Spike Milligan was in actuality half Irish but he was one of Britain's best loved comics - silly, irreverent and off-beat but with a heart of gold. He was born in India in 1918 and died in Rye, Sussex in 2002. He was a stalwart of the old "Goon Show" on BBC Radio in the fifties and sixties. It helped to pave the way for a lot of modern comedy. I saw him once in the the dilapidated Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield - he had come to help to raise funds for that theatre's repair and refurbishment.
He was buried in Winchelsea churchyard in Sussex where famously - but written in Irish, the inscription upon his gravestone reads, "I told them I was ill".
Here he is in 1994 receiving a lifetime achievement award for his comedy. Of course it was over thirty years ago so many of the familiar comedy figures in that room - familiar to British people anyway - have now grown old themselves and some have also passed away...
Spike was so funny, even in his advanced years. Fancy saying that about the then Prince of Wales.
ReplyDeleteHe should have had his head chopped off.
DeleteThere is a footbridge in Woy Woy, NSW named after him. I believe his parents moved there at some point. He was not gracious in describing the town - but probably very accurate.
ReplyDelete"Woy, a town twinned with Woy."
DeleteAs a teenager I can well remember listening to the Goon Show - much to my parent's disapproval! Spike was certainly a one off, and you never knew what to expect from him. TV interviews were often chaotic leaving interviewers totally speechless - he didn't often stick to the script!
ReplyDeleteYes, there were an awful lot of familiar faces no longer with us.
I appreciate your reflection Carol.
DeleteI have to point to my favourite Spike clip (also liked by Keith Richards). It's called "Eat More Fruit": https://youtu.be/p-IU-NQ8c14?si=5WfsROBhWlpgBJuO
ReplyDeleteWonderfully ridiculous. I had never seen that before. Thanks.
DeleteI recall the name and know he was a comedian but didn't know he had been part of the Goon Squad.
ReplyDeleteMany Australians loved him as we did in Britain. His vulnerability was as attractive as his craziness.
DeleteA comic genius, gifted poet and writer. Political Correctness would not allow his humour to be shown on television these days. I remember reading when he entered an Arabian tent in Africa and asked for "Spam and chips twice please!"
ReplyDeleteThe politically correct police would have had Spike clapped in irons.
DeleteHe was a very funny man but I understand that he also suffered from mental health issues, supposedly caused by his experiences during WWII. He was always guaranteed to make people laugh though.
ReplyDeleteMany comedy geniuses teeter on the edge of madness. Take the brilliant Robin Williams for example.
DeleteI love the funny.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Bobbo.
DeleteSpike Milligan was well known...even in this distant part of the world.
ReplyDeleteI knew he was popular in Australia but I had heard a rumour that Canadians do not possess a sense of humour!
DeleteWhat made you think about Spike, Neil?
ReplyDeleteI just wanted something or someone funny for today's blogpost and I thought of Spike.
DeleteI've heard that the Monty Python group owed a lot to him but if they acknowledged his influence he'd probably respond with "Oh, the groveling bastards." Spike was a very funny guy.
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