Review of Just a Minute: Clement Freud Classics (BBC Audio)

Not something you're likely to listen to more than once.

An odd one, this. While some panel shows can have a life on CD, it's usually the ones that have enough freeform comedy like I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue that tend to fare the best because the rules are loosely enforced (and occasionally incomprehensible) in the pursuit of comic gold. Unfortunately, with Just a Minute the whole point is the rigorous enforcement of the rules, and the constant repetition - without repetition - of the same basic round, which can get a bit samey after four episodes. And this is a collection of complete episodes rather than highlights, meaning that there are plenty of slow patches between the good bits. The best of this collection is the very first episode, with the rivalry between the deadpan Freud and the vocally gymnastic Derek Nimmo already firmly in place - Freud's reason for interrupting Nimmo is almost worth the price of the disc on its own. But while Freud gets his moments, there's little sense that this is collecting his finest minutes or interruptions, with the more than able guests like Kenneth Williams, Paul Merton and the much-missed Linda Smith getting their share of the laughs. But having listened to it once, it's hard to imagine that it's something you're likely to want to listen to again, making it one for the show's fans rather than the casual comedy fan. Not something you're likely to listen to more than once.