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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Steven Morris

‘Redefine conversation’: how Just a Minute can help people living with dementia

A middle-aged man wearing a white shirt with red flowers on it and a woman wearing a black top both seated with microphones in front of them.
Merton said he avoided ‘brain fry’ by focusing on keeping the show enjoyable and well paced. Photograph: PR Image

BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute may be wonderfully entertaining for listeners but it is often excruciating for players as they attempt to speak for 60 seconds without repetition, hesitation or deviation.

An academic paper jointly produced by a university linguist and one of the greatest exponents of Just a Minute has suggested the game is so devious that the best way to succeed is to let go of any ambition to win.

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