The father of modern comedy. Without Spike there would have been no Month python, and so many others who they influenced. His legacy cannot be overstated.
After being shelled he was sent to the military hospital for shell shock victims at a place called Afragola just North of Naples. It just so happened that 1944 was also a year when Vesuvius erupted. Spike later remarked "Only the British Army could put a hospital for shell shock victims next to an exploding mountain " .
He was my dear old Grandad's hero. He loved Spike, I do too. It's fair to say that all the wit and humour he displays in this great interview is completely spontaneous, to be this funny off the cuff is beyond art, it's genius. What he would make of the world now heaven alone knows but he would be sure to find humour in it and make it a little brighter for everyone else. What a remarkable man he was and what a great legacy he has left us. Thankyou Spike.
He was brilliant, the best retort I heard from him some years ago, he was asked by a presenter, " Spike, to what do you attribute your extreme old age to". To which he replied, "I attribute my extreme old to the fact, that I haven't died yet".
I like the story that Harry Seacombe was a gunner whose gun crew had dug a gun pit that was too shallow. On firing their artillery piece it jumped out rolled backwards and over a slope, passing Milligan on the way. As Milligan put it a short bespectacled gunner ran up and asked Spike "have you seen an artillery piece go past?". "Umm..What colour was it ?"
This was the true Irish Shakespeare of Comedy! This man was a national treasure! We, here in America, had no idea - how could we have missed THIS? The king of comedy, the Elvis of Wooppie!!! Unequaled!! I humbly tip my hat off to his wonderful, beautiful memory!!!!!!
Spike had bi-polar he was a genius I got his autograph when he did a stand-up show in Southhampton Guildhall in 1975 when I was 15 years old I've still got it now. We will never see his non PC humour again.
I've got one as well, myself and my brother (his is framed in our parents living room), we went backstage after Spike's show at The Gaiety, Dublin in 1982. I was 9, the bro was 6, or as Spike wrote on the autograph 6/10.
What an absloute genius of a comedian Spike was. You could listen to him all day. Pity his humour is continually interrupted by that self absorbed prick sitting next to him with his carefully manicured nauseating laugh that can only come from a patronising disinterested fucking moron.
They lived in Woy Woy a small nice but not very exciting town town just north of Sydney popular with retirees. Spike described it as the only town where they bury people overground. They named a footbridge after him.
That was a time when real people with real talent were on t v. He only had to walk on the set and the audiences cracked up with laughter, a really funny man. A great loss to the world of real comedy. Jofus
War is grotesque and absurd to any intelligent being. Spike's unique upbringing lent a perspective with respect to this insanity which produced his uniquely surreal comic. That he broke the mold of tradition was my good fortune growing up in 50's England. He kept many of us sane whether we wanted it or not.
I've bumped into him on video for awhile now, with or without the Goons, and he does something quite extraordinary for a comedian by literally forcing me to pay attention to every word he says. Truly a gift.
Spike was pure comic genius . The Goon show laid the foundations for modern comedy from Monty Python too Rowen and Martins laugh in. Great stuff Spike love you
I know we have many great comedians and entertainers today, but we will never see the likes of Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Tommy Cooper and Morcambe and Wise, I know that's a cliché but it really is so true
it's bloody political correctness gone fking mad, if even half of the older comedains (as you mentioned and a few others) tried to do what they did now, they'd be fking locked in pirsion wi key thrown away or just killed. sad, but true. R.I.P True Comedy!
Another late thought. Milligan, Seacombe, Bentine and Sellers had all seen WW II service up the sharp end and I believe it gave them and many others a certain quality when it came to taking some things, shall we say, a little less seriously. Or put another way, they knew what mattered and what didn't. Sorry that's a bit clumsy.
Oh great, another human being who has heard of Tony Hancock. He was before my time, but every time I'm stressed I have to put on that episode where he buys loads of cameras. I love Hancocks Half Hour it's the best comedy show ever. All innocent fun.
I've never actually sat down and watched any Spike Milligan before, i've always heared the older generation say he was very funny. And i have to agree. He's doing what Robin Williams was doing... only before Robin Williams!
That’s mad that you mentioned Robin Williams cos I just watched an interview Spike did with Joanna Lumley and he was exactly like Robin Williams. Only as you say it was before Robin Williams
Rick Grimes It is no idle remark to say that Spike Milligan changed and influenced British comedy practically single handedly. He stretched the special effects department of BBC Radio to its limits in the 50's.
Spike was a certified genius. His series of war diaries are insightful, hilarious, touching, moving and sad. While he’s joking about his shell shock. , reading the book you’ll really understand how it effected him for the rest of his life. O, and he also had a pitch-perfect voice, he could whistle the tones into a phone and it would dial the number. RIP
Damien CALLAGHAN Yes I absolutely agree. I’m a Canadian and never visited The UK during the period when the Goons were popular. However I did buy a cassette tape of a number of their shows and I also was convinced that Spike Milligan and all of them were some of the funniest comedians that I have ever experienced. John Cleese was/is right up there with them and his Fawlty Towers was the best comedy that I have ever seen, bar none.
He's making light of it - turning it into daft comedy as only Spike could - but he had an absolutely horrific experience during the war from which he never fully recovered and which set the pattern for the rest of his days. Brilliant bloke, but a tormented and a brave one as well.
Very well said Steve. Both my maternal Grandfather, and my eldest paternal Uncle fought in North Africa in the same campaign as Spike. My Grandfather ended up being a sound guy during the working week, but getting drunk in the local Masonic club on a saturday, and sometimes using my Grandmother as a punchbag after staggering home. My Uncle was more upstanding. I don't know, but perhaps he felt he had a standard to follow, as he actually lied about his age on volunteering. He was only 16. I'd have to do some real ancestral digging to get at the truth, in terms of publishable records, but he's a bloody strong contender for the youngest soldier at El Alamein, if my family history is as sound as I think it is.
My Uncle was on his TA camp in August 1939 and was then at war until 1945. He served in North Africa in the Tank Regiment. The only thing he couldn't stand was any form of salad.
@@Toolpusher Now they've done Iraq, Libya, and still in the process of butchering Yemen, had a good go, via Prox,i in Syria - slaughtered thousands of Christian villagers, there, Oh Goodee ! Only Iran leaved apart from Somalia. The World will soon be "Free". For Rothschild's Banksters, at any rate
I'm so glad that I grew up with the likes of Spike, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and was able to still hear repeats of The Goons on the radio when I worked on Saturdays, god bless them all ♥
in the early days on tranquilizers you went 'round like zombies. What a comedian, who's sadly left this world, and is sorely missed. gone but not forgotten x
Yes in my opinion Gay Byrne was the very best on Irish radio and television . He will never be bettered. I stopped listening to radio and watching The late late show when he stopped presenting them. Will miss him greatly.
I thought gaybo could be a bit pompous and arrogant at times, but still the better one. Can't have Tubridy. (maybe it's the name 🤔) Kenny was worse. If they ever give it to D'Arcy, I'm emigrating.
I saw Gay Byrne introduce the Beatles on their first TV appearance in 1962 round about my 14th birthday, he was a popular presenter on Scene at Six thirty on Granada television. The Beatles did well after that.
Have just started reading Spike's WW2 books ... What a great writers talent for observing people... . Watching this when he is describing the horrible the effects of ' Shell Shock ' which he does in a way that gets across the awfulness effects of war on people, he has that great sense of the ridiculous to find humor in it, although it must have been incredibly tough on him to relive it, and no matter what ... to have people find it funny who weren't there .Down here in Aotearoa / New Zealand .. raising a glass to your memory Spike.
I loved his books Hitler my part in his downfall, he describes going to a brothel where the old mama sat there with her legs open his discription was so funny
spike was a natural very funny man (albeit a bit bonkers) . I've never heard of Byrne but he does a decent enough job presenting. Spike thousand times better than todays' comedians
He was a great host. The show is actually still going but he presented it for many yrs from the early 60´s until 1999. What was good about him was that he followed the flow of the conversation and let the guests speak. It was also unusual in that it was went out live for 2 hours on a Friday night.
I'm so glad I grew up in the 50's and 60's, when the unique genius of Spike, and Seller's, was first recognised. Their impact on British humour will never fade, despite the mad efforts of the soulless faceless automatons who try to control our opinions and thoughts.
Philip Croft Phillip we were so lucky we had the best of every thing ,comics ,music ,safety etc ,families eating together,proper Christian Xmas and on and on ,nostalgia is a wonderful feeling,cheers Mark Cardiff 🇬🇧❤️
"Maol" in Irish means "Bald". O'Maologàin probably means 'Bald Youth'. (Ògàin). Corrupted to Milligan. So maybe he's not joking about this. What a man!
I love his description of his first meeting with Harry Seacombe during active service in WW II. Harry's artillery unit had dug a gun pit for their howitzer (7.2"?), but because of the terrain it was a bit too shallow. The 7.2" was known for its vicious recall and leaping ability. On first firing this one leapt out of the gun pit and ran away down a slope and disappeared into the distance. Spike recalls that a little after a red-faced, breathless, plumpish, bespectacled gunner ran up to him and the ensuing conversation went like this: Harry: (Gasping for breath). Have you seen a howitzer go by? Spike: (After pause for deep thought). What colour was it? Harry: Screams and hits him. That's Spike version anyway, Harry might have remembered it otherwise.
I think Harry's version was that they heard the crack of the howitzer and thought that the Germans had broke through, but then saw Spike coming down the slope asking "Anybody has seen a gun!?"
Pukoon my introduction to Spike Milligan, then I found the Goons , I am here because today I was with youngsters and had them google such things as “what’s the time Eccles “ etc . Thus explaining why I have the sense of humour I have, they loved their findings and forwarded them to some out let’s of. their friends l incredible 😂🍻
Spike suffered from Manic/Depression now known as Bi-Polar disorder, this is why his moods would swing from two extremes. Unfortunately we didn't know much about this debilitating disease and many suffered in silence.
Probably the greatest (non) Irish comedian who ever lived...and he did not even try to be funny! Dave Allen came close, but he remains a close second. Bless both of them!
Cheers bro.I played for a year at 11yrs but gave it up..My dad played for over 70yrs until 82..He did his last gig the night before he suffered a fatal heart attack December last.
You had just watched the "godfather" of modern British humour. In fact, his surreal (outside the box) humour transcended & is within the DNA of all the "good quality" Brit humour post WW2...because the entire British nation were glued to their radio sets listening to his Goon show on the BBC during the 50's, (which were grey, glum & depressing days & not as vivid as the USA had enjoyed). We Brits were still a "stiff" lot. The Goon show was very whacky & imaginative stuff (you'd have thought he was a pot head or a crackhead) which inspired future writers & comedians of my parents & grandparents generation.. Anybody born much before the Edwardian era (1920's)or Victorian era would have simply found him anarchistic (punk) or too silly. I've noticed Spike's not up for todays generation since the kids been oversaturated & had their "funny bones" decapitated by the PC brigade.
Irishman goes to his doctor, with a frog growing out of his ear. Doctor says 'How long have you had that then? Frog says 'I woke up this morning and there he was!' 🤤
The father of modern comedy. Without Spike there would have been no Month python, and so many others who they influenced. His legacy cannot be overstated.
After being shelled he was sent to the military hospital for shell shock victims at a place called Afragola just North of Naples. It just so happened that 1944 was also a year when Vesuvius erupted. Spike later remarked "Only the British Army could put a hospital for shell shock victims next to an exploding mountain " .
Spike could always see the ridiculous in everything which made him unique. A wonderful quality to have. Pity politicians seem to lack that ingredient.
Lol
@@jimmybarrymcsean5299 Sounds about right.
Bahahhaha hilarious ee
He was my dear old Grandad's hero. He loved Spike, I do too. It's fair to say that all the wit and humour he displays in this great interview is completely spontaneous, to be this funny off the cuff is beyond art, it's genius. What he would make of the world now heaven alone knows but he would be sure to find humour in it and make it a little brighter for everyone else. What a remarkable man he was and what a great legacy he has left us. Thankyou Spike.
Spike Milligan the absolute king of comedy, soooooooo naturally funny, there will never be another one like Spike.
He was brilliant, the best retort I heard from him some years ago, he was asked by a presenter, " Spike, to what do you attribute your extreme old age to".
To which he replied, "I attribute my extreme old to the fact, that I haven't died yet".
I like the story that Harry Seacombe was a gunner whose gun crew had dug a gun pit that was too shallow. On firing their artillery piece it jumped out rolled backwards and over a slope, passing Milligan on the way. As Milligan put it a short bespectacled gunner ran up and asked Spike "have you seen an artillery piece go past?". "Umm..What colour was it ?"
A light went out of our lives when Spike died, he was a tonic, I watch him when I feel down and I immediately feel better, he was a God of comedy.
This was the true Irish Shakespeare of Comedy! This man was a national treasure! We, here in America, had no idea - how could we have missed THIS? The king of comedy, the Elvis of Wooppie!!! Unequaled!! I humbly tip my hat off to his wonderful, beautiful memory!!!!!!
He was as mad as a hatter and we loved the bones of him, lovely man
Nicely put.. 😎👍☘🍺
Spike had bi-polar he was a genius I got his autograph when he did a stand-up show in Southhampton Guildhall in 1975 when I was 15 years old I've still got it now. We will never see his non PC humour again.
I've got one as well, myself and my brother (his is framed in our parents living room), we went backstage after Spike's show at The Gaiety, Dublin in 1982. I was 9, the bro was 6, or as Spike wrote on the autograph 6/10.
What an absloute genius of a comedian Spike was. You could listen to him all day. Pity his humour is continually interrupted by that self absorbed prick sitting next to him with his carefully manicured nauseating laugh that can only come from a patronising disinterested fucking moron.
By five minutes in I’m literally blinded by tears of laughter🤣🤣🤣I miss him so much,, my idol who took the piss out of EVERYONE👏🏻👏🏻RIP GENIUS
"He's dead now, isn't he?"
"Well I hope so, they buried him."
Classic.
They lived in Woy Woy a small nice but not very exciting town town just north of Sydney popular with retirees. Spike described it as the only town where they bury people overground. They named a footbridge after him.
"He can't be too happy if he isn't!"
@@Gribbo9999 I believe he also said Woy Woy was so small that the town prostitute was a virgin.
That was a time when real people with real talent were on t v. He only had to walk on the set and the audiences cracked up with laughter, a really funny man. A great loss to the world of real comedy. Jofus
Thank you Spike, for everything you shared with us through your life. Your torture was not in vain. Love, Peace and Light.
.? I'm
)R&
what a brilliant man.seems to be a National Treasure.
The man was a comic genius. Possible the funniest man of his era. Even today he has me in fits of laughter.
Enjoyed the late gaye Byrne. Loved the song from spike I'll have to use that one nite in my pubs kareoke .rip gaye..from Glasgow Scotland
What a wonderful human being Spike was and still is !
Gawd bless 🙋 him ..........
The one and only Spike Milligan, the very best of British comedy!
Without a script, Spike was the funniest guy on the planet. His books are hysterical too.
Spike never fails to make me Laugh, a Great Comic and a Great man.
War is grotesque and absurd to any intelligent being. Spike's unique upbringing lent a perspective with respect to this insanity which produced his uniquely surreal comic. That he broke the mold of tradition was my good fortune growing up in 50's England. He kept many of us sane whether we wanted it or not.
I've bumped into him on video for awhile now, with or without the Goons, and he does something quite extraordinary for a comedian by literally forcing me to pay attention to every word he says. Truly a gift.
Spike was pure comic genius .
The Goon show laid the foundations for modern comedy from Monty Python too Rowen and Martins laugh in.
Great stuff Spike love you
I know we have many great comedians and entertainers today, but we will never see the likes of Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Tommy Cooper and Morcambe and Wise, I know that's a cliché but it really is so true
it's bloody political correctness gone fking mad, if even half of the older comedains (as you mentioned and a few others) tried to do what they did now, they'd be fking locked in pirsion wi key thrown away or just killed. sad, but true. R.I.P True Comedy!
And Benny Hill too!
Another late thought. Milligan, Seacombe, Bentine and Sellers had all seen WW II service up the sharp end and I believe it gave them and many others a certain quality when it came to taking some things, shall we say, a little less seriously. Or put another way, they knew what mattered and what didn't. Sorry that's a bit clumsy.
Oh great, another human being who has heard of Tony Hancock. He was before my time, but every time I'm stressed I have to put on that episode where he buys loads of cameras. I love Hancocks Half Hour it's the best comedy show ever. All innocent fun.
I'm trying to drink a cuppa while watching this and have been in grave danger of spraying the screen with it. What a funny funny crazy man!
I love that question "where does the Dark go when you turn the Light on?"
It ranks with "What caused the Big Bang?".
Christ the owl is nostalgic as fuck remember sitting there when my parents watched the Late Late Show!
You only realise what you miss when its gone.
I've never actually sat down and watched any Spike Milligan before, i've always heared the older generation say he was very funny. And i have to agree. He's doing what Robin Williams was doing... only before Robin Williams!
The Pale Emperor
Spike invented modern comedy. Most comics haven't caught up with him yet, he really was that far ahead of the game.
Milligan had extremely intelligent wit and a quick tongue to match.
Williams wasn't near as funny.
That’s mad that you mentioned Robin Williams cos I just watched an interview Spike did with Joanna Lumley and he was exactly like Robin Williams. Only as you say it was before Robin Williams
Yeah this interview reminded me of a Robin Williams interview he had with some chat show host Craig Ferguson I think
"How long were you there?"
"About 5' 11" "
LOL
Mr Wolfe yeah I laughed out loud at that one.
0
Never seen him before but as some1 watching this 4 the 1st time in 2015, I have 2 say that Spike Milligan is fucking hilarious.
Rick Grimes It is no idle remark to say that Spike Milligan changed and influenced British comedy practically single handedly. He stretched the special effects department of BBC Radio to its limits in the 50's.
Rick Grimes Spike is as you rightly said is FUCKING HILARIOUS.
+Rick Grimes Seek out more of his material, and The Goon Show. You won't regret it.
+Paul Coddington And check out The Telegoons.
Also read his war memoirs. So funny!
Read his books. Between the laughter you'll realise what a decent and sensitive man he was.
I love this Irishman's style and accent.
The “Ning Nang Nong” poem!He had the gift of the gab !
Spike was a certified genius. His series of war diaries are insightful, hilarious, touching, moving and sad. While he’s joking about his shell shock.
, reading the book you’ll really understand how it effected him for the rest of his life. O, and he also had a pitch-perfect voice, he could whistle the tones into a phone and it would dial the number. RIP
Spike Milligan - The Shakespeare of Comedy!!!!!!!!!!
Oh gosh I can't stop laughing. he must be the funniest man I've ever heard - and so intelligently witty. Thank you Spike.
It is very true, there are 2 major curses in life, neighbours and piles!
Love the song, and you know he had more verses.
I left my heart in ...........
One of my hero's.
A great man and sadly missed.
Great guy and funny without bad language
Was he the funniest man who ever lived? I think there's a fair chance that he was.
JOHN CLEESE WAS A VERY CLOSE SECOND
Damien CALLAGHAN Yes I absolutely agree. I’m a Canadian and never visited The UK during the period when the Goons were popular. However I did buy a cassette tape of a number of their shows and I also was convinced that Spike Milligan and all of them were some of the funniest comedians that I have ever experienced. John Cleese was/is right up there with them and his Fawlty Towers was the best comedy that I have ever seen, bar none.
Victor Borge and him close equals..... different but just as funny....
@@damiencallaghan9389 spike milligan and peter sellers for me stand alone as the two comic geniuses of the 20th century
An on form spike , often imitated but never bettered
Legend of legends, God of Comedy.
"Still doing the same old job are you?" 😂😂😂
So ahead of his time...Python stole his gig...and they ADMIT..it....willingly.....such a great comedic mind....
He's making light of it - turning it into daft comedy as only Spike could - but he had an absolutely horrific experience during the war from which he never fully recovered and which set the pattern for the rest of his days.
Brilliant bloke, but a tormented and a brave one as well.
Very well said Steve. Both my maternal Grandfather, and my eldest paternal Uncle fought in North Africa in the same campaign as Spike. My Grandfather ended up being a sound guy during the working week, but getting drunk in the local Masonic club on a saturday, and sometimes using my Grandmother as a punchbag after staggering home. My Uncle was more upstanding. I don't know, but perhaps he felt he had a standard to follow, as he actually lied about his age on volunteering. He was only 16. I'd have to do some real ancestral digging to get at the truth, in terms of publishable records, but he's a bloody strong contender for the youngest soldier at El Alamein, if my family history is as sound as I think it is.
My Uncle was on his TA camp in August 1939 and was then at war until 1945. He served in North Africa in the Tank Regiment. The only thing he couldn't stand was any form of salad.
@@Toolpusher
Now they've done Iraq, Libya, and still in the process of butchering Yemen, had a good go, via Prox,i in Syria - slaughtered thousands of Christian villagers, there, Oh Goodee ! Only Iran leaved apart from Somalia. The World will soon be "Free". For Rothschild's Banksters, at any rate
Steve Payne Pa and freides
I'm so glad that I grew up with the likes of Spike, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and was able to still hear repeats of The Goons on the radio when I worked on Saturdays, god bless them all ♥
"Use to be piles in those days. They hadn't gone metric yet"
in the early days on tranquilizers you went 'round like zombies. What a comedian, who's sadly left this world, and is sorely missed. gone but not forgotten x
Jess Gibbs
Not missed and best forgetten
Goon but not for Rotherham.
🗣 *Spike lived down the road from me in ‘Hadley Wood’ in the 1980’s!* 🎭👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Spike was a genius one-off.
RIP Mr. Byrne died 4th Nov 2019.
He was the presenter of this programme.
J
Yes in my opinion Gay Byrne was the very best on Irish radio and television . He will never be bettered. I stopped listening to radio and watching The late late show when he stopped presenting them. Will miss him greatly.
Aged 85
I thought gaybo could be a bit pompous and arrogant at times, but still the better one.
Can't have Tubridy. (maybe it's the name 🤔)
Kenny was worse.
If they ever give it to D'Arcy, I'm emigrating.
I saw Gay Byrne introduce the Beatles on their first TV appearance in 1962 round about my 14th birthday, he was a popular presenter on Scene at Six thirty on Granada television. The Beatles did well after that.
Need (especially now) more men like this. Especially in parliament.
@MichaelKingsfordGray He is only funny looking.
lol 0:17 he was a soolldier in his daay, fought for king,country and empire, so he did! best thing ever.
A true comedy genius.
Awww, Miss you heaps, Spike! xxx
He made me laugh so often when I was young.
Wow.This is Great
YOU HAVE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF.ITS GREAT.KAT,CT.2019.
hes wonderful..
Spikes Gravestone: I told you I was ill.
What a funny man!!! Miss these old late late's with gaybo, R. I. P to both
spike is right on race
we are all one, swimming in a world
ofconfusion
The interviewer is excellent.
Let's Spike be funny and poignant at the same time.
even when hes talking serious, hes so funny
Oh my God such a funny man! I’m in tears!
No doubt about it. Spike was simply the best!
i love this interview so much x
They is only one word to say about Spike genius
Have just started reading Spike's WW2 books ... What a great writers talent for observing people... . Watching this when he is describing the horrible the effects of ' Shell Shock ' which he does in a way that gets across the awfulness effects of war on people, he has that great sense of the ridiculous to find humor in it, although it must have been incredibly tough on him to relive it, and no matter what ... to have people find it funny who weren't there .Down here in Aotearoa / New Zealand .. raising a glass to your memory Spike.
I loved his books Hitler my part in his downfall, he describes going to a brothel where the old mama sat there with her legs open his discription was so funny
God given talent of being naturally funny
Spike Milligan, funnier shell shocked and depressed than today's comedians on whatever they take!
Most comedians are depressed. And there are a few funny ones about today.
A king of goodness.
Gay, was scared, but. Very brave. 🍎. 💫🌙💫✨✨💫✨🌙. Gay was a true pro. .. .. Spike... just loved him to bits. ❣️✨
Gotta love Spike x
Spike in his element among his fellow countrymen.
Who he left to live elsewhere for most of his life. HA
@@VCYT He never ever lived in Ireland !!! He was British !!!!!
He was in fact born in India decided to become Irish when he lost his belief in England
The clue is in the name. He was born british by accident, he chose to be irish.
@fus149 Hammer he did say in an interview he lost faith in England so the oath thing might have something to do with it
spike was a natural very funny man (albeit a bit bonkers) . I've never heard of Byrne but he does a decent enough job presenting. Spike thousand times better than todays' comedians
He was a great host. The show is actually still going but he presented it for many yrs from the early 60´s until 1999. What was good about him was that he followed the flow of the conversation and let the guests speak. It was also unusual in that it was went out live for 2 hours on a Friday night.
I'm so glad I grew up in the 50's and 60's, when the unique genius of Spike, and Seller's, was first recognised. Their impact on British humour will never fade, despite the mad efforts of the soulless faceless automatons who try to control our opinions and thoughts.
yeh mate. I'm a half Spike, he's influence
Philip Croft Phillip we were so lucky we had the best of every thing ,comics ,music ,safety etc ,families eating together,proper Christian Xmas and on and on ,nostalgia is a wonderful feeling,cheers Mark Cardiff 🇬🇧❤️
Legend... :)
All this groveling will get you knowwhere I'm not going to reduce the fee
"Maol" in Irish means "Bald".
O'Maologàin probably means 'Bald Youth'. (Ògàin).
Corrupted to Milligan.
So maybe he's not joking about this.
What a man!
It might also mean ‘devotee of’ or ‘follower of’ youth; or possibly of Owen.
Sweet man. Full of humor and sadness. Miss him..
I love his description of his first meeting with Harry Seacombe during active service in WW II. Harry's artillery unit had dug a gun pit for their howitzer (7.2"?), but because of the terrain it was a bit too shallow. The 7.2" was known for its vicious recall and leaping ability. On first firing this one leapt out of the gun pit and ran away down a slope and disappeared into the distance. Spike recalls that a little after a red-faced, breathless, plumpish, bespectacled gunner ran up to him and the ensuing conversation went like this:
Harry: (Gasping for breath). Have you seen a howitzer go by?
Spike: (After pause for deep thought). What colour was it?
Harry: Screams and hits him.
That's Spike version anyway, Harry might have remembered it otherwise.
I think Harry's version was that they heard the crack of the howitzer and thought that the Germans had broke through, but then saw Spike coming down the slope asking "Anybody has seen a gun!?"
So true, he was a national treasure 👍👍
I have all his books!! A comic genius!!
+Mo Dolaghan you are so pretty!
I know! im vain with it!
Why? Were you his editor?
Pukoon my introduction to Spike Milligan, then I found the Goons , I am here because today I was with youngsters and had them google such things as “what’s the time Eccles “ etc . Thus explaining why I have the sense of humour I have, they loved their findings and forwarded them to some out let’s of. their friends l incredible 😂🍻
Spike suffered from Manic/Depression now known as Bi-Polar disorder, this is why his moods would swing from two extremes. Unfortunately we didn't know much about this debilitating disease and many suffered in silence.
+Felix Burke 100% Correct. "High's and Lows" not much middle.
Had it myself all my life, my mother and one aunt too. Makes me love Spike and his humour all the more.
Yeah been a sufferer of bi polar since I was a boy now 60 love spike his lows as well as his highs rest well Mate at peace at last
What is bi bolar
He once said that he reckoned he suffered from PTSD, only it wasn't invented back then
Probably the greatest (non) Irish comedian who ever lived...and he did not even try to be funny! Dave Allen came close, but he remains a close second. Bless both of them!
+1 Dave Allen
At least Spike was introduced as a Jazz trumpeter of note...Many of his fans dont even know that.
+Nobsta Nutts spot on! i play the trumpet because my grandad was inspired to play the trumpet badly by him playing it well! if that makes any sense!
Cheers bro.I played for a year at 11yrs but gave it up..My dad played for over 70yrs until 82..He did his last gig the night before he suffered a fatal heart attack December last.
+Nobsta Nutts He never let on to many of his fans. He didn't like to blow his own trumpet.
Very good sir..yes he got brassed off with the adulation.
Really, you should never say, "There'll never be another."
But there'll never be another.
Just listened to one of the funniest Irish men ever
Oh ,grow a fukin brain cell
Incredible talent, incredible man.
Goon, but not forgotten.
He reminds me of my father.
I have never seen this before as I am from America but this fellow was hilarious!
You had just watched the "godfather" of modern British humour. In fact, his surreal (outside the box) humour transcended & is within the DNA of all the "good quality" Brit humour post WW2...because the entire British nation were glued to their radio sets listening to his Goon show on the BBC during the 50's, (which were grey, glum & depressing days & not as vivid as the USA had enjoyed). We Brits were still a "stiff" lot. The Goon show was very whacky & imaginative stuff (you'd have thought he was a pot head or a crackhead) which inspired future writers & comedians of my parents & grandparents generation.. Anybody born much before the Edwardian era (1920's)or Victorian era would have simply found him anarchistic (punk) or too silly. I've noticed Spike's not up for todays generation since the kids been oversaturated & had their "funny bones" decapitated by the PC brigade.
Hilarious and brilliant.
Irishman goes to his doctor, with a frog growing out of his ear. Doctor says 'How long have you had that then? Frog says 'I woke up this morning and there he was!' 🤤
Great man
Brilliant.
Now contrast all that comic genius with the dross we have today.
Yea very sad