Nicholas Parsons

Nicholas Parsons
Parsons recording Just a Minute
at the Pleasance Grand, Edinburgh, in 2007
Born
Christopher Nicholas Parsons

(1923-10-10)10 October 1923
Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Died28 January 2020(2020-01-28) (aged 96)
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
EducationSt Paul's School, London
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
Occupations
Years active1945–2020
Known forJust a Minute (1967–2019)
Sale of the Century (1971–1983)
Office
Spouses
(m. 1954; div. 1989)
Ann Reynolds
(m. 1995)
Children2

Christopher Nicholas Parsons CBE (10 October 1923 – 28 January 2020) was an English actor, straight man and radio and television presenter. He was the long-running presenter of the comedy radio show Just a Minute and hosted the game show Sale of the Century during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Parsons was born and grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and was educated at St Paul's School, London. He became a full-time actor following the Second World War and began appearing in various theatre, film and television roles, including support to Arthur Haynes as his straight man. He began presenting Just a Minute in 1967 and never missed a show until 2018. In addition to his well-known roles on this and Sale of the Century, he appeared as a guest on other television shows, including Doctor Who and Have I Got News for You.

  1. ^ Parsons, Nicholas (13 May 2008). "Edward Lear". Great Lives. Series 15. Episode 7. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.