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Broadcaster Nicholas Parsons has died at the age of 96 after a short illness, his agent has confirmed.
Parsons had hosted Radio 4's Just A Minute since its inception in 1967.
"Nicholas passed away in the early hours of the 28th of January," said a statement issued by his agent Jean Diamond on behalf of his family.
"He was with his beloved family who will miss him enormously and who wish to thank the wonderful staff at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital."
BBC director-general Tony Hall said: "Very few people have done so much to entertain audiences over the decades, and no one deserves to be called a broadcasting legend more than Nicholas Parsons.
"His charm, inventive intellect and ability to create laughs were unsurpassed. Our thoughts are with his family and all who knew him."
Mohit Bakaya, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: "Nicholas Parsons was one of the greats, a first class broadcaster and an icon in the world of British comedy.
"Nicholas always brought his sharp wit, brilliant poise and warmth to everything he did - but particularly as host of Just a Minute where his excellence shone in each episode without hesitation, deviation or repetition."
Christopher Nicholas Parsons was born on 10 October 1923 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, the son of a GP.
He described himself in his autobiography as "the unconventional child of conventional parents".
Always neatly coiffed and invariably immaculate in blazer and flannels, Parsons' smooth tones on Just a Minute and, more particularly, his sugary image on Sale of the Century, made him a dapper reminder of a bygone age and a ripe target for other comedians.
Parsons had hosted Radio 4's Just A Minute since its inception in 1967.
"Nicholas passed away in the early hours of the 28th of January," said a statement issued by his agent Jean Diamond on behalf of his family.
"He was with his beloved family who will miss him enormously and who wish to thank the wonderful staff at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital."
BBC director-general Tony Hall said: "Very few people have done so much to entertain audiences over the decades, and no one deserves to be called a broadcasting legend more than Nicholas Parsons.
"His charm, inventive intellect and ability to create laughs were unsurpassed. Our thoughts are with his family and all who knew him."
Mohit Bakaya, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: "Nicholas Parsons was one of the greats, a first class broadcaster and an icon in the world of British comedy.
"Nicholas always brought his sharp wit, brilliant poise and warmth to everything he did - but particularly as host of Just a Minute where his excellence shone in each episode without hesitation, deviation or repetition."
Christopher Nicholas Parsons was born on 10 October 1923 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, the son of a GP.
He described himself in his autobiography as "the unconventional child of conventional parents".
Always neatly coiffed and invariably immaculate in blazer and flannels, Parsons' smooth tones on Just a Minute and, more particularly, his sugary image on Sale of the Century, made him a dapper reminder of a bygone age and a ripe target for other comedians.
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A good innings RIP. I recall watching Sale of The Century as a kid and he was a swarmy smooth operator. Found it a bit dull myself, but it peaked at 21 million viewers so adults loved it!
I've just realised that while I have very clear memories of the beginning and climax of Sale of the Century, I have absolutely no recollection of what happened in the middle to be in a position to buy the car, boat or whatever was the top prize.
Relatively easy questions that even an average kid could score points on. Great show, loved it as a kid. As you say, good innings. RIP
RIP Was a bit of an old smoothie as they used to say ,tipped up by me in Coffin Dodgers thread by the way.
The thing most of us will remember about Sale Of The Century is the dolly birds showing us what the prizes were.
dambuster...42 people posted on coffin dodgers thread ,so are we all classless ?I said RIP and wouldnt wish death on anyone ,just surprised i tipped a winner ,thats all.
hell of an innings, to be fair, and he was right with it up to his death. will we get people like him anymore? people on tv/radio with that level of intellect and that well-spoken? probably a dying breed
Remember him fondly as a straight man for Arthur Haynes. RIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJEcyTtvrcI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJEcyTtvrcI
Remember him being very funny in 'Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door' from The Comic Strip Presents.
Watched him about 6 months ago on a Richard Herring podcast talking for an hour, unbelievable how a man of 95 can still be so sharp and witty at that age. Worth watching starts at 4 minutes in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6LKpsnFzQ
Watched him about 6 months ago on a Richard Herring podcast talking for an hour, unbelievable how a man of 95 can still be so sharp and witty at that age. Worth watching starts at 4 minutes in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6LKpsnFzQ
R.I.P.
I must admit I wasn't a fan of Sale of the Century and Just a Minute always seemed a bit pointless,not to mention repetitive. On the odd occasions I listened to it I did note that Parsons was very polished and professional though. I remember him best as Arthur Haynes' straight man tbh,but at least I knew who he was unlike that American guy who was splashed all over the news a day or two ago.
I must admit I wasn't a fan of Sale of the Century and Just a Minute always seemed a bit pointless,not to mention repetitive. On the odd occasions I listened to it I did note that Parsons was very polished and professional though. I remember him best as Arthur Haynes' straight man tbh,but at least I knew who he was unlike that American guy who was splashed all over the news a day or two ago.
Was an engineering apprentice @ Drysdales Marine Pumps (Weirs) in Yoker near Clydebank.
Was an engineering apprentice @ Drysdales Marine Pumps (Weirs) in Yoker near Clydebank.
Loved him when paired with Arthur Haynes...another great comedian departed 1966
r.i.p Nicholas Parsons....you made a lot a lot of people laugh...job done
r.i.p Nicholas Parsons....you made a lot a lot of people laugh...job done
Thanks to Morpteh Mackem for pointing out that someone called Peter Fenn was responsible for the SOTC theme tune. This is important, because one of Parsons' catchphrases was "John Benson, what's on offer this time?" This would be accompanied by a few notes on the organ and, as I was hard of hearing, I assumed for years that the organist on Sale Of The Century was in fact George Benson.
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