Spike actually suffered massive personality changes after being injured in WW2. PTSD is much more accepted these days. True legends never die though. Live on Goons😘
I've read all of Spike's war memoirs, and his humour sort of gets into the psyche. I was on late shift one day at work and turned up at 11 am. Someone had ordered a communal pizza which was sitting in the break room, and I grabbed a slice as I passed. My manager saw me and said "Hey, don't eat it yet, you are late today," to which I replied "It's ok, I'm eating early to make up for it."
I went to his comedy show in London 40 odd years ago. At the start, he just walked across the stage and off the other side a couple of times. The entire audience was almost crippled with laughter 30 seconds in. Comic genius.
Thank goodness for RUclips, for a link to some of the classic stars who have passed beyond and allowing us to be able to remember their wit & humour so they will never be forgotten, as to The Goons what can I say that hasn`t already been said. To see Harry Secombe & Spike Milligan again brings tears of joy as they will never be forgotten. Thankyou for posting.
So funny, so loveable and so charming. It brightened up my day. Too much doom and gloom these days. Thank God we can temporarily go back to the day when no one took themselves seriously. No safe space, no snowflakes generation. Wish we could go back in time.
Stumbled upon this by accident. I’ve read Spikes war diaries, best laugh I’ve had in ages, tears of laughter literally ran down my face . Joanna Lumley was and still is absolutely gorgeous.
I read all of Spike's war memoirs as a teenager in the 1980s. Often hiding under the duvet in bed, after bedtime, reading by torchlight. My parents occasionally came into my room to find out what all the stifled laughter was about. 'Drooling' was a personal favourite, as was the time him & his mates found a Stuka dive bomber parked up in the African desert, and one of them accidentally started its engine. "We didn't know how to stop it, so we all stood around and chucked rocks at the propellor, which bounced off and nearly killed us." Epic. Glad to see that the male of the species hasn't got any more sensible in the following 80 years.
All 3 of them (Secombe, Milligan, Sellers) were filming in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, and I came across them in a local Cafe. They were mercilessly ribbing each other and I honestly thought I would die laughing.
Milligan was one of a kind he was in constant turmoil with his mental health how he managed to amuse people and make them laugh and forget their troubles will always be a mystery to me !!! I think he used comedy as an escape from the madness he was in !!!
"They should let him stay on, shouldn't they? it's the dreadful machine!" - Spike Milligan was such a kind-hearted man. It was a motive for his irreverence and willingness always to bend the rules for the sake of something greater than "the machine."
agree entirely have a look at the stock on comics these day - very intelligent and intellectual- they would be destroyed if they touched any of the sacred lefty cows - Spike was the one and only - these boys and girls today are pussies - BBC now just a new left (not old working class left) private school old boy and old girl - hang out. I mean for god's sake even someone like billy connolly is totally PC.
@@junee5666Political correctness is the main reason - Spike Milligan, Benny Hill, Python, and a host of others were showered with Isms from feminists and the Left-collective in general. The result is today's anemic 'comedy' with everyone terrified of causing offence.
@@--legion Left collective my arse. Spike Milligan was once a young communist, the Pythons were not right wing even Cleese is a Lib Dem. Ignore left wing comics and you've got little more than Jim Davidson and Geoff Norcott.
Poor Joanna Lumley trying her hardest to get a straight answer from Spike. He was a very quick witted man. I never get tired of listening to him. So funny.
Bloody genius, possibly the funniest man that ever lived! I saw him once in East Finchley I think it was and went up to him to say hello, he threw his arms up in the air and zipped off screaming... hilarious wonderfully eccentric man.
I must have been 4 the first time I really heard and understood the Goons. The whole family sitting around the radio and everyone with tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks. Still gets me 60 years later. RIP dear Fellows.
My mother and I were in fits of laughter, but my poor dad just simply did not see ANYTHING funny about it. Poor dad had a joyless upbringing, and he just didn't get subtle humour like the Goons.
@@douglassun8456 Understood the words, not so much all the gags. However, I had 3 older brothers who took much pleasure in educating me on any, "Adult Talk" So yes, I was ahead of most of my contemporaries for most of my Life. I miss those days of great humour.
what total rubbish you speak. Every age has its hardships and easy moments. You are obviously a millennial or so naive that you can’t help making a fool of yourself with that inane comment. Have you lived through a world war or a global depression. Or a pandemic where there were no fucking vaccines to save you and millions died. Get a grip on life ffs!
Yes, those terrible people who just want everybody to be shown a bit of respect, dignity and humanity are CLEARLY the problem, not the swivel-eyed bigoted maniacs who throw ridiculous, childish tantrums at anyone wanting to so much as dare to be different.
The alternative to comedy is serious and Spike was never that, in public anyway. There is no such thing as alternative comedy just people who aren't funny and those that are.
@@andytomhall6006 You obviously aren't from a time where people didn't have their heads up their ass! There is no such thing as truth, just facts and pedants.
I was introduced to Spike on my 9th birthday when I was given Bad Jelly the Witch, it had just been released. I still have the book 49 years later. Read it to both my children and they loved it even more than me. Thanks Spike for being a big part of my families childhood and sending my kids off to sleep with the most brilliant dreams!
I agree. But not only funny, a vital folk history of how war is experienced by people on the front line. As opposed to the "Kings and Generals" crap that is taught as history to us and our children.
I was a voracious reader at a very young age and tried to read many of my parent's books. Tantalisingly, Rommel? Gunner Who? was kept on the top shelf of the bookcase along with The Collected Bulletins of Idi Amin due to the 'language'. However my mother relented when I was about 11 and let me read Spike. Been a massive fan ever since. A madcap whirlwind of genius.
Watching Spike's body language, crossed arms crossed legs, very much hugging himself. I worked with him very briefly on one of his Q shows about 40 years ago. Great person, but raked with depression.So many wonderful comics suffering for their craft.
I think a lot of that had to do with his experiences during the war when he suffered very badly from shell shock which effected him very deeply for the rest of his life. I remember sometimes you'd see him on chat shows and you'd know within half a minute if he was on good form or bad form just by his demeanor. Bill Oddie seems to be similar in that way.
I think she was a cow - there was nothing whatsoever to be scared of, and she could well have said 'if you're happy to sit here quietly you can do your bit and we can do ours - then we're all happy' - but nah - self image and her own interests came first. There was even a pretence at an apology 'oh we could have let him be here' immediately after kicking him off to make herself look caring afterwards... nauseating.
Wow I had no idea Spike Milligan was not only a musician but composer. I was brought up in the 80s and only remember him as an off the wall weird comedian. Now in my 40s, I'm finally understanding his bold humour (and getting the jokes"). Great vid!
Spike’s agent Norma Farnes arranged for a recording of Harry Seacombe singing “Cwm Rhondda” to be played at Spike’s funeral, as a joke at Spike’s expense. He’d have probably laughed at it
Keldor D'Antrell A couple of months ago I visited his grave, the grass from the main path to his gravestone was very well worn, it’s easy to find because of this.
Hard to believe their was weeks he couldn't get out of bed with depression. The poor comic genius. Spike you are still sadly missed. God if I was the host I'd be sweating blood terrified of what you would say next when I'd ask a question I love the way Spike couldn't give a shit about wot he said or how it was taken.RIP Spike.
The look Joanna Lumley gives that man at 4:40 says so much about her. She looks at him as if to say "ah a savage, reminds me of the British Raj". Spike is a gent, and comedic gold
There is a story about Spike in that he was a occasional guest on Call My Bluff. This was a long running panel show where they would have to tell a story and the 3 on the other team would have to guess which was true. The rest of the panel was always told that when Spike was on a roll they were to just shut up because whatever he would say would be comedy gold.
Met him once at a book signing. His war memoirs are hilarious. He's buried not far from where i (Winchelsea) live and i always stop to pay my respects to the great man.
Two brilliant blokes and a hard working gorgeous woman. Wow when Spike came on the tv when I was a kid I knew I was gunna be laughing. He always grabbed my attention. Funny bones funny face funny everything. Miss him.
To have one genius comedian in a country at one time is rare enough But the UK was blessed with dozens of them at the same time! I like the fact Spike had on his gravestone, "I told I was ill" some many great comedy super stars all in one country. The modern ones pale into nothing to these gods of comedy!
There will only be one spike on a planet of endlessly boring human dummies ,a spot of brilliant colour on a sea of grey , genius comes at a price and he had his own demons to wrestle ,personally I think he was fantastic .
Bizarre memory. I remember watching this live on TV. Harry Secombe's daughter, Katie, was with us in the flat, and I remember her being very nervous and upset when the intruder walked on set.
@@skyzella You are Both Right i am old enough to have watched the BBC When it was at its Peak for COMEDY (Amongst other things Sport springs to Mind) Absolutely Brilliant it was too But Alas those Days Have long Gone and i fully Agree with @maraton on the State the BBC is in Today Total Garbage at pretty much anything it does Unfortunately
@@therub2191 How was I rude? I just complimented her on her lovely soothing voice. I didn't say I wasn't paying attention to what she was saying. Can't you pay a lady a compliment these days? I don't know where you are coming from.
@@therub2191 As I have received a few comments suggesting that I have no sense of humour, I apologise for not getting your joke. In my defence however there are so many snowflakes and SJW's about these days, your lack of a suitable emoji or lol led me to believe I was dealing with one of those idiots. If you had responded in person to me and I knew you and your sense of humour, I would have known you were joking but words on a screen without any qualifying indicators can be misleading. If David O'Reilly reads this let me say sir your comment was amusing.
An absolute gem of a clip. Whatever possessed Joanna Lumley to even consider interviewing Millington and Seagoon live? :-D She was so cool under fire from Spike! Thanks for the share :)
I miss both these guys. Spike was a unique comedian. Amazing that this was 26 years ago and Joanna Lumley still looks the same. I loved Spike's line to the gatecrasher.
Our local ITV station was Southern Television, and in 1977 I had audience tickets to see a recording of "Ask A Silly Answer". Quizmaster, ,Terry Wogan, along with, amongst others, Spike Milligan had me rolling around helplessly in tears of laughter: Spike was insanely funny, and so much had to be edited out. Priceless. A pity it never received a network slot
If only we could have heard more of their stories.... naugthy Spike - giving her such a hard time! Spike was more disruptive than the intruder from the audience....
Lummer's did well to survive that encounter. To expect Spike to to be serious is like expecting a fish NOT to be slippery. Well done Joanna you were Spike's favorite.
I love the lack of apology after Spike swears. It's just so ridiculously OTT the way they have to plead for your humble forgiveness nowadays, then a massive inquiry is launched into it. Here, nothing. Treating it for the no big deal it is.
Ekpo Okwong but really why make such a big deal out of it, as long it's not regular and vulgar, this was not meant to be offensive ,it's the way some people are when they get frustrated,but also to get the story over to you,not to cause upset or offence, I do not watch the television now ,it is absolutely disgusting ,Mary Whitehouse was 100% completely right that television programms were heading for the sewer, and she was completely right, when you think non of the famous acts, popular entertainers, such as this would get a job or be able to perform now,it's all now vulgar, political correctness,and some entertainers want to tell you how to vote ,or speak poisonous propaganda, and I would not let any child near the TV now, it's absolutely corrupt
97channel you are spot on 100%,when you think the trouble going on against north Korea,even speaking of ,,oh nuclear war,,this is how powerful the establishment,the new world order ,etc they can eliminate any country in its way, no pensions to pay, unemployed,the starving,etc etc etc, in the 1970s CND used to have marches and protests, ,,but now everything is controlled,the complete media
I was thinking that, and not just no apology, but she doesn't even remind Spike they are live and to mind his choice of words, or something to that effect, but then I have no idea how often, if ever, Jo had done live telly presenting before this, so it may not have occurred to her to say either, where I suspect Terry would have done so instinctively by this point in his tv career. Or possibly she and/or the producers chose to ignore Spike's little slip in view of his well documented mental health issues, in the same way that these days they possibly wouldn't apologise for, say, some with tourettes swearing, lest they offend the person themselves.
The "Goons" had an incredible show...with which I've been in love for MANY MANY years...which was featured on a KFAC (Los Angeles) program on Sundays...in the seventies. One thing I --also-- like is that, in Britain, they don't seem to care ALL that MUCH about a little profanity on occasion (which is FINE--when appropriate--and among adults). It's natural. In the US...you have to be EXTRAORDINARILY careful of one's language.
A deeply troubled man who never fully recovered from the war he was later in life in and out of mental hospitals for PTSD and depression. However there is no doubt that he Was extremely talented in several different types of entertainment Music, composing, poetry, literature, acting and of course comedy. He was a genius in the true sense of the word and there is no doubt that the world is a little poorer for his passing. He wrote many books about his war experiences and life growing up and although you can see a lot of it was pretty horrific there is never one word of self pity or condemnation. Somehow they are also damm funny.
Absolutely, and on the subject of the war memoirs the line "He was both an agreeable fellow and a c*nt" was probably the greatest shock-humour line I've ever read.
What got me about his autobiographies is that he had a way of painting the situation somehow without using words a great trick in a book. I mean. Somehow without him mentioning it we know he grew up in poverty in a loving home with a strict father and he used his musical talent to get laid a lot yet he does not allude to it. Similar with the war the people etc.
only one spike , he was superb , a true genius , and the best part is my kids and grandkids think the same. what you see of spike was the same as he was in true life , thank you spike you made me laugh and you still do...............
Spike was a great man...and could be very considerate and a genuinely kind person...he helped carry my sister's pram up the stairs of Woy Woy station.. he's not at his best here, but he's still brilliant and I love how he shows up the media/entertainment "machine" and how it pretends to be natural... which just feeds his humour..."Lumley: What would you like to talk about? Spike: Oh about a minute I think."
Battle fatigue probably kept giving him the horrors till he died, as witnessed by those who saw his mood swings. PTSD. Poor guy, but what a comedy genius.
Looking at these two great guys talking away so easy to forget that they did go through the Second World War and all the horror that it involved. God bless them.
My father had recorded (to cassette) almost every Goon show ever broadcast in Australia. My childhood (1970's) included a mandatory sound track when outside with dad ... poorly recorded Goon Show episodes ... endlessly. It wasn't torture. It was a great education.
Ah ,fantastic. Harry was fantastic, Spike.... on a different level to everyone else. Brilliant Joanna Lumley also reminding us how incredibly beautiful she is, not just in physical appearance.
They actually sell laser pointers in the shape of mice for the purpose of playing with your cat (my friend has one for her cat), so it can't do them any harm, and it does mean you can lead them anywhere you want them to go as they chase the red light around.
***** If you didnt there would be something wrong. Diana Rigg played Mrs Peel in the Avengers, I mean she was HOT. At 14 years old I was just obsessed with her and every Friday night ecery boy my age and also there dads would watch the Avengers and I can only imgaine what most men were thinking about.
Long, long ago, I was privileged to see Secombe live on stage in San Francisco, where he was the eponymous Pickwick! At the moment when our hero crashes through the ice while skating, it took a good deal of will power for me to avoid shouting, "He's fallen in the Water!" To penetrate the distance from my seat to his ear would have required a very loud interjection that even I recognized would set off a puzzled and unwelcome clamor. Since I also suspected no one else would have appreciated the exquisite timing and brilliance of the catch phrase.... And, y'know, the better part of valor and all that, I have saved that insignificant anecdote until I could find an appropriate place to share that reminiscence. Now, obviously, since that supposed place, if indeed there is one, has yet to turn up, I guess this will have to do. Grafton's is still there, btw, and makes pretty decent pub grub. A small plaque indicates its historical significance.
Proper humour from a natural comedy genius. Loved Spike, so clever.
The way Spikes mind worked will forever remain a mystery. His ability to improvise in ANY situation was incredible.
Celebs call it autism or ADHD these days
Spike actually suffered massive personality changes after being injured in WW2. PTSD is much more accepted these days. True legends never die though. Live on Goons😘
@@jessecaple170 If you haven't done so listen to his memoirs on audio book it's narrated by him fantastic.
Autism is a real thing it’s not just celebs that say it is 😂
@@jessecaple170I didn’t realise. He says the things we think but he was very engaging. I knew he battled with bouts of depression.
When Spike was reprimanded for being late joining his regiment he said, 'I'll make up for it sir, I'll fight nights'.
I've read all of Spike's war memoirs, and his humour sort of gets into the psyche. I was on late shift one day at work and turned up at 11 am. Someone had ordered a communal pizza which was sitting in the break room, and I grabbed a slice as I passed. My manager saw me and said "Hey, don't eat it yet, you are late today," to which I replied "It's ok, I'm eating early to make up for it."
I went to his comedy show in London 40 odd years ago. At the start, he just walked across the stage and off the other side a couple of times. The entire audience was almost crippled with laughter 30 seconds in. Comic genius.
Thank goodness for RUclips, for a link to some of the classic stars who have passed beyond and allowing us to be able to remember their wit & humour so they will never be forgotten, as to The Goons what can I say that hasn`t already been said. To see Harry Secombe & Spike Milligan again brings tears of joy as they will never be forgotten. Thankyou for posting.
So funny, so loveable and so charming. It brightened up my day. Too much doom and gloom these days. Thank God we can temporarily go back to the day when no one took themselves seriously. No safe space, no snowflakes generation. Wish we could go back in time.
@@hodgod1056 led kellett
An absolute gem of an interview!!!! Spike at his best!!!
Well said Ian
Spike Milligan so quick with his jokes.
Doesn't take anything seriously.
Just a fantastic laugh.
He was a genius.
Stumbled upon this by accident. I’ve read Spikes war diaries, best laugh I’ve had in ages, tears of laughter literally ran down my face . Joanna Lumley was and still is absolutely gorgeous.
I read all of Spike's war memoirs as a teenager in the 1980s. Often hiding under the duvet in bed, after bedtime, reading by torchlight.
My parents occasionally came into my room to find out what all the stifled laughter was about.
'Drooling' was a personal favourite, as was the time him & his mates found a Stuka dive bomber parked up in the African desert, and one of them accidentally started its engine.
"We didn't know how to stop it, so we all stood around and chucked rocks at the propellor, which bounced off and nearly killed us."
Epic.
Glad to see that the male of the species hasn't got any more sensible in the following 80 years.
This sort of clip is solid gold. When ever 2 or more of the goons crew got together it was anarchic comedy bliss. Thanks for this.
THEY SERVED , ARMY.
MESSAGE RECIEVED AND UNDERSTOOD .
All 3 of them (Secombe, Milligan, Sellers) were filming in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, and I came across them in a local Cafe.
They were mercilessly ribbing each other and I honestly thought I would die laughing.
@@riklangham6739 If you are going to use capitals, could you at least please learn to spell correctly i.e. received, not "recieved"
Milligan was one of a kind he was in constant turmoil with his mental health how he managed to amuse people and make them laugh and forget their troubles will always be a mystery to me !!! I think he used comedy as an escape from the madness he was in !!!
The poor man was manic depressive brought on by war.
Reminds me of Robib Williams.
"They should let him stay on, shouldn't they? it's the dreadful machine!" - Spike Milligan was such a kind-hearted man. It was a motive for his irreverence and willingness always to bend the rules for the sake of something greater than "the machine."
AECSRQ Welcome to the machine.
agree entirely have a look at the stock on comics these day - very intelligent and intellectual- they would be destroyed if they touched any of the sacred lefty cows - Spike was the one and only - these boys and girls today are pussies - BBC now just a new left (not old working class left) private school old boy and old girl - hang out. I mean for god's sake even someone like billy connolly is totally PC.
but wasn't it a plant! the old trickery of tv in believe in everything you see, an advertisement made into a tv sketch
Harry Inkpot I am very sure the luscious Lumley has no balls, and God forbid if she did she wouldn’t be half so luscious.
@@sherbert500 No, it wasn't a plant.
What a fantastic and brilliant trio, Harry and Spike are a wonderful combination, two excellent examples of what comedy and comedians should be.
How well mannered was the activist guy? And what a mature response from the host? Unseen in today's world
Spike recognised and respected a fellow rebel.
“What makes a good soldier Spike?”........”Fear”!
He’s right
What a pity there isn't more of this brilliant comedy on TV. Laughter is good medicine and oh how they made us laugh!
reasons for that mate 🤣
@@boredweegie553 What reasons?
Ah I could watch another 30 mins of that easy.. brilliant
@@junee5666Political correctness is the main reason - Spike Milligan, Benny Hill, Python, and a host of others were showered with Isms from feminists and the Left-collective in general. The result is today's anemic 'comedy' with everyone terrified of causing offence.
@@--legion Left collective my arse. Spike Milligan was once a young communist, the Pythons were not right wing even Cleese is a Lib Dem. Ignore left wing comics and you've got little more than Jim Davidson and Geoff Norcott.
Poor Joanna Lumley trying her hardest to get a straight answer from Spike. He was a very quick witted man. I never get tired of listening to him. So funny.
Spikes relative success as a sergeant in ww2 was largely because he could not be interrogated. Ze Germanz could not use the information.
@@robertfish4052 you have lost me there.
He was an ignorant ill mannered arrogant piece of garbage and I know from a personal experience of meeting him.
Ha ha ha. I know. She was so out of her depth with that style of anarchic comedy up till around when she buddied up with Jennifer Saunders.
@@deejannemeiurffnicht1791 And nothing funny came out of that
I would put money on it that Spike met the man after the show and gave him some money for Children in Need,he was that kind of man
Or perhaps a boot in the balls!
No, he really did beat the shit out of him ! 😂🤣😉
It was close to the edge, was Spike's remark to the intruder. Recalling his wheelchair arrival dragged it from barbarity to a place of humour
100% spot on
He probably set it up to expose the machine
Bloody genius, possibly the funniest man that ever lived! I saw him once in East Finchley I think it was and went up to him to say hello, he threw his arms up in the air and zipped off screaming... hilarious wonderfully eccentric man.
I must have been 4 the first time I really heard and understood the Goons. The whole family sitting around the radio and everyone with tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks. Still gets me 60 years later. RIP dear Fellows.
Greatest comedy ever!
My mother and I were in fits of laughter, but my poor dad just simply did not see ANYTHING funny about it. Poor dad had a joyless upbringing, and he just didn't get subtle humour like the Goons.
If you could keep up with The Goon Show at the age of 4, you were a clever child indeed!
@@douglassun8456 Understood the words, not so much all the gags. However, I had 3 older brothers who took much pleasure in educating me on any, "Adult Talk" So yes, I was ahead of most of my contemporaries for most of my Life. I miss those days of great humour.
Wow, two greats on one couch. Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan. An era long gone by :(
All three of them just make you want to smile. We live in a harder and less fun world these days.
what total rubbish you speak. Every age has its hardships and easy moments. You are obviously a millennial or so naive that you can’t help making a fool of yourself with that inane comment. Have you lived through a world war or a global depression. Or a pandemic where there were no fucking vaccines to save you and millions died. Get a grip on life ffs!
Retsdon, Honestly? Could it be no more that some Change is for the better, and some for the not so good??
Ye its called the snowflake/woke crowd
Bullcrap.
Yes, those terrible people who just want everybody to be shown a bit of respect, dignity and humanity are CLEARLY the problem, not the swivel-eyed bigoted maniacs who throw ridiculous, childish tantrums at anyone wanting to so much as dare to be different.
Oh man this guy was a genius back when people didn’t have their heads up their backsides. Spike was the creator, the father of alternative comedy...
The alternative to comedy is serious and Spike was never that, in public anyway. There is no such thing as alternative comedy just people who aren't funny and those that are.
@@andytomhall6006 You obviously aren't from a time where people didn't have their heads up their ass! There is no such thing as truth, just facts and pedants.
I was introduced to Spike on my 9th birthday when I was given Bad Jelly the Witch, it had just been released. I still have the book 49 years later. Read it to both my children and they loved it even more than me.
Thanks Spike for being a big part of my families childhood and sending my kids off to sleep with the most brilliant dreams!
He is dead so no point in trying to communicate with him.
@@sodd1000What are we going to do now?
@@rogerjenkinson7979 We?
The unbridled genius of Spike. His brilliance only served to show how dull and sanitised the broadcasting world around him was.
Harry and spike were great mates. R i p to both of them, dont make em like them anymore.
Harry Seacombe was the heart of the goons, such radiance and joy exuded from him.
Harry was important .... held it all together. He was very much needed as a 'straight man' as they say. Love his giggles too. RIP to all of them
Harry was my God Father and Second Cousin on my Mother’s side.
I discovered Spike Milligan in the Library when I was 11 and it saved me and thankfully I've never been quite the same.
What was he doing there??
Spike's war diaries are some of the most amusing books I've read. Defo worth getting if you haven't read them.
Josh Hanson .. Seconded.
definately laugh out loud while reading late at night in bed.
Yes,but also some of the most poignant you, would be laughing like a lunatic on one page then,on the next weeping with the utter horror.
I agree. But not only funny, a vital folk history of how war is experienced by people on the front line. As opposed to the "Kings and Generals" crap that is taught as history to us and our children.
I was a voracious reader at a very young age and tried to read many of my parent's books. Tantalisingly, Rommel? Gunner Who? was kept on the top shelf of the bookcase along with The Collected Bulletins of Idi Amin due to the 'language'. However my mother relented when I was about 11 and let me read Spike. Been a massive fan ever since. A madcap whirlwind of genius.
Watching Spike's body language, crossed arms crossed legs, very much hugging himself. I worked with him very briefly on one of his Q shows about 40 years ago. Great person, but raked with depression.So many wonderful comics suffering for their craft.
Alot of people who make people laugh are manic depressive's as I'm sure you're well aware of. Such a great talent, I do miss old school England.
I just watched an. Interview Spike had with James Whall . It was the most honest interview you could ever here . Brilliant. I to suffer depression
Bet he was a great man to be round
That's right. Something must be done! I blame the government. They should do something for the comedians.
I think a lot of that had to do with his experiences during the war when he suffered very badly from shell shock which effected him very deeply for the rest of his life. I remember sometimes you'd see him on chat shows and you'd know within half a minute if he was on good form or bad form just by his demeanor. Bill Oddie seems to be similar in that way.
Lovely hearing Harry Secombe's laugh again.
Joanna Lumley was scared but totally fantastic and treated him like a child. What a lady.
I think she was a cow - there was nothing whatsoever to be scared of, and she could well have said 'if you're happy to sit here quietly you can do your bit and we can do ours - then we're all happy' - but nah - self image and her own interests came first. There was even a pretence at an apology 'oh we could have let him be here' immediately after kicking him off to make herself look caring afterwards... nauseating.
Spike often introduced himself as " Spike Milligna, the well-know typing error".
Thanks Mr. Milligan for your true humour in this broken world. Rip. ❤
Spike Milligan was the funniest person ever and nobody will ever come close to his genius.
Harry Secombe and Joanna Lumley were sitting pretty close.
@@mikearchibald744
Good un.
Robin Williams was in the same category.
Wow I had no idea Spike Milligan was not only a musician but composer. I was brought up in the 80s and only remember him as an off the wall weird comedian. Now in my 40s, I'm finally understanding his bold humour (and getting the jokes"). Great vid!
Spike is reported to have said when Harry died "at last, he won't be able to sing at my funeral"
He said "at least" not "at last"
Spike’s agent Norma Farnes arranged for a recording of Harry Seacombe singing “Cwm Rhondda” to be played at Spike’s funeral, as a joke at Spike’s expense. He’d have probably laughed at it
And on his own headstone he had, "I told you I was ill!"
Keldor D'Antrell
A couple of months ago I visited his grave, the grass from the main path to his gravestone was very well worn, it’s easy to find because of this.
Harry Secombe could sing very well. He was also great in the Goons.
Hard to believe their was weeks he couldn't get out of bed with depression. The poor comic genius. Spike you are still sadly missed. God if I was the host I'd be sweating blood terrified of what you would say next when I'd ask a question I love the way Spike couldn't give a shit about wot he said or how it was taken.RIP Spike.
Calling Prince Charles a grovelling bastard live on TV has to be one of his highlights.
Spine Millington and Hairy Seagoon, legends.
Many thanks for the upload.
+2old4gamez
Those well known 'spullink mistooks'. God bless em!
Spike Milligna, the well-known typing error.
2old4gamez g
The look Joanna Lumley gives that man at 4:40 says so much about her. She looks at him as if to say "ah a savage, reminds me of the British Raj". Spike is a gent, and comedic gold
Upper class toff disgusted by being near to a "commoner"
Loved watching Spike,he was just so funny. Mad as a bag of bollocks and you never knew what he would get up to next especially on live tv.
There is a story about Spike in that he was a occasional guest on Call My Bluff. This was a long running panel show where they would have to tell a story and the 3 on the other team would have to guess which was true. The rest of the panel was always told that when Spike was on a roll they were to just shut up because whatever he would say would be comedy gold.
"It's a mirror for grandfathers."
He was genius. The world must have seemed so slow for him.
"Purdey"..I was in love with her in 'The New Avengers' days and nothing's changed!! ;o))
Met him once at a book signing. His war memoirs are hilarious. He's buried not far from where i (Winchelsea) live and i always stop to pay my respects to the great man.
Give him my love mate.
Joanna was such a lovely interviewer here, but there was no way that she could control Spike. Even Harry couldn't! But what a wonderful interview.
He clearly has her on her back foot from the first moment.
Two brilliant blokes and a hard working gorgeous woman. Wow when Spike came on the tv when I was a kid I knew I was gunna be laughing. He always grabbed my attention. Funny bones funny face funny everything. Miss him.
spike at his best...joanna did well....a less tolerant host would have floundered...harry helped her...great fun.
To have one genius comedian in a country at one time is rare enough But the UK was blessed with dozens of them at the same time! I like the fact Spike had on his gravestone, "I told I was ill" some many great comedy super stars all in one country. The modern ones pale into nothing to these gods of comedy!
There will only be one spike on a planet of endlessly boring human dummies ,a spot of brilliant colour on a sea of grey , genius comes at a price and he had his own demons to wrestle ,personally I think he was fantastic .
One of a kind...a comic genius !
I love the Demons they are so cute . What is wrong with people . You must 1st become friends with your demons .
I want my comment back, it was only leant to you!.
I loved to listen to them in the summertime when I was a kid.
As well what was " My Word" and " My Music" Nothing better! Such Genesis!
@@edwardcarberry1095 hey dude well done you.You listened to origin of human ridiculousness
When spike won a famous award ...
"Thank you, thank you all, I'll have it valued in the morning"
Bizarre memory. I remember watching this live on TV. Harry Secombe's daughter, Katie, was with us in the flat, and I remember her being very nervous and upset when the intruder walked on set.
Norma Farnes (Spike's manager) said that Harry and his wife were genuinely lovely people, but of course, you already know that.
Arrrrr didums because someone gatecrashed the shitty bbc.
Was it because they thought it was an assassination attempt?
@@maratonlegendelenemirei3352 And without the "shitty BBC" you would never have had any of this. I am still listening to the Goons on BBC radio.
@@skyzella You are Both Right i am old enough to have watched the BBC When it was at its Peak for COMEDY (Amongst other things Sport springs to Mind) Absolutely Brilliant it was too But Alas those Days Have long Gone and i fully Agree with @maraton on the State the BBC is in Today Total Garbage at pretty much anything it does Unfortunately
I have always loved Joanna Lumley's voice. I could listen to her reading the telephone directory.
That's a bit rude isn't it, you should really pay attention to the lady
@@therub2191 How was I rude? I just complimented her on her lovely soothing voice. I didn't say I wasn't paying attention to what she was saying. Can't you pay a lady a compliment these days? I don't know where you are coming from.
@@markriley5863 it was my (failed) attempt at a joke
@@therub2191 I got the joke immediately.
@@therub2191 As I have received a few comments suggesting that I have no sense of humour, I apologise for not getting your joke. In my defence however there are so many snowflakes and SJW's about these days, your lack of a suitable emoji or lol led me to believe I was dealing with one of those idiots. If you had responded in person to me and I knew you and your sense of humour, I would have known you were joking but words on a screen without any qualifying indicators can be misleading. If David O'Reilly reads this let me say sir your comment was amusing.
An absolute gem of a clip.
Whatever possessed Joanna Lumley to even consider interviewing Millington and Seagoon live? :-D
She was so cool under fire from Spike!
Thanks for the share :)
She's a classy woman!
Spike Milligan was a tv legend to us Aussies as well
He probably was something to do with atomic testing. Provoking a different level of lunacy and spontaneity.
Who are Aussies anyway? Is there the truth out there? Nein
I miss both these guys. Spike was a unique comedian. Amazing that this was 26 years ago and Joanna Lumley still looks the same. I loved Spike's line to the gatecrasher.
Joannas not dead.???????
@@paulbolton7490 Very much alive. Opened the new opera season at Grange Park yesterday .ruclips.net/video/QexzCDSiLv8/видео.html
She is a truly beautiful woman.
@@iVengeI agree. But that's not what he said.
such civilized hooliganism. those were the days
A most excellent description. :-)
@@jcmgt guitar riff 🎸🎸🎸
A brilliant way to describe them and their work.
The genius that was Spike Milligan. One of the funniest, most clever and nicest people ever.
Thank you. I enjoyed Black Adder more though. X
More Black Adder Sir Tony!
Provided you were not the poor man who was once his dresser...............research !
Tim San What you see of Milligan here is not what he was like with his so called subordinates who elevated him to such status. Look it up
I have looked it up Michael, that's why I commented.
Spike was one of those rare people who was genuinely funny, crazy at times but genuinely 😄
spike the gentle genius
never had to push the envelope too far....a mark of the man
Spike will never ever be replaced. He is one of a kind.
Robin Williams was ther for a long time,pity he's gone
Watching this, it reminds us of the sometimes underrated brilliance of Harry Secombe, what a man.
Our local ITV station was Southern Television, and in 1977 I had audience tickets to see a recording of "Ask A Silly Answer". Quizmaster, ,Terry Wogan, along with, amongst others, Spike Milligan had me rolling around helplessly in tears of laughter: Spike was insanely funny, and so much had to be edited out. Priceless. A pity it never received a network slot
"The Legend that was and remains so Mr Spike Milligan, RIP." ~ C/O Neville Bardoli
Reminds me of his tombstone wording that he requested, "See, I told you I was sick!"
If only we could have heard more of their stories.... naugthy Spike - giving her such a hard time! Spike was more disruptive than the intruder from the audience....
imagine having Splke Milligan and Oliver Reed on the same show. That would have been interesting to say the least
If Mr. Milligan ISN'T disruptive, then he's not being Mr. Milligan.
john lewis
OR, Spike and Elliot Gould, or Lee Marvin, or, well, practically anybody!
Never seen this before, an absolute treasure. Thanks for sharing
Timeworn trench humour. When you survived what these two hero-victims (and millions more) survived, not much is serious enough to bother you.
Favourite line in his autobiography, "I got blown up, but I came down again".
Lummer's did well to survive that encounter. To expect Spike to to be serious is like expecting a fish NOT to be slippery. Well done Joanna you were Spike's favorite.
Lumley*
His autobiography is fascinating - his bravery as a soldier was outstanding
Oh, I need to read that! Who wrote it?
@@Skraeling1000 Spike book was Penguin
@@janegrainger3900 um... "whoosh" ?
@@Skraeling1000 Exactly what Spike would have said 🤣
@@jagoq53 I was an early Goon Show fan, so I started "channeling" Spike at an early age.
I love the lack of apology after Spike swears. It's just so ridiculously OTT the way they have to plead for your humble forgiveness nowadays, then a massive inquiry is launched into it. Here, nothing. Treating it for the no big deal it is.
To be honest that surprised me. I imagine if Wogan had been hosting considering it was pre watershed he probably would have apologised.
Ekpo Okwong but really why make such a big deal out of it, as long it's not regular and vulgar, this was not meant to be offensive ,it's the way some people are when they get frustrated,but also to get the story over to you,not to cause upset or offence, I do not watch the television now ,it is absolutely disgusting ,Mary Whitehouse was 100% completely right that television programms were heading for the sewer, and she was completely right, when you think non of the famous acts, popular entertainers, such as this would get a job or be able to perform now,it's all now vulgar, political correctness,and some entertainers want to tell you how to vote ,or speak poisonous propaganda, and I would not let any child near the TV now, it's absolutely corrupt
terence barrett It called mind control.
97channel you are spot on 100%,when you think the trouble going on against north Korea,even speaking of ,,oh nuclear war,,this is how powerful the establishment,the new world order ,etc they can eliminate any country in its way, no pensions to pay, unemployed,the starving,etc etc etc, in the 1970s CND used to have marches and protests, ,,but now everything is controlled,the complete media
I was thinking that, and not just no apology, but she doesn't even remind Spike they are live and to mind his choice of words, or something to that effect, but then I have no idea how often, if ever, Jo had done live telly presenting before this, so it may not have occurred to her to say either, where I suspect Terry would have done so instinctively by this point in his tv career. Or possibly she and/or the producers chose to ignore Spike's little slip in view of his well documented mental health issues, in the same way that these days they possibly wouldn't apologise for, say, some with tourettes swearing, lest they offend the person themselves.
"A hoarder, no a natural archivist as they say..." old enough to remember him, unique and brilliant man.
Absolutely fantastic. WOW! How I miss these guys. Loved them forever.
Spike comedy genius
The "Goons" had an incredible show...with which I've been in love for MANY MANY years...which was featured on a KFAC (Los Angeles) program on Sundays...in the seventies. One thing I --also-- like is that, in Britain, they don't seem to care ALL that MUCH about a little profanity on occasion (which is FINE--when appropriate--and among adults). It's natural. In the US...you have to be EXTRAORDINARILY careful of one's language.
This is MARVELLOUS! I love Spike. I met him a few times and this is just what he was like. Bless you, for being BEING YOURSELF.
Gives me a good laugh every time I watch it !...never be anyone like Spike again may he rest in peace
An interview I never wanted to end.
i got to see this on tv back in the day. me and my dad nearly died giggling.
WeeKelpie Thanks very much for uploading this clip. I loved these two comedy greats. Memories galore.
Typical spike, chaotic and funny as hell.
Pure genius and sadly missed.
A deeply troubled man who never fully recovered from the war he was later in life in and out of mental hospitals for PTSD and depression. However there is no doubt that he Was extremely talented in several different types of entertainment Music, composing, poetry, literature, acting and of course comedy. He was a genius in the true sense of the word and there is no doubt that the world is a little poorer for his passing. He wrote many books about his war experiences and life growing up and although you can see a lot of it was pretty horrific there is never one word of self pity or condemnation. Somehow they are also damm funny.
Absolutely, and on the subject of the war memoirs the line "He was both an agreeable fellow and a c*nt" was probably the greatest shock-humour line I've ever read.
What got me about his autobiographies is that he had a way of painting the situation somehow without using words a great trick in a book. I mean. Somehow without him mentioning it we know he grew up in poverty in a loving home with a strict father and he used his musical talent to get laid a lot yet he does not allude to it. Similar with the war the people etc.
GREAT MEMORIES WATCHING HARRY AND SPIKE MISS THEM SO MUCH.
Spike was & always will be, The greatest Comedic Genius os ALL TIME ......!!!
A mirror for grandfathers. Ahhhhhhhhhh. First time I've noticed similarities between Spike and Robin Williams.
Robin Williams apparently used to listen the Goon Show - probably the only American who did!
Typical Spike. His epitaph on his gravestone "I told you I was Ill" Genius.
only one spike , he was superb , a true genius , and the best part is my kids and grandkids think the same. what you see of spike was the same as he was in true life , thank you spike you made me laugh and you still do...............
Spike was a great man...and could be very considerate and a genuinely kind person...he helped carry my sister's pram up the stairs of Woy Woy station.. he's not at his best here, but he's still brilliant and I love how he shows up the media/entertainment "machine" and how it pretends to be natural... which just feeds his humour..."Lumley: What would you like to talk about? Spike: Oh about a minute I think."
Battle fatigue probably kept giving him the horrors till he died, as witnessed by those who saw his mood swings. PTSD. Poor guy, but what a comedy genius.
Looking at these two great guys talking away so easy to forget that they did go through the Second World War and all the horror that it involved.
God bless them.
He was a severe manic depressive who was know to lock himself away from others for SIX MONTHS at a time.
My father had recorded (to cassette) almost every Goon show ever broadcast in Australia. My childhood (1970's) included a mandatory sound track when outside with dad ... poorly recorded Goon Show episodes ... endlessly. It wasn't torture. It was a great education.
Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan, a grand old master. RIP Sir.
Ah ,fantastic. Harry was fantastic, Spike.... on a different level to everyone else. Brilliant Joanna Lumley also reminding us how incredibly beautiful she is, not just in physical appearance.
Wow, Harry Singem, Spike Milligoon and Joanna Lovely in the same frame!
I wish this could have gone on forever!
Derek Williams
Ensure you have adequate power and internet connection then keep pressing repeat. While probably not lasting forever, I think it will do.
Very well handled Joanne, a bit like herding cats
+Chris Fogaty oh but herding cats is easy.. if you have a laser pointer ;-)
+duncanparsons LOL - You've got that right! :-)
They actually sell laser pointers in the shape of mice for the purpose of playing with your cat (my friend has one for her cat), so it can't do them any harm, and it does mean you can lead them anywhere you want them to go as they chase the red light around.
erm,,,thats not her name and JOANNA is a ghoul
Chris Fogaty how the fuck do you heard cats??? Numpty
Fantastic! We need another Spike Milligan (and Peter and Harry).
One of the funniest men ever.
you have to love Joanna so gorgeous and so so elegant
+steven rowe I met her many years ago. She had dainty, cool hands AND a fair few wrinkles! Charming though......
When i was a young boy i had a crush on Joanne Lumley when she played Purdey) in The New Avengers.
***** If you didnt there would be something wrong.
Diana Rigg played Mrs Peel in the Avengers, I mean she was HOT. At 14 years old I was just obsessed with her and every Friday night ecery boy my age and also there dads would watch the Avengers and I can only imgaine what most men were thinking about.
Indeed, what a great partner for a chess game.
Indeed.
What legends they are and always will be.
Hard not to fall head over heels in love with J L.
2 of the funniest men to ever grace our screens… and real heroes
Absolute Genius and such clean humor
Really missed them both
Long, long ago, I was privileged to see Secombe live on stage in San Francisco, where he was the eponymous Pickwick! At the moment when our hero crashes through the ice while skating, it took a good deal of will power for me to avoid shouting, "He's fallen in the Water!" To penetrate the distance from my seat to his ear would have required a very loud interjection that even I recognized would set off a puzzled and unwelcome clamor.
Since I also suspected no one else would have appreciated the exquisite timing and brilliance of the catch phrase.... And, y'know, the better part of valor and all that, I have saved that insignificant anecdote until I could find an appropriate place to share that reminiscence.
Now, obviously, since that supposed place, if indeed there is one, has yet to turn up, I guess this will have to do. Grafton's is still there, btw, and makes pretty decent pub grub. A small plaque indicates its historical significance.
"Give the lady a chance" - Harry the gentleman. Amazing laugh too.
This brings back memories of Sunday mornings/afternoons listening to jimmy clitheroe, the goons etc on the radio…oh dear bygone days…
the days of laughter and fun.....
They say for each bit of evil comes some good: the war was terrible but this goodness came from it.