Prose & Cons
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  • Published: 22 July 2025
  • ISBN: 9781785946837
  • Imprint: BBC Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $24.99
Categories:

Prose & Cons

The English Language in Just A Minute

Formats & editions
Paperback
22 Jul 2025
Hardback
1 Oct 2024
EBook
12 Sep 2024
Audiobook
10 Oct 2024
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From bestselling writer, podcaster and English language virtuoso Gyles Brandreth, a magical tour of our mother tongue in pithy 60-second instalments.

As fans of Just a Minute know, the key to the game is knowing your way around the English language: how it works, how it’s evolved, and how words connect, often in surprising ways. When it comes to the English language (and Just a Minute), Gyles Brandreth has seen it all – and now he’s ready to put you through your linguistic paces, to become a Just a Minute expert yourself.

In this wildly entertaining A to Z of verbal acrobatics, Gyles takes you on a whirlwind tour of our mother tongue – from the origins of words and correct grammar and punctuation, to similes, euphemisms and record breaking tongue twisters (try getting your mouth around floccinaucinihilipification!). An idiosyncratic blend of history, word play, anecdote, and hyperbole, all in 60-second instalments, this is Gyles Brandreth at his word-perfect, Just-a-Minute best. You’ll never mix your metaphors again...
  • Published: 22 July 2025
  • ISBN: 9781785946837
  • Imprint: BBC Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $24.99
Categories:

About the author

Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, veteran of Just A Minute, QI and The One Show, former MP and Government Whip, now Chancellor of the University of Chester and founder of the 'Poetry Together' project bringing schoolchildren and older people together to learn poetry by heart. His many books include the best-selling poetry anthology, Dancing by the Light of the Moon, and the international best-seller about spelling and punctuation, Have You Eaten Grandma? With Susie Dent, the lexicographer from Countdown, he co-hosts the award-winning podcast, Something Rhymes With Purple. With Dame Sheila Hancock he presents Great Canal Journeys on Channel 4. With Dame Maureen Lipman he is a regular on Celebrity Gogglebox.

Gyles is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown and has three children, seven grandchildren, and lives in London with his wife, his jumpers, and Nala, the neighbour's cat.

Also by Gyles Brandreth

A History of Britain in Just a Minute
What Goes Up White and Comes Down Yellow?
Elizabeth
Odd Boy Out
Living with the Enemy
Dancing By The Light of The Moon
Have You Eaten Grandma?
See all
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