Just a Minute: academic and Paul Merton reveal secrets of success

The challenge of speaking for one minute on a given subject has long frustrated both players and listeners of the popular radio programme Just a Minute, but an academic may have cracked it – with the help of comedian Paul Merton.

Alison Wray, research professor in language and communication at Cardiff University, investigated why the popular BBC Radio 4 show, which requires its contestants to speak fluently for one minute on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation, is so challenging for contestants.

In a new paper, which draws on transcripts and recordings, published interviews with players, and a collaboration with longstanding contestant Mr Merton, she seeks to discover how players tackle the problem of “brain fry”, or mental fatigue.

Unable to hesitate, repeat words, or change subjects to decide what to say next as speakers would in a normal conversation, the rules of the show, which has been broadcast in its current form since 1967, create a much higher risk of brain fry, Professor Wray said. Further cognitive pressure comes from the need to be funny, with hesitation, repetition and deviation all known as key devices for delivering comic material.

“The rules of Just a Minute create a perfect storm of cognitive pressure, making it ideal for linguistic research,” Professor Wray added.

Published in the Comedy Studies journal, the paper is a continuation of Professor Wray’s research into how language is formulated to reduce cognitive load – including formulaic language that allows speakers to focus on new thoughts.

It found that players try various tactics to avoid losing, including speaking very fast or very slowly, elongating words, reproducing song lyrics, mimicking what the previous speaker said, and manipulating the topic towards something they know about.

By 2017, there had been just 306 instances of a player reaching a full minute without being successfully challenged on a rule breach. Co-author Mr Merton, who has appeared on the programme regularly since 1988, was responsible for 32 of those – the second most of all contestants.

He attributes his success in the world’s longest-running radio panel show to thinking less about trying to win the game, and more about keeping it enjoyable for the listeners.

“It’s mind-boggling to think that my efforts to entertain the audience, both in the studio and at home, may well prove to be useful in studying brain fry or cognitive overload,” he added.

“By attempting to keep my contributions fresh, I suppose I may have unwittingly adopted a useful ploy in helping to keep the brain fresh as well.”

In the paper, he describes how his experience in improvisational comedy, his general lack of anxiety, and his ability to find an ideal state of “brain flow” all help reduce brain fry.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com