We've been together now for 45 years

Nicholas Parsons has been in the news complaining in his nice way about jokes about the aged being the last politically safe jokes. I'm not sure that this is true really. Nicholas turns 89 this year and is now at an age when it is truly amazing that he continues to be as busy as he is. He does now look a little frail, but his voice in no way sounds like that of an 88 year old, still clear and strong.

He has said recently he hopes to do 1000 editions of Just A Minute. He is currently on 829 - he needs to last another seven or eight years to get to 1000. I suppose one can't count him out as he seems to have had no health problems of any significance, but it will certainly be exceptional if he is still presenting the show in his late 90s.

I see some talk about a knighthood for him and I think he deserves it.

But while we are talking about 45 years, two points of interest. The 35th anniversary was celebrated in December 2002/January 2003. The 40th anniversary was celebrated in December 2007/January 2008. Aren't we celebrating the 45th anniversary a year early? (To be fair I should note that the 25th anniversary was celebrated in early 1992.)

Also the BBC has done more on the 45th anniversary than it did at 25, 30, 35 or 40. (It did nothing at all at 30.) Is 45 special in Britain? What will it do for the 50th anniversary?

Or could it be that a fuss is being made now because of a suspicion the show won't make it to 50?