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The Joke Machine

Nicholas Parsons: TV and radio star was ‘a remarkable man’

The late Nicholas Parsons is the subject of Jimmy Cricket's latest newspaper column.

Actor, presenter and broadcaster Parsons died in January at the age of 96 after a short illness. Here's how BBC News reported his death. Tributes were paid to him from across the entertainment world, including from the likes of Stephen Fry and Graham Norton. Comedian Jimmy worked with him on The Joke Machine, a children's sketch series which aired as part of CITV in the UK. In his Lancashire Post column for March, Jimmy recalls one of the sketches involving Parsons and paid tribute to him. He recalls: "Although it was only a short sketch, it rained incessantly that morning and everybody had to run for shelter.
'Unforgettable few hours'
"The nearest refuge for me was the car. So I promptly parked my Rickshaw up against a lamppost and jumped into the passenger seat. "There, over a bacon butty and carton of tea each, Nicholas told me the story of his astonishing career." Jimmy says it was "an unforgettable few hours with a remarkable man".
Parsons also appeared on the Benny Hill Show for several years and fronted ITV's popular Sale of the Century. His other TV appearances included Have I Got News For You, while he played master of ceremonies on Radio 4 show Just a Minute. Also read: Nicholas Parsons: A great career and will be sadly missed Below is how the BBC broke the news of Nicholas Parsons' death.

Nicholas Parsons: TV and radio star was ‘a remarkable man’ 150 150 mhamer
Nicholas Parsons: A great career and will be sadly missed 150 150 mhamer

Nicholas Parsons: A great career and will be sadly missed
How BBC News reported Nicholas Parsons' death on Twitter

How BBC News reported Nicholas Parsons’ death on Twitter

Jimmy Cricket has been recalling the children’s TV show in which he appeared with Nicholas Parsons.

Broadcaster Parsons died earlier this week at the age of 96 after a short illness.

Here is how BBC News reported his death.

Tributes were paid to him from across the entertainment world, including from the likes of Stephen Fry and Graham Norton.

Comedian Jimmy worked with Parsons on The Joke Machine, a children’s sketch series which aired as part of CITV in the UK.

The first series featured the Krankies while the third and last featured Jimmy.

Each short episode was packed with jokes. The programme lasted from 1985 to 1989, according to the IMDb website.

Jimmy tweeted: “Nicholas (Parsons) and I did a kids’ TV show.

Sale of the Century

“We were waiting at traffic lights. I dressed in Chinese gear with a rickshaw and Nick in a posh car.

“The joke was that when the lights turned, the car stalled and I shot ahead.

“He’s had a great career and will be sadly missed.”

The episode involving Parsons is believed to have been broadcast on 26 May 1989.

Parsons had hosted Radio 4’s Just A Minute since its inception in 1967.

He presented his last programme on 23 September last year.

He also appeared on the Benny Hill Show for several years and fronted ITV’s Sale of the Century.

His other TV appearances included Have I Got News For You.