Podcasts about Spike Milligan

Join us as we march off to war wearing squeaky socks and woolly underpants, before surrendering to the twisted logic of Spike Milligan (“better looking than Peter Sellers”).This show, one of the highlights of the Goon Show's eighth series and released on BBC LP in 1981, has a plot of sorts: 1917 and England is at war, France is at war, while Eccles is at lunch. Grytpype and Moriarty sell German army shares to Neddie. They claim that the Germans are bound to win any war they enter. Seagoon discovers to his horror that the Germans are losing, but Major Bloodnok sells Seagoon 10,000 unused 1904 calendars. The plan is to drop the calendars on England by zeppelin, making the English think the war hasn't even started, therefore giving the Germans an advantage. However, the British drop 1918 calendars on Berlin, and the Germans capitulate. There's a lot more to it than that and joining Tyler to ‘rifle'through it is Graeme Lindsay-Foot, man of a thousand voices and motorcar enthusiast. That said, he can't hold a torch to the late Peter Sellers, whose obsession with the horseless carriage they also examine this week, as well as singing the praises of the sound effects chaps, querying quite why Secombe got given six characters to voice and asking whether this could possibly be one of Spike's greatest performances of his career.

"He's only got to lift his leg and he'll drown 50 kids!"This week: Digby, The Biggest Dog in the World, a 1973 British family comedy in which an Old English Sheepdog accidentally drinks an experimental growth formula and raises the woof! Leading the cast is Jim Dale as Jeff Eldon, an animal psychologist at a NATO research facility; when Spike Milligan (playing a shameless German stereotype) moves in next door he is all for having him impounded as he mistakenly believes Jeff thinks he is a dog. It's part Disney family adventure, part monster movie parody and utterly British. Did we forget to mention that other cast members include Angela Douglas, Norman Rossington, John Bluthal and Victor Spinetti? There's also a cucumber the size of a bus, a mischievous chimp and a wonderful scene set in a roadside café. Plus we ask: did Dulux pay for the outrageous product-placement?  Do the special effects hold up? And why wasn't Jim Dale a bigger star in Britain? Joining Tyler is Graham Rinaldi, film writer and academic and huge Bowie fan, and please feel free to join in the Bowie drinking game as we discuss this fine film.

This week we look at Invasion Quartet (1961), one of the most significant, if forgotten, films in Spike Milligan's career. Set in a military convalescent hospital on the English south coast during 1942, the story follows three disabled service officers and an ageing military veteran who decide to launch their own private invasion of occupied France to destroy a German super-gun known as "Big Hermann", whose shelling is disrupting both the war effort and their cricket matches. The result is a whimsical wartime adventure that one hack at the time described as "a skit on The Guns of Navarone." The film was made shortly after Spike signed a contract with MGM's British subsidiary, soon after the Oscar nomination of The Running, Jumping & Standing Still Film. Invasion Quartet was part of MGM British's first production slate under Lawrence P. Bachmann, alongside future hits such as Village of the Damned and Murder She Said. While those films became major successes and spawned sequels, Invasion Quartet was one of the few productions that failed to make much impact at the box office. The cast included Bill Travers, John Le Mesurier, Grégoire Aslan, Millicent Martin and Maurice Denham, with Eric Sykes appearing briefly as a German soldier. Spike himself later dismissed the picture as "desperately unfunny" and often lamented his lack of success in films. It did, however, result in at least one happy outcome for the Milligan family...Although Invasion Quartet quickly disappeared from view, it offers a fascinating glimpse of a period when British cinema attempted to turn Spike Milligan into a mainstream film star - and failed. Joining Tyler this week is John Hewer of Hambledon Productions, who are soon to hit the stage with a brand new production of The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town. John discusses this in the show and details can be found here: https://hambledonproductions.com/phantomraspberryblower/

What a week at Mars Badminton Horse Trials. As the dust settles on another extraordinary Badminton, Nicole Brown is joined by Catherine Austen, with Spike Milligan dropping in, to reflect on the performances, the pressure, and the moments that defined the week. From Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo delivering one of the great five-star performances, to standout weekends for Tim Price, Harry Meade, Tom Jackson, Sarah Bullimore, and more, this is the final look back on a week that had everything. Highlights Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo's third Badminton title Tim Price, Harry Meade, and Tom Jackson on huge form Sarah Bullimore, Katie Magee, and the rising stars of the week The emotional moments, the near misses, and what comes next Guests Nicole Brown Catherine Austen Spike Milligan

“Their gags are paralysing. Sometimes the director has to let everybody have five minutes' rest, so that we can laugh the laughs out.” (Pamela Thomas, supporting cast)In 1956 a short film was released which with hindsight was probably the most successful Goon Show celluloid transfer, despite only featuring two-thirds of the team. Ironically, it wasn't even intended for theatre release but a lack of interest by US television networks nixed any further forays so it ended up as a cinematic supporting feature. The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn (an early working title was The Yard Has Three Feet) starred Peter Sellers as Superintendent Quilt and Spike Milligan as Sgt Brown plus honorary Goon Dick Emery as Nodule, a museum curator. All three appear in multiple guises, including Sellers as Henry Crun, Milligan as Eccles and Emery as Maurice Ponque. Joining Tyler this week to talk about the background to the film, including the revelation that it sprang from The Adventures of Robin Hood on television and that Harry Secombe's absence could at least be partly laid at the door of Jimmy Grafton, is returning guest Chris Diamond.

I write and publish a joke a day (following Spike Milligan's advice). I stick them up on the Irish Science Fiction social accounts -there is well over a thousand of them. Some are awful. Some derivative. Most are average. But every so often one does the job ...keeps universal, punches up, and slaps obvious absurdity in the mush. Today was the latter so I'm giving it a twist on the podcast.Part 2 of 'Flight Into Culfadda' had to be pushed back a week for reasons outside my control -the messing will kick off again and build into madness though. Thanks for listening, Brian

"I wonder what became of old Filthy Gladys?"This week we're talking about one of Spike Milligan's favourite Goon Shows from early 1956, and one whose script was originally published in the first Goon Show Scripts book. Young Ned Seagoon, driven by a driving ambition to become the world's greatest organ player, leaves his native Wales in order to pursue his musical studies in the Sahara. There, racing across the sands in the cockpit of his 50-ton brass-bound Wurlitzer, Ned meets unscrupulous villains Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty, scrapdealers by appointment and purchasers of arms for Egypt. They have other plans for the Mighty Wurlitzer however, which leads Neddie to a hair-raising race on Daytona Beach against ace organ pilots Crun & Bannister, in a desperate attempt to beat the land speed record forWurlitzers. But it is a different record that poor Neddie breaks…Joining Tyler to talk cinema organs, land-speed records and Middle East tensions, not to mention Housewife's Choice, dying in Coventry and Sabrina's sweaters, is Stephen Hatcher. Steve is a regular on the Strangers In Space podcast.

Sir George Martin was the Beatles' extraordinary producer and the most acclaimed and celebrated music producer of the rock era. No one comes close to Sir George for the innovation and sheer perfection of his body of work. It's almost an accident that he worked with the Beatles. Before meeting them he was in charge of EMI's Parlophone label where he produced comedy and novelty acts like Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. His introduction to the Beatles only came about after they were rejected by 17 other record labels. When he brought them in for an audition he was not very impressed, but he was intrigued by their energy and charisma. Sir George has said that in the beginning he was the master and they were the students, but in time this role reversed and they became the masters and he the student. This transformation was due to the genius of Lennon and McCartney and their constant pushing him to create more and different sounds and effects. It's beyond discussion that the Beatles would not have been the Beatles without George Martin. From convincing Paul to use a string quartet on “Yesterday”, to his slowed down then sped up piano solo on “In My Life”, to his creation of a circus swirl on “Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite”, to his seamless combination of two takes at different speeds and different keys on “Strawberry Fields” - he truly was the 5th Beatle. He went on to produce a host of other artists and hits including Jeff Beck, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, America and Gerry and the Pacemakers. In his career, he produced 30 number-one hit singles in the UK and 23 number-one hits in the United States, winning six Grammys. Think about how lucky we were that fate brought together the Beatles and Sir George Martin. Together they changed the world. —----------------------------------------------------------- The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries! Click here for All Episodes  Click here for Guest List  Click here for Guest Groupings  Click here for Guest Testimonials Click here to Subscribe  Click here to receive our Email Updates Click here to Rate and Review the podcast —---------------------------------------- ROBERT'S NEWEST RELEASE:“MI CACHIMBER ALL STARS” is the new, expanded version of Robert's single, “Mi Cachimber”, which he wrote for his father. Featuring Camila Cortina on Rhodes and Xito Lovell on trombone in addition to Benny Benack III and Dave Smith on flugelhorn, and Project Grand Slam's rhythm section. CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —-------------------------------------- ROBERT'S RECENT RELEASE: “MA PETITE FLEUR STRING QUARTET” is Robert's recent release. It transforms his jazz ballad into a lush classical string quartet piece. Praised by a host of classical music stars. CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINK CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —--------------------------------------- Audio production: Jimmy RavenscroftKymera Films   Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast: Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comEmail Robert - robert@followyourdreampodcast.com   Follow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music: Website - www.projectgrandslam.comYouTubeSpotify MusicApple MusicEmail - pgs@projectgrandslam.com    

What happens when Alan Carr and Bob Mortimer get together right after filming Last One Laughing? Absolute mayhem.  From being told to “f*ck off” by Romesh Ranganathan, to phantom sh*tters in Wythenshawe, to Bob's very unexpected holiday romance… this episode is pure Bob-flavoured joy. There's also a deep dive on comedy legends like Monty Python and Spike Milligan, how “idiot comedy” is dying out, and why Bob thinks YouTube has changed everything.  Plus: skydiving fears, caravan snogging, supermarket obsessions, Gone Fishing and one of the funniest quickfire rounds you'll hear all year.  Watch Last One Laughing on Amazon Prime now.  00:00 "Just f*ck off, Bob" Last One Laughing chaos begins  01:10 Alan Air takes off (and immediately crashes into nonsense)  02:00 Bob's teeth confession  03:00 Wythenshawe, buses & the phantom sh*tter story  05:00 Felicity Kendall, lions & classic comedy chat  07:30 UK holidays vs Amalfi Coast (and Instagram ruining it)  08:50 Alan's skydive panic  09:30 Bob's chaotic caravan “romance” story  11:00 Why holidays at 16 hit different  13:00 Norman Collier, Spike Milligan & “idiot” comedy  16:30 The golden age of weird stand-up acts  17:30 Behind the scenes of Last One Laughing  19:30 Snacks, crisps & Bob's elite fridge game  22:00 Accidental 12-course French meal disaster  24:00 Why Gone Fishing works (and chemistry matters)  27:30 YouTube vs comedy gatekeepers  29:00 Four in a Bed obsession & horror stories  31:30 Celebrity encounters (Sean Penn cameo!)  32:45 Quickfire round chaos ✈️  #LifesABeach #AlanCarr #BobMortimer #LastOneLaughing #BritishComedy #ComedyGold #UKComedy #FunnyPodcast #RomeshRanganathan #DianeMorgan #MelGiedroyc #VicAndBob #GoneFishing #StandUpComedy #v2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I speak with Gary Williams, a professional singer who's performed at Buckingham Palace and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, where the late Martin Parr once photographed him. Over the last two years, Gary has built a thriving business photographing micro weddings at London's iconic town halls, the same venues where Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Lily Allen, and Ed Sheeran have tied the knot. We discuss reaching his photographic milestone of 100 weddings in just two years, the process of building a practice as a newcomer to professional photography, and what he's learned along the way. It's 100 not out. Then Valérie Jardin returns for her monthly Teach Me Street segment, where she offers creative feedback on candid street photos submitted by two photographers, examining the decisions made and the stories behind the images. From the mailbag, Sven in Switzerland is trying to lose the imposter syndrome character on his shoulder, Gene Westberg wonders if he missed a photographic trick during the pandemic, Jussi Jääskeläinen takes us on a hike in North Eastern France, Adriano Henney shares what he loves about Venice, and there's a moment of Spike Milligan silliness, or at least an ode to him, from the Doctor of Reflection, Robin Chun. Plus, news about some very special editions coming in the next four weeks. Read more about our photographic adventures on our photography travel website, The Journey Beyond. Links to all guests and features will be on the show page, my sincere thanks to our Extra Milers, without whom we wouldn't be walking each week and Arthelper.ai, giving photographers smart tools to plan, promote, and manage your creative projects more easily. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

The A-Team is back and somehow January already feels long. Between Diarm's medical misadventures, Spike's family odyssey to Cape Town and Sam getting ID'd at 40, it's a suitably unhinged reunion… before we finally get to the sport. From why flag penalties moved from 15 to nine, to what really separates a championship horse from a five-star horse, to Ireland's new high-performance era under Sam Griffiths, it's a state-of-play start to 2026 with perhaps more questions than answers... Listeners sent in plenty of those questions, so this is Part One - the Q&A show follows next! Guests Nicole Brown (Host) Sam Watson, five-star rider and EquiRatings co-founder Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder Spike Milligan, FEI team vet with decades of championship experience EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is being reissued on Kenney Jones' Nice Records, along with unheard outtakes discovered when the original master was found in one of his battered old drum cases. He talks to us here – with the compiler Rob Caiger – about the chaotic construction of the Small Faces' 1968 masterpiece and his mission to “carry on the legacy”. Are you all sitting comftybold two-square on your botty? Then we'll begin. Among the highlights … … the Thames boating accident that inspired the album … booking Stanley Unwin when Spike Milligan turned them down – and the day Stanley invented ‘Unwinese' … insomniac days in the band's Westmoreland Terraceflat … the value of Marriott's stage school background: “he could always ham things up” … hidden treasures on the original tape – “you hear Steve and Ronnie talking” … the magic of that fragile tobacco-tin artwork … possession is nine-tenths of the law! … Marriott's wall-banging Chiswick neighbours that inspired Lazy Sunday … “I'm the only one left and want to carry on the legacy” … other lost Immediate sessions to be released on Nice Records Order the Ogden's Nut Gone Flake expanded 3CD set here, direct from Kenney's Nice Records imprint: https://www.nicerecords.co.uk/collections/ogdens-nut-gone-flakeHelp us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is being reissued on Kenney Jones' Nice Records, along with unheard outtakes discovered when the original master was found in one of his battered old drum cases. He talks to us here – with the compiler Rob Caiger – about the chaotic construction of the Small Faces' 1968 masterpiece and his mission to “carry on the legacy”. Are you all sitting comftybold two-square on your botty? Then we'll begin. Among the highlights … … the Thames boating accident that inspired the album … booking Stanley Unwin when Spike Milligan turned them down – and the day Stanley invented ‘Unwinese' … insomniac days in the band's Westmoreland Terraceflat … the value of Marriott's stage school background: “he could always ham things up” … hidden treasures on the original tape – “you hear Steve and Ronnie talking” … the magic of that fragile tobacco-tin artwork … possession is nine-tenths of the law! … Marriott's wall-banging Chiswick neighbours that inspired Lazy Sunday … “I'm the only one left and want to carry on the legacy” … other lost Immediate sessions to be released on Nice Records Order the Ogden's Nut Gone Flake expanded 3CD set here, direct from Kenney's Nice Records imprint: https://www.nicerecords.co.uk/collections/ogdens-nut-gone-flakeHelp us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is being reissued on Kenney Jones' Nice Records, along with unheard outtakes discovered when the original master was found in one of his battered old drum cases. He talks to us here – with the compiler Rob Caiger – about the chaotic construction of the Small Faces' 1968 masterpiece and his mission to “carry on the legacy”. Are you all sitting comftybold two-square on your botty? Then we'll begin. Among the highlights … … the Thames boating accident that inspired the album … booking Stanley Unwin when Spike Milligan turned them down – and the day Stanley invented ‘Unwinese' … insomniac days in the band's Westmoreland Terraceflat … the value of Marriott's stage school background: “he could always ham things up” … hidden treasures on the original tape – “you hear Steve and Ronnie talking” … the magic of that fragile tobacco-tin artwork … possession is nine-tenths of the law! … Marriott's wall-banging Chiswick neighbours that inspired Lazy Sunday … “I'm the only one left and want to carry on the legacy” … other lost Immediate sessions to be released on Nice Records Order the Ogden's Nut Gone Flake expanded 3CD set here, direct from Kenney's Nice Records imprint: https://www.nicerecords.co.uk/collections/ogdens-nut-gone-flakeHelp us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You call this a life?”This week we dip into the big red book and examine Spike Milligan's two famously chaotic appearances on This Is Your Life — first in 1973 at an army reunion in Bexhill and again in 1995 in the wake of Spike's infamous crack at Prince Charles at the British Comedy Awards. From bungled surveillance operations and surprise reunions to war memories, old squeezes, secret sons and unresolved tensions, these programmes offer an occasionally revealing — and sometimes unsettling — portrait of Spike at two very different points in his life.Joining Tyler this week is co-host of World Of Telly John Williams and the pair try to navigate the uneasy compression of a vast, contradictory life into television-friendly fare.Along the way we encounter Peter Sellers in Nazi garb, Robert Graves refusing retakes because “the milkman is part of life”, Harry Secombe on VT, Eric Sykes restoring some semblance of order to proceedings, Michael Bentine getting a warm reception, Roger McGough falling a bit flat and a surprise appearance from a reclusive billionaire. We also examine the differing styles of Eamonn Andrews and Michael Aspel – the former being all awkward and lacking spontaneity; the latter oozing affable charm and keeping the show on the rails. These two programmes, separated by 22 years, chart not just Spike Milligan's public career but his private fractures — family divisions, emotional debts, and the limits of nostalgia. They also expose the clumsy mechanics of This Is Your Life itself: a format built for uplift struggling to contain a life defined by contradiction, pain, brilliance and refusal to behave.

'The Former USA'Bob Dylan, Spike Milligan, Joy Crookes, Paddy McAloon, Virginia Astley, Edna O'Brien, Fred Again, David Byrne, Michael Kiwanuka, Laurie Anderson, Rogê

Harry Secombe could have had reasonable grounds for claiming to be the hardest working man in showbusiness in January 1958: panto (Puss In Boots), TV (Sunday Night At The London Palladium), the Goons, a movie (Davy) and goodness knows what else. Likewise, his colleague Peter Sellers was feeling the pressure of work and his doctor advised a rest on what would have been a scheduled Goon Show recording day. As a result – and much to the chagrin of Spike Milligan – on Sunday 19th January two Goon Shows were recorded, including the one we're discussing this week, freeing up the following Sunday for Sellers to spend some time with his cameras. The Curse of Frankenstein, as the title suggests, concerns a dying Laird intending to leave his entire fortune to the first Scotsman to play the bagpipes at the South Pole. Joining Tyler this week is returning guest Chas Early and as well as breaking down the episode they chat Morecambe & Wise, Aussie politicians, a waxwork Welshman, the Quarrymen and Spike the balladeer!

WARREN CUMMINGS and I, perhaps unwisely, try to analyse some TV comedy.First broadcast on FAB RADIO INTERNATIONAL at 19:00 on November 16th 2025.This week, in a show we recorded earlier in the autumn just as VISION ON SOUND returned from its summer hiatus, I welcome back WARREN CUMMINGS once again, and we took the opportunity to delve deep into an area that is always a little bit outside my personal comfort zone, as we tackle the tricky little matter of television comedy in as analytical a way as we are capable of, as we consider whether or not some of the recognised classics from the archives are as enjoyable as we like to believe they are.This was prompted by me picking up a bit of MONTY PYTHON on DVD and finding some of it to be “difficult” to watch, and WARREN throws the somewhat problematical nature of some of SPIKE MILLIGAN's television work into the mix, before we move into a broader consideration of the comedy of a different time.Over the course of this hour we'll also touch upon some radio comedy, some TV sitcoms, and the work of metaphorical comedy giants such as PETER COOK and DUDLEY MOORE, as well as talking rather fondly about shows like ALEXEI SAYLE's STUFF, VIC REEVES' BIG NIGHT OUT, THE YOUNG ONES and the more recent work of DIANE MORGAN whose PHILOMENA CUNK is one of the more successful recent comedy creations.PLEASE NOTE - For Copyright reasons, musical content sometimes has to be removed for the podcast edition. All the spoken word content remains (mostly) as it was in the broadcast version. Hopefully this won't spoil your enjoyment of the show.

"It's the only time Sellers had to duplicate himself, at least physically." - Roger Lewis on The Prisoner Of Zenda. This 1979 film is an adaptation of the classic Anthony Hope adventure yarn with a screenplay by Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais. Peter Sellers plays both Rudolf V, the bumbling King of Ruritania, and his English look-alike, Sydney Frewin, who must impersonate the monarch after Rudolf is kidnapped by his villainous half-brother, Duke Michael (Jeremy Kemp). As Frewin struggles with royal duties and falls for Princess Flavia (Lynne Frederick) the hunt is on for the imprisoned King, with his trusted subordinates General Sapt (Lionel Jeffries) and Fritz (Simon Williams) anxious to restore order to Ruritania. The film suffers from a rather lacklustre screenplay containing a paucity of jokes yet somehow Sellers manages to wring comedy out of the lumpen script, particularly with his characterisation of Frewin. Tensions were high on the set and Sellers' increasing manic behaviour and demands impacted not just Jeffries and Williams but the film's director Richard Quine. Famously they had to repaint an entire train to accommodate Sellers' bizarre superstitions!Joining Tyler to discuss the film is writer & performer John Hewer, who also has some exciting news for Spike Milligan fans!

“Aw, don't come the raw prawn!” (Barry McKenzie)“There's too many Barrys!” (Tyler)Based on the character created for Private Eye, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie was a huge hit in Australia when it was released in 1972, surpassing $1m in box office receipts thus making it the first Australian film to do so. Starring Barry Crocker in the titular role, it tells the story of the misadventures of a lantern-jawed larrikin when he leaves Australia and travels to London with his aunt (Edna Everage, played by co-writer and creator of Barry McKenzie, Barry Humphries). See what I mean about too many Barrys?Directed by the up-and-coming Bruce Beresford (thankfully Mr & Mrs Beresford decided against christening him Barry too), the film explores the cultural gulf between Australian and British culture in the early nineteen-seventies in a comic and often quite dark fashion. Jokes about ‘chundering' and ‘unbuttoning the mutton' abound as Barry navigates his new environment, along the way falling in with a sex-mad actress, a flamboyant ad man, a masochistic war veteran, his repressed daughter and her mad mother, exploitative hippies, a hard-nosed agent, doctors, a loopy psychiatrist, a lesbian and her sympathetic friend, a fickle television executive and Spike Milligan. Barry McKenzie is one of life's innocents, a fish out of water, and we could almost believe he's a distant cousin of Mick Dundee, though possessing none of the latter's intuition, agility, courage or ‘success with the sheilas'. And what about the charge often levelled against the character that he is an outrageous depiction of the typical Aussie male?  Barry Humphries said “I consider Barry McKenzie as no more representative of the average Australian than Macbeth was of the average Scotsman in Shakespeare's audience.”The film is worth watching for the Spike scene alone, but there is plenty else amusing enough – the ‘One Eyed Trouser Snake' song, the terrible Gort family, Barry with underpants full of beef curry – to keep audiences engaged. Joining Tyler this week to talk about it is co-host of Waffle On podcast Simon Meddings. You can check out Waffle On HERE: https://waffleon.podbean.com/As mentioned in this week's show, Griff Rhys Jones is currently touring: https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/griff-rhys-jones

RHLSTP Book Club #153 - Young Once - Richard chats with a Young One who has decided to embrace his Young Oneness, even though we may not be the young ones very long, Nigel Planer about his fantastic autobiography Young Once - A Life Less Heavy. They chat about how Neil and Nicholas Craig emerged from Nigel's real life experiences, why the American Young Ones helped to give birth to a major part of the Simpsons, seeing Laurence Olivier's dancing feet beneath the curtain and sitting next to Spike Milligan, how doing Evita ended up in counting the number of times Nigel put on his trousers and why We Will Rock You's multiple performances were more happily accepted, how his book is a love story to both his wife and the people he has worked with over the years, how a surprising number of the Young Ones went to public school, the Comic Strip reunion where Nigel sweated over the bill and the incredible experience of working on Yellowbeard. Plus having a scientist dad who wants to see what all the fuss about cannabis is about!Buy Nigel's book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/young-once-a-life-less-heavy-nigel-planer/01d5586cc630e3dfSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this classic episode from the archive, Cally talks with writer, comedian, presenter, producer, QI elf and co-host of hit podcast ‘no such thing as a fish', Dan Schreiber, about weird and wonderful things, including: a peek behind the scenes of NSTAAF in lockdown, a day in the life of a QI elf, unconditional love, growing up in Hong Kong, Spike Milligan, fellow QI elf Andrew Hunter-Murray, baby brain, Rudolph Steiner schools, synchronisity, serendipity, Dan's Insta live show ‘show us your shit', baby brain, Peter Sellers, the Bee Gees, Comic Relief, Harry & Meghan's wedding, Martin Luther King, and being in the wrong place at the right time. Followw Dan on Instagram ⁠@schreiberland⁠ No Such Thing As A Fish Podcast ⁠TheMauritanian⁠⁠The Kingdom Choir⁠ How gospel singer Mahalia Jackson defined the ⁠‘I Have a Dream' ⁠speech ⁠Book of the Year⁠⁠The Naked Jape⁠⁠Random input technique Order Cally's Book Get tickets for Cally's Tour More about Cally Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions Music by Jake Yapp Cover design by Jaijo Part of the Auddy Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

fWotD Episode 3048: Peter Sellers Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 8 September 2025, is Peter Sellers.Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show. Sellers featured on a number of hit comic songs, and became known to a worldwide audience through his many film roles, among them Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series.Sellers made his stage debut at the Kings Theatre, Southsea, when he was two weeks old. He began accompanying his parents in a touring variety act. He worked as a drummer and toured around England as a member of the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). He developed his mimicry and improvisational skills during a spell in Ralph Reader's wartime Gang Show entertainment troupe. After the war, Sellers made his radio debut in ShowTime, and eventually became a regular performer on various BBC Radio shows. During the early 1950s, Sellers, along with Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, and Michael Bentine, took part in the successful radio series The Goon Show, which ended in 1960.Sellers began his film career during the 1950s. Although the bulk of his work was comedic, often parodying characters of authority such as military officers or policemen, he also performed in other film genres and roles. Films demonstrating his artistic range include I'm All Right Jack (1959), Stanley Kubrick's Lolita (1962) and Dr. Strangelove (1964), What's New Pussycat? (1965), Casino Royale (1967), The Party (1968), Being There (1979) and five films of the Pink Panther series (1963–1978). Sellers's versatility enabled him to portray a wide range of comic characters using different accents and guises, and he would often assume multiple roles within the same film, frequently with contrasting temperaments and styles. Satire and black humour were major features of many of his films, as they had been in his radio and record performances, and they had a strong influence on a number of later comedians. Sellers was nominated three times for an Academy Award, twice for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his performances in Dr. Strangelove and Being There, and once for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1959). He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in I'm All Right Jack and was nominated an additional three times for the satire Only Two Can Play, for Doctor Strangelove and The Pink Panther, and for Being There. In 1980 he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in Being There, having previously been nominated three times in the same category. Turner Classic Movies calls Sellers "one of the most accomplished comic actors of the late 20th century".In his personal life, Sellers struggled with depression and insecurities. An enigmatic figure, he often claimed to have no identity outside the roles that he played. His behaviour was often erratic and compulsive, and he frequently clashed with his directors and co-stars, especially in the mid-1970s, when his physical and mental health, together with his alcohol and drug problems, were at their worst. Sellers was married four times and had three children from his first two marriages. He died from a heart attack, aged 54, in 1980. English filmmakers the Boulting brothers described Sellers as "the greatest comic genius this country has produced since Charles Chaplin".This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:04 UTC on Monday, 8 September 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Peter Sellers on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Nicole.

Defender Burghley week is here. The fences are huge, the clock is merciless, and even the favourites can unravel. Burghley is where reputations are made. Nicole Brown is joined by a full house of experts to set the stage for one of the most anticipated five-stars of the season. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo bid to make history. Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent return to settle unfinished business. Harry Meade brings three chances to finally land his first five-star. Add in Tim Price with Vitali, David Doel with Galileo Nieuwmoed, Austin O'Connor with Colorado Blue, and a host of international challengers, and you've got a Burghley that could produce fireworks in every phase. Highlights include: Why Graffalo could cement his place among the all-time greats The challenge of the reversed cross-country track and what it means for stamina Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent: redemption or repeat heartbreak? Harry Meade's triple attack and the horse most likely to deliver his first five-star win Tim Price and Vitali: brilliance in the dressage, questions on the final day The outsiders who could climb their way into history Guests joining Nicole Brown: Catherine Austen — Burghley Press Officer with insider perspective Annie Bishop — journalist and host of the US Equestrian Open podcast Spike Milligan — equine vet with expert analysis  Diarm Byrne — EquiRatings co-founder with the numbers behind the predictions Want to watch every moment? Subscribe to Burghley TV for exclusive live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes access throughout the week. And for the latest updates, follow the Defender Burghley Horse Trials on Instagram at @burghleyhorsetrials. EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Norman Cohen and starring Jim Dale, Arthur Lowe and Spike Milligan. It is based on Milligan's best-selling first volume of war memoir of the same name but differs markedly in several respects. It was adapted by Milligan, Cohen and Johnny Byrne; Byrne said of the film: “We want to get away from the idea that Milligan is a clown. He is a clown but first of all he is a human being. As this is a film about the early Milligan, Milligan was more of a human being than a clown at that time.”The casting of Jim Dale as young Spike was inspired, and he received a BAFTA nomination. While the film prioritises comedy, it occasionally crowbars in a clunky 'war is hell' narrative and it struggles to find the right tone. Nevertheless it is a serviceable 90 minute 70s British comedy with a host of familiar faces such as Bill Maynard, Tony Selby, Geoffrey Hughes, Pat Coombs and Windsor Davies.Joining Tyler this week to discuss the film is comedy writer Matt Owen who can be found at https://www.mathew-owen.co.uk/

This Saturday Matinee is brimming with classic British comedy and golden age orchestral charm. We begin with "The Goon Show" in "Emperor of the Universe", as Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, and Harry Secombe take us on a delightfully absurd hunt for 25 million missing Englishmen. Then it's time for our first musical interlude, with Jack Hilton and his Orchestra playing the Cole Porter gem "You're the Top". Next, enjoy "Hancock's Half Hour" in "Hancock's Car", where Tony Hancock, Sid James, and Bill Kerr deliver a hilarious tale of motoring misadventures. The laughs keep rolling with "Beyond Our Ken" in "This Happy Breed", starring Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden, and Bill Pertwee. We round off the afternoon with the romantic "Lovelight in the Starlight" from the Emery Deutsch Orchestra. Sit back and enjoy a perfect mix of laughter, music, and nostalgia from radio's golden years here on Vintage Classic Radio.

Asset Management can be explained as a systematic process of planning, operating, maintaining, upgrading and replacing assets cost-effectively with minimum risk and at the expected levels of service over the assets' life cycle. One sector where effective asset management can make a huge difference is public transportation, with organisations having to keep track of an exhaustive list of costly vehicles and infrastructure. Long time listeners may recall a previous episode where we interviewed the train operator, Greater Anglia, after they successfully achieved ISO 55001, the best practice standard for asset management. Now 3 years on, they've been recently recertified and have learned a lot since their initial certification. In this episode, Andrew Barnes, Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia, joins Ian Battersby to discuss how they currently manage their ISO 55001 certification, what they've learned in the past 3 years since certification and the benefits of effective asset management.   You'll learn ·      Who is Andrew Barnes? ·      Who are Greater Anglia? ·      How do Greater Anglia manage their ISO 55001 certification? ·      What lessons have been learned since their initial certification? ·      What are the main benefits of ISO 55001? ·      Andrew's top tip for ISO Implementation     Resources ·      Isologyhub ·      Greater Anglia ·      ISO Support Plan   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Ian Battersby is joined by Andrew Barnes, Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia, to discuss their experience with being certified to ISO 55001 for the past 3 years, explaining the lessons learned and benefits gained.    [03:25] Who is Andrew Barnes? Andy is currently the Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia. A fun fact that not many people know about him is that he was part of the Lord Mayor's Show in the 80's, though he had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction that ended with him getting a stern talking to! Andy has been working in the railways since 1985, starting as an apprentice with British Rail. [05:15] Who are Greater Anglia? Greater Anglia are a train operator who took over from National Express, East Anglia back in 2012. They serve the Anglia region from Liverpool Street Station, and are unusual among railway companies in that they are under a full repairing and insuring lease. This differs from most who have station access conditions, where the responsibility for maintenance and repair is split between Network Rail and the train operator. They currently operate 134 stations, with 2 more under construction which are Burley Park (due to open in October 2025) and Cambridge South (opening in early 2026). In addition to the stations, they also own 7 depots for train stabling and maintenance. So in short, a lot of assets to keep track of! [07:40] Extra asset requirements – They are also now challenged on cleanliness at train stations. This involves mystery shoppers visiting stations and marking them against certain criteria to give a score, which Greater Anglia tend to score quite highly. They also have to inspect all of their assets on a conditioned surveying scheme, the scores of which need to be communicated to Network Rail. [09:00] Andy's role as Head of Asset Management – Andy is relatively new to this role, becoming the Head of Asset Management in April 2025. He has a team of asset inspectors that conduct the condition surveys internally. He's also responsible for the Engineer Insurance Team, part of their role is to determine the technical aspects of large schemes that require focused designs. [10:05] How do Greater Anglia manage their ISO certifications? – In addition to ISO 55001, Greater Anglia also hold ISO 9001 and a number of standards specific to engineering. They have benefitted from 3rd party support in the form of utilising Blackmores consultancy to help gain certification and aid with on-going support for internal audits. Their processes and procedures are all managed by their Project Management Team, who conduct regular reviews against ISO requirements to ensure they stay relevant and in alignment with best practice. They also have a strategic asset management plan, risk register and continuous improvement plans in place to address various elements of both asset management and general quality management. Like with most ISO Standards, there's a lot of crossover in the requirements, so elements of each certification can easily be integrated and used to bolster an existing management system. [11:15] The benefit of a maturing management system – Andy is quite keen on learning from their maturing management system. Through effective implementation, you can look back and see what's working well and where improvements can be made. Having a certain level of management system maturity enables you to make more informed continual improvement decisions. [13:20] A structured approach – Prior to ISO 55001 certification, they were still doing everything that was required of them to maintain assets simply because that was the right thing to do. What they lacked was the structured processes and procedures to support that hard work. It wasn't as planned and more of a reactionary approach to asset management. Andy appreciates the clearly defined lines, processes and ability to learn from their mistakes as a result of ISO 55001 implementation. It simply helped provide a more consistent and collaborative base for effective asset management. [14:25] Other benefits from ISO 55001 certification:- Improved efficiency: New and improved processes helped to manage both their time and internal resource. They eliminated unnecessary meetings, and consolidated key discussion points for their regular meet-ups to ensure important updates were prioritised. Risk Mitigation: They now have a structured approach to learning from past mistakes. This is managed via a Lessons Learned Database, which collates the answers to specific questions that get asked after project completion. They make sure to include contractor input so all parties involved feel the benefits. Recently, they've also been granted access to Network Rail's Lesson's Learned database, so they will benefit from an even wider knowledge base for future projects. Consistent approach: Their current management system ensures that everyone is following the same policies, processes and procedures. People know what their responsibilities are, who to communicate what to and how they can help contribute to improvement efforts. Continual Improvement culture shift: The management system doesn't require everyone to know everything from the get-go. It encourages a culture of learning with the goal of continual improvement, so people aren't afraid of suggesting actions for innovation.   [19:45] Lessons learned: Not just from mistakes – Ultimately, from an asset management point of view, Greater Anglia want to maintain or renew an asset as functional and preserve it for as long as possible. They need to intervene as quickly and as efficiently as possible to minimise the impact to people using it. Minimising the time on site with things like modular construction and hauling large equipment are things we've done due to lessons learned from other projects. These were positive changes that we've taken on not due to mistakes but simply from trying different things. A lesson learned doesn't have to result from a mistake. It's about learning from both risks and opportunities. [21:20] Top ISO Implementation tips from Andy – Do your homework: Have a good understanding of your Management System and take your time to weave it into your day-to-day activities. A helping hand: Make use of an ISO champion, whether that's someone internal with ISO knowledge or a 3rd party dedicated ISO consultancy (such as Blackmores) to help you break down an ISO Standard into something you can understand and apply to your way of working. Recording evidence: Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk! Once a process or procedure is documented, follow it, and record evidence of this. Same goes for any actions for improvement that are raised, don't just let it sit there, action it. [23:45] Andy's take away from ISO 55001 management – Andy is surprised by how attuned their business is to the Standard. The Standard speak may seem obtuse or vague, but its adaptability is it's greatest strength. You have the flexibility to apply it in a way that works for your business. [25:15] Andy's book recommendations – 1984 by George Orwell and Adolf Hitler: My part in his downfall by Spike Milligan. [26:35] Andy's favorite quote – ‘By Failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail' – Benjamin Franklin If you'd like to learn more about Greater Anglia, check out their Website and Linkedin. If you'd like any assistance with ISO 55001 Asset Management, feel free to get in touch with us, we'd be happy to help. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

In May 1991 At Last The Go On Show was broadcast on BBC Radio 2, designed to celebrate the Goon Show's 40th anniversary. It was a stunning documentary that still sounds fresh and relevant today and two of the three men behind it - Dirk Maggs and Ted Kendall - joined Tyler and Graeme Lindsay Foot to discuss how it all came about and the challenges they faced. Ted (who it turns out wanted to be a racing driving before getting into audio engineering) talks about bringing together the clips and sequences which proliferate throughout and the techniques employed to improve their quality. Dirk recalls interviewing Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine and the marathon session putting everything together. Graeme looks back at it from the fan's perspective and recalls GSPS get-togethers from years gone by. They also talk about the series of restored shows that aired the following year and the necessary cuts needed in a wide-ranging and thoroughly enjoyable conversation.

In this episode of General Witchfinders, we revisit one of the most unsettling and prophetic dramas ever broadcast by the BBC – Survivors (1975), created by Terry Nation, the man behind the Daleks and Blake's 7. Specifically, we're talking about The Fourth Horseman, the chilling first episode of this 1970s British post-apocalyptic classic.

John Antrobus is 92 years old and still going strong! He is the last living link with the Goon Show inasmuch as he co-wrote (with Spike Milligan) two shows from the eighth series and would later go on to collaborate with Milligan on a regular basis - mostly notably on The Bed Sitting Room.Fifteen years Milligan's junior, young fresh-faced Antrobus joined Associated London Scripts soon after its formation and worked with all the older hands - including Johnny Speight, Galton & Simpson and Eric Sykes. It was an education!A fine comedy writer and playwright, John is long overdue a proper appreciation and joining Tyler this week to bend the knee is Mike Haskins. Mike recalls interviewing Antrobus for some Radio 4 documentaries and examines his career with particular emphasis on his relationship with Spike.

RHLSTP Book Club #145 - Before I Go - Rich is back in St Neots, talking to John Dowie about two of his recent books, The Freewheeling John Dowie and Before I Go. Why did John sell all his records and albums and get on his bike to cycle round Europe? How did he cope with weird and rude hoteliers? How did his penis cause him to cross the continent under false pretences? Plus growing up in Birmingham in another era, his dad's autobiography, giving Spike Milligan his address on a chip wrapper, how Ken Campbell did magic, realising why his school bully behaved in the way he did and why you should only take advice about creative jobs from someone who does it already. A couple of beautiful books from someone who might have people but who loves language and beauty. Do search out his stuff. You won't regret it.Buy Before I Go here - https://poniesandhorsesbooks.com/product/before-i-go/Come and see RHLSTP Live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/gigs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“At least 53 ‘bloodies' in half-an-hour last night. This is definitely not British sir! I suggest you study the British working man more!"So thundered a disgruntled viewer in 1969 after watching an episode of the Johnny Speight & Spike Milligan sitcom Curry & Chips. One notes with interest it was the word 'bloody' which triggered him, as opposed to any of the other bad language with which the series as a whole was replete. Starring Spike Milligan in brownface as Kevin O'Grady, Curry & Chips is chiefly set in the factory of Lillicrap Ltd, a supplier of novelty goods managed ineptly by Arthur Blenkinsop (Eric Sykes) with jumped-up mini-tyrant shop steward Norman (played by Norman Rossington), Kenneth (played by Kenny Lynch) and Young Dick (Geoffrey Hughes) among the workers. Much of the 'humour' was racist in tone, with Kevin subject to regular verbal abuse by his colleagues, although he usually gave as good as he got. There were also swipes at religion, class, politics, sexuality and pretty much any topic that confused, enraged or affected the grumbling Lillicrap staff.It has been suggested that Milligan and Speight hoped that the series would produce audience empathy for immigrants and put a mirror up for the working classes to see their own prejudices reflected back at them. Nice try, lads. Joining Tyler is John Williams, co-host of World Of Telly, who brings his considerable knowledge of the British television landscape in the late sixties to great use, explaining the background and build up to the show, the backlash and eventual cancellation. Curry & Chips was a pretty bloody (that word again!) awful programme but not completely without a few laughs - thanks chiefly to Spike - tune into our chat to find out what had the pair chuckling once or twice in between the wincing and sighing!

In this episode, Cally talks to Kathy Lette about Kylie Minogue, Barry Humphries, Joan Rivers, Germaine Greer, Spike Milligan, books, feminism, autism, sexism, ageism, sisters and second acts.  Instagram: @kathylette Kathy's new book The Revenge Club More about Kathy Order Cally's Book Get tickets for Cally's Tour More about Cally Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions Music by Jake Yapp Cover design by Jaijo Part of the Auddy Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Adam Faith and chums decide to make a fake Loch Ness monster they set off a chain of events too hilarious to describe. With a script by Terry Nation, What A Whopper! is a serviceable British comedy film of the early sixties slightly let down by rather colourless leads but lending solid support are the likes of Sid James, Wilfred Bramble, Charles Hawtrey and - you guessed it - Spike Milligan, who plays a tramp fishing on the bank of the Serpentine.Returning guests Tilt Araiza and Gary Rodger from The Sitcom Club mull over Scottish stereotypes, Terry Scott's potty mouth and rubber salmon. Also:Recasting Adam Faith as Harold Steptoe?Is Sid James the Paul Eddington of dirty old men?How does the film compare to Psycho?Is Terence Longdon a young Tommy Cockles?Who thought casting Freddie Frinton was a good idea?Is it a sort of sequel to What A Carve Up?And who brought along Eccles cakes?Tune in to find out the answers to all this and more!

British comedy is an inspiration!  Everything from films produced by the Ealing Company, Spike Milligan and The Goon Show, Monty Python, Keeping Up Appearances, you name it!  I love the laughs, and decided to try writing a British comedy script.  I hope you forgive the accents and enjoy it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jokes! The funny little things we say to blot out the sheer horrifying nausea of existence! Hooray! Today, we discuss squirrels, cats with Phil Collins' face, time-travelling Soviet murder-chimps, monkey bars, extended families, ballet, Spike Milligan, and how to survive a shark attack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third five-star in as many weeks is here — and the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials is shaping up to be a classic. The 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials is packed with pressure, prestige, and serious horsepower. Big names, big form, and storylines at every turn — from returning champions to rising stars, it's all on the line. This is your inside look at the contenders, the course, and the stats that could shape the weekend. In this episode, Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne, Spike Milligan, and Catherine Austen to unpack the pressure, form, and firepower heading into one of the most hotly anticipated Badmintons in recent memory. From dressage threats to cross-country specialists and Sunday shakeups, this is the story behind the stats — and your guide to what's coming. Highlights: The Big Five – Graffalo, Rosalent, Vitali, Dublin, Balamore Class — who's got the edge and who might slip? Dark Horses – From Rehy DJ to Chilli Knight to Harry Meade's climbing crew Cross-Country Outlook – What the early rounds will reveal — and who's built for a tough day Sunday Showdowns – Strong jumpers, small margins, and the final test under pressure Podium Predictions – The team picks their winners, surprises, and one horse they can't shake Guests: Diarmuid Byrne – Co-founder of EquiRatings  Spike Milligan – Team vet and cross-country form expert  Catherine Austen – Longtime journalist and Badminton insider    EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We revisit some beloved children's television series from the seventies and eighties this week as Chris Diamond returns to talk about those occasions when Spike Milligan would pop up as a special guest in shows such as Super Gran, The Sooty Show, Pob's Programme, Jackanory, The Muppet Show, Number 73, Tiswas and The Ratties (which Spike narrated). Wiping a nostalgia-fuelled tear from his eye, Chris regrets the lack of original children's programming which has cut-through these days and warmly reminisces about other shows from the period such as The Wombles, The Smurfs and The Trap Door (with Willie Rushton). There's also time for a game of 'Which Major Celebrity Of The Eighties Didn't Guest Star In Super Gran?' and an attempt by Chris to remember the lyrics to that show's infectiously catchy theme tune. With huge thanks to the exceptional Roger Langridge for this episode's artwork!

We talk about the life and work of the troubled, eclectic, absurdist British author and Goon Show comedian Spike Milligan. Get the After Dark episode and more at patreon.com/artofdarkpod or substack.com/@artofdarkpod. x.com/artofdarkpod x.com/abbielucas x.com/kautzmania […]

"Ah, here is is Christmas Eve and still no offers of pantomime!"One of the best-known Goon Shows ever, Dishonoured - Again went out in January 1959 and before the year was at an end was commercially released (with Tales Of Old Dartmoor) on the LP The Best Of The Goon Shows. It was subsequently repeated more frequently than most Goon Shows and its script was published in a Roger Wilmut book.A remake (superior in every respect) of a Series 5 episode, due to Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens both being unwell and unable to produce an original script, it positively pops and the cast are clearly having a ball. Steve Hatcher joins us this week to talk about this very fine episode which somewhat gives the lie to the lazy belief that by this late point in the show's run the team were coasting and looking to their own individual careers and future success. As well as the episode itself they discuss Harry on stage in Large As Life, Sellers' major film commitments and Spike's rather muddled version of some tragic events.

"Do you want a taste of the lash?""No thanks, I've just had some cocoa."In 1974 the BBC issued the first Goon Show Classics LP. On one side was The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler of Bexhill-on-Sea and on the other side was the show we're talking about today: The Histories of Pliny the Elder, Spike Milligan's attempt to pen a sword-and-sandals Goonish epic.It has become one the most beloved Goon Shows ever, with some highly memorable gags and an end-of-term looseness about it. They all sounded like they were just having a lot of fun. Joining Tyler is returning guest James Page and as well as discussing the show itself pay tribute to a couple of the backroom boys, examine the difference between Cyril and Lew and give mention to Mark Kermode, Terry Scott and the Asterix books.

It's time to talk riders. With the 2025 season just getting underway, we're looking beyond the headlines to spotlight the riders set to shape the year ahead. Nicole Brown, Diarm Byrne, and Spike Milligan return to throw down their predictions—from established stars chasing gold to breakout talents building momentum. Who's peaking at the right time? Who's flying under the radar? And who could top the world rankings by season's end? Highlights: Championship Calls – Can Laura Collett finally land individual gold? Could Ros Canter or Yasmin Ingham take the European title on home soil? World Number One Debate – The case for Tim Price, Harry Meade, and a wildcard pick from across the pond (Boyd Martin, anyone?). Depth vs. Brilliance – What really counts when it comes to FEI points, and who's built the horsepower to stay at the top? Next Gen Watchlist – Introducing the young guns you'll be hearing a lot more about: Oscar Fitzgerald, Tom Nestor, Izzy Cook, and more. Guests: Nicole Brown – Ready to rein in the chaos and name names. Diarm Byrne – Letting the data do the talking (mostly). Peter "Spike the Vet" Milligan – Weighing in between vet calls and nappy changes. Three categories. Endless opinions. Some risky predictions. This is your front-row seat to the names you'll be seeing all season long. Presented by Equilume – supporting equine health and performance through innovative light technology. Learn more at equilume.com. EquiRatings Eventing PodcastFollow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2025 season on Instagram and Facebook.

According to Peter Sellers: “It all started because Spike Milligan and I once said we wanted to experiment in visual humour. We got as many friends together as we could and went and found a field. That was all we had – friends, a field, a roll of film.”What resulted was 'The Running, Jumping & Standing Still Film' (1959), directed by the up-and-coming Richard Lester, a friend and collaborator of Sellers and Milligan. The short film soon became a word-of-mouth hit and was even nominated for an Oscar. It helped pave the way for Lester to work with the Beatles several years later and Spike Milligan claimed that it was one of the very few true visual representations of Peter Sellers' sense of humour. Although accounts vary it has become accepted that the total budget for the film was £70 (including the rent of a field) and the entire cast was made up of - as Sellers says - friends. So we see Graham Stark, Leo McKern, David Lodge, Mario Fabrizi, Bruce Lacey and Johnny Vyvyan, as well as the two Goons themselves. This week film academic Dr Adrian Smith joins Tyler to talk about this highly influential 11 minutes of mayhem.

For over 50 years it was a staple for Kiwi kids - be it in book, radio play or theatre form: Spike Milligan's Bad Jelly the Witch. Originally a short handwritten story for his kids, it was printed in 1973 and made into an audio version. It was phenomenally popular here - in fact it was the most-licensed New Zealand play and believed to have over one hundred productions throughout the country. But it's set to get a new generation of young fans thanks to Mukpuddy animation studio who have picked up the rights and have turned it into a 13-part series with British star Miriam Margolyes as Bad Jelly. Ryan Cooper is one of the co-founders of Mukpuddy, he's the co-director of the new series (streaming now on TVNZ+) and also the author of a new book, Badjelly, that's just been released. He joins Kathryn to talk about how the book and series came about and the perennial popularity of this deliciously pernicious witch.

In this episode of the Who's He? Podcast.... Who's He? On the TV | Spike Milligan - Part 2 This week it's the second and final part of our look at the television output of Spike Milligan and Phil is joined once again by Tyler Adams from Goon Pod. This episode, they discuss the cast of Q, which leads Phil to tell a story about Bob Todd, Tyler leads the conversation onto Straw Dogs by way of Freddie "Parrot Face" Davies and they both try their hand at doing Spikes Sergeant Major voice. Don't forget to subscribe and listen to Tylers excellent podcast, Goonpod, by clicking on the link below: Goonpod Podcast You can currently find us on X, Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky and Facebook.  Don't miss an episode by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, plus many other podcatchers of your choice.  

'When is a meal not a meal?'Stuart Moxham, Spike Milligan, Devo, The Upsetters, Paddy McAloon, The Delines, Lloyd Cole & Jill Sobule, Aztec Camera

In this episode of the Who's He? Podcast.... Who's He? On The TV | Spike Milligan - Part 1 Phil is joined by Tyler Adams of Goonpod to talk about Phil's all time hero, Spike Milligan. In the first part of a two part conversation, Tyler and Phil chat about Spike's TV output from the 1950's through to the early 70's, even including Cucumber Castle starring The Bee Gees! Along the way, they discuss the perils of meeting your heroes and obsessive fans doing impressions. To listen to Tylers excellent podcast, Goonpod, click on the link below: Goonpod Podcast You can currently find us on X, Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky and Facebook.  Don't miss an episode by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, plus many other podcatchers of your choice.

“For a shortened version of this programme, please read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and you won't find much resemblance.”   On 24th December 1959 the tenth and final series of The Goon Show got off to a thoroughly festive start with a show VERY loosely based on the classic Dickens story, in which Scrooge (played by Henry Crun) entrusts Eccles with a Christmas pudding full of gold threepenny bits. This attracts the attention of Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty and all manner of chaos ensues.   This really was the last hurrah for the Goon Show as Series 10 only ran for six editions – Sellers was already a film star, Secombe was in huge demand as a singer and performer and Milligan (beset with personal dramas) had grown tired of doing it. It was an excuse for Sunday larks but as 1960 arrived they were all ready to move on.   Leading up to the start of the series the BBC publicity department announced: “Christmas is expected to get off to a disastrous start in the Home Service on Christmas Eve. For at exactly 7:30pm announcer Wallace Greenslade will announce over the ether “This is the Goon Show” and for the next thirty minutes Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe will start a hilarious riot throughout millions of listeners' homes.”   The show lacked any structure or discipline and yet contains some of the funniest material the Goons ever broadcast, chiefly centred around Scrooge, Eccles and Ned Scratchit. Willium is appearing as Sewerman Sam and Max Geldray defiles the acting craft with a brief role as a Welsh spouse. It wraps up on a musical note for want of a neater ending.   Joining Tyler is Andy Bell whose Welsh-language podcast is Rhaglen Cymru - Andy can be contacted at rhaglencymru@hotmail.com.

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features our cult classic pick, Richard Lester's The Bed Sitting Room. Directed by Richard Lester from a screenplay by John Antrobus and starring Ralph Richardson, Rita Tushingham, Michael Hordern and Arthur Lowe, The Bed Sitting Room is adapted from the play by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Vincent Canby in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1969/09/29/archives/screen-lesters-surrealistic-farce-the-bed-sitting-room-is-at-little.html), Penelope Houston in The Spectator (https://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/4th-april-1970/19/arts-long-knives-at-dunsinane), and Bernard Drew in the Gannnett News Service.Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen's Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.You can also follow us all on Letterboxd to keep up with what we've been watching at goforjason, signalbleed and bydavidrosen.Subscribe on Patreon to support the show and get access to exclusive content from Awesome Movie Year, plus fellow podcasts Piecing It Together and All Rice No Beans, and music by David Rosen: https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosenAll of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.comPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1969 installment, featuring our producer David Rosen's pick, David Lowell Rich's Eye of the Cat.

Ep. 673: Ridwell | Chapter 45-46 / Volume 3, Chapter 9-10 Book talk begins at 11:01. Jane Fairfax's health takes center stage as “nervous fever”. We also stumble across the Greek god Momus and of course, Jane Austen weaves in some references to a Goldsmith song from  “The Vicar of Wakefield”. Plus, have you heard about Ridwell? Check all of it out. --------------------------------------------------------------- • • • • Can you use arrowroot in a gravy for people who can't have flour? Let us know in the comments! • The definition of typhus versus the definition of typhoid • • Spike Milligan from The Goon Show • Goldsmith's song from “the vicar of wakefield” • Mourning hems • Closeup of hems •   CraftLit's socials: • Find everything here: • Join the newsletter: • Podcast site: • Facebook: • Facebook group: • Pinterest: • TikTok podcast: • Email: • Check out the list of previous CraftLit Classics here: Support the show links: Subscribe to the Premium feed (on the app) here: or on Patreon: (same price, $5/month) • Download the FREE CraftLit App for iOS or Android (you can call or email feedback straight from within the app) • Call 1-206-350-1642