Series 81 and Episodes 3 and 4, Series 85) 
 
Series 81 featuring: Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Fern Britton, Graham Norton, Marcus Brigstocke, Rebecca Front, Gyles Brandreth, Josie Lawrence, Sara Pascoe, Tony Hawks 
 
Series 82 featuring: Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks, Zoe Lyons, Pam Ayres, Josie Lawrence, Julian Clary, Janey Godley, Fred MacAulay, Mark Watson, Jo Caulfield, Sheila Hancock, Jan Ravens, Rufus Hound 
 
Series 83 featuring: Tony Hawks, Josie Lawrence, Gyles Brandreth, Angela Barnes, Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Josh Widdicombe, Julian Clary, Lee Mack, Zoe Lyons, Jenny Eclair, Fern Britton 
 
Series 84 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, Kerry Godliman, Jenny Eclair, Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Lucy Porter, Tony Hawks, Cariad Lloyd, Zoe Lyons 
 
Series 85 featuring: Graham Norton, Zoe Lyons, Jenny Eclair, Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Phil Wang, Sheila Hancock, Fred MacAulay, Lucy Porter, Ed Byrne, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Mark Watson, Stephen Fry, Jan Ravens, Pam Ayres 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 May - 18 June 2018 (Series 81), 6 August - 24 September 2018 (Series 82), 4 February - 25 March 2019 (Series 83), 13 May - 17 June 2019 (Series 84), 5 August - 23 September 2019 (Series 85) 
 
© BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Just a Minute: Series 81 – 85

The BBC Radio 4 comedy panel game

Five collected series of the award-winning panel show, hosted by the late Nicholas Parsons 
 
Just a Minute is the grandaddy of panel games, entertaining Radio 4 listeners since 1967 with wit, whimsy and wonderful wordplay. To mark the show's 55th anniversary in December 2022, here are five fantastic series from 2011, 2012 and 2013, all chaired by the legendary Nicholas Parsons. Among them is Series 62, which commemorated JAM's 45th birthday with an episode tackling the same subjects given out in the very first series, and featured two special editions from Mumbai. 
 
Among the panellists keen to show their mettle are first-timers Russell Kane, Miles Jupp, Hannibal Buress and Tim Vine, relative newcomers Richard Herring, Paul Sinha, Jason Manford and Stephen Mangan, and veterans Paul Merton, Sheila Hancock, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth and Sue Perkins (proving that she's as skilled at playing the game as she is at hosting it). 
 
Under the watchful eye of the chairman, they attempt to talk for 60 uninterrupted seconds on topics including My Tartan Underwear, The Search for Intelligent Life, The Importance of Eyebrows, How to Annoy the Audience and My Mate Dan - but can they make it to a minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation? As the Minute Waltz fades away, let the hilarity commence... 
 
Cast and credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Produced by Tilusha Ghelani and Claire Jones 
Chairman: Nicholas Parsons 
 
Series 61 featuring: Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Shelia Hancock, Graham Norton, Josie Lawrence, Julian Clary, Phill Jupitus, Rick Wakeman, Gyles Brandreth, Jason Byrne, Shappi Khorsandi, Russell Kane, Miles Jupp, Pam Ayres 
 
Series 62 featuring: Paul Merton, Gyles Brandreth, Ross Noble, Jenny Eclair, Julian Clary, Sue Perkins, Charles Collingwood, Liza Tarbuck, Josie Lawrence, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, Marcus Brigstocke, Anuvab Pal, Cyrus Broacha 
 
Series 63 featuring: Paul Merton, Julian Clary, Sue Perkins, Greg Proops, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Alun Cochrane, Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Richard Herring, Paul Sinha 
 
Series 64 featuring: Paul Merton, Sue Perkins, Liza Tarbuck, Graham Norton, Miles Jupp, Pam Ayres, Charles Collingwood, Gyles Brandreth, Janey Godley, Hannibal Buress, Tim Vine, Jason Byrne, Jenny Eclair, Tony Hawks, Alun Cochrane, Kevin Eldon 
 
Series 65 featuring: Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Sue Perkins, Jason Manford, Gyles Brandreth, Alun Cochrane, Stephen Mangan, Julian Clary, Jenny Eclair, Richard Herring 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 8 August-19 September 2011 (Series 61), 6 February-19 March 2012 (Series 62), 14 May-18 June 2012 (Series 63), 6 August-24 September 2012 (Series 64), 11 February-1 April 2013 (Series 65) 
 
© BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Just a Minute: Series 61 – 65

Five series of the perennially popular panel show, hosted by the late Nicholas Parsons 
 
Loved by Radio 4 listeners since 1967, Just a Minute is the deliciously devious word game that asks players to speak for sixty seconds on any given subject without hesitation, deviation or repetition. Putting them through their linguistic paces - and keeping order over the proceedings - is chairman Nicholas Parsons. 
 
Included here are five series from 2013-14, collected together to celebrate the show's 55th birthday and featuring its 900th episode and a Christmas special. The polished performers are a mix of old hands such as Paul Merton, Tony Hawks, Sue Perkins, Sheila Hancock and Jenny Eclair, and new kids on the block like Roy Walker, Henry Blofeld, Patrick Kielty, Joe Lycett, Rebecca Front, Holly Walsh, Vanessa Feltz, Kerry Godliman, Jonathan Ross and Frank Skinner. 
 
Topics include 'Fur Coat and No Knickers', 'Murder Most Foul', 'Unanswerable Questions', 'Random Acts of Kindness', 'My Five a Day' and 'Books I Shouldn't Have Read': as well as one that will test the contestants' memory as well as their linguistic skills - 'Previously on Just a Minute'... 
 
Cast and credits 
Devised by Ian Messiter 
Produced by Katie Tyrell, Tilusha Ghelani and Claire Jones 
Chairman: Nicholas Parsons 
 
Series 66 featuring: Paul Merton, Pam Ayres, Kevin Eldon, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks, Fred MacAulay, Roy Walker, Richard Herring, Russell Kane, Kevin Eldon 
 
Series 67 featuring: Tony Hawks, Alun Cochrane, Patrick Kielty, Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton, Greg Proops, Joe Lycett, Sue Perkins, Russell Kane, Henry Blofeld, Julian Clary, Jenny Eclair, Liza Tarbuck, Stephen Mangan, Pam Ayres 
 
Just a Christmas Minute featuring: Pam Ayres, Stephen Mangan, Gyles Brandreth, Paul Merton 
 
Series 68 featuring: Gyles Brandreth, Tony Hawks, Fi Glover, Paul Merton, Alun Cochrane, Rebecca Front, Russell Kane, Sheila Hancock, Richard Herring, Josie Lawrence, Fi Glover, Miles Jupp, Holly Walsh 
 
Series 69 featuring: Paul Merton, Jenny Eclair, Julian Clary, Vanessa Feltz, Gyles Brandreth, Shappi Khorsandi, Patrick Kielty, Paul Sinha, Kevin Eldon, Joe Lycett, Sheila Hancock 
 
Series 70 featuring: Paul Merton, Alun Cochrane, Jonathan Ross, Liza Tarbuck, Gyles Brandreth, Sue Perkins, Frank Skinner, Josie Long, Stephen Mangan, Tony Hawks, Kerry Godliman, Holly Walsh, Russell Kane, Jonathan Ross, Sheila Hancock 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 May - 24 June 2013 (Series 66), 12 August - 23 September 2013 (Series 67), 23 December 2013 (Just a Christmas Minute), 10 February - 31 March 2014 (Series 68), 19 May - 23 June 2014 (Series 69), 11 August - 29 September 2014 (Series 70) 
 
© BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Just a Minute: Series 66 – 70

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