NFR RIP Nicholas Parsons

[ALG01]

one of the great undervauled members of British show business
accoding to paul merton he was the best straight man if ever encountered.

not many left of that era

[Twig]

Just a Minute was consistently good listening under his stewardship.

[JimOG]

Just a Minute was consistently good listening under his stewardship.

+1

[bobbo]

Very professional very sad

[Black and White Blood]

Once saw him on TV doing the dance to The Time Warp, showed another
side to him,   brilliant.

[HV71]

What an amazing character - still presenting 'Just a minute ' last autumn. He was always 'on point' and on top of his game . Amazing life and career . RIP - A TRUE GENT.

[Maidstone Lee]

Just a Minute was consistently good listening under his stewardship.

He only missed 2 recording in all that time. Another legend gone.

[Art Vandelay]

Very sad

If memory serves me well wasn't he the first actor to play James Bond?

[Fernhurst]

What a good innings!!! Matured with age. My first memory of him was acting stooge to Arthur Haynes.
RIP

[Carborundum]

Saw him in a Mediterranean airport waiting area not so many years ago.  In fine fettle and if I get to that age and look like that I'll be delighted.  Excellent innings.

Plenty of highbrow references to Just a Minute, but he'll always be the Sale of the Century man for me.  If my kids want to understand what growing up in the seventies was like, that show would be high up my list.  Contestants buzzing away to win one pound per question, rising to a fiver as Peter Fenn's electric organ ramped up the tension.  We all tuned in.

For me Nicholas Parsons is as much an icon of the seventies as flared trousers, power cuts and Spaghetti Hoops being classed as a vegetable.  Rest in peace.

[Lighthouse]

Very sad

If memory serves me well wasn't he the first actor to play James Bond?

No he never did. There was an American actor who played Bond on a CBS adaptation and Bob Holness played Bond on South African Radio. Plus another one then Sean Connery started the films.

Parsons was however the one and only Tex Tucker, or at least his voice in Gerry Andersons string puppet progs. Anderson went on to many now famous shows.

[sunburywhite]

Arthur Haynes straight man

That shows my age

[HV71]

Parsons was however the one and only Tex Tucker, or at least his voice in Gerry Andersons string puppet progs.


Gosh - thanks for that Lighthouse - I never knew that . Four Feather Falls was for me the start of the great puppet era - Supercar, Fireball XL5 , Stingray, Thunderbirds etc etc

[Stevieboy]

Four Feather Falls.....now there's a memory  :003:

[Fulham Tup North]

Sale of the Century for me.  Vital Saturday night viewing.
Loved Just a minute and I have loads of them downloaded to my BBC Sounds. Eccenial walking to work listening 👍🤣
RIP Nicholas and thank you !!

[gezkc]

Very sad news, though he certainly had a good innings!

I went to see him at An Evening with Nicholas Parsons a couple of years ago. He was 93 and still as sharp as a tack, talking about his life and career and answering questions from the audience.

He'll be missed - a true entertainment legend!

[Bill2]

Arthur Haynes straight man

That shows my age

Me too, he always referred to him Nickelass.

[Plodder]

A great tribute to him that he kept performing to such a high standard into his mid-Nineties.  Ever courteous and happy to have the mickey taken out of him.  When someone of that age and who has commanded such affection dies, it is sad, but it is easier to remember him with a smile than with sorrow. If I do half as well  old age (not far off now), I shall be content. The BBC should have ended I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue when Humphrey Lyttleton died. It has been a shadow of what it was, and the same will happen if they try to replace Nicholas Parsons on Just A Minute.

[Andy S]

While talking about the puppet era of the 70s it all began in the 60s with Twizzle and Torchie the battery boy  not that Arther Haynes or Nicholarse had anything  to do with them but he has to be one of the best straight men ever. In those days it wasn't recorded it was live and Arther Haynes would have a smile on his face but not Nicholas Parsons. Thanks for everything and RIP

[Cambridge Pete]

Loved Just a minute, over 50 years and missed only two recordings. Cool and sophisticated and always joined in the joke even though he was the but of it. RIP to a true entertainment legend