Kick Up the Archives – January 2023

Happy New Year to all our readers!

Just when you thought it was safe to climb out from under your Christmas tree, here we are again with another selection box of gems from the depths of the internet, just waiting to satisfy your appetite for rare and hard to find goodies. So without further ado, off we go!


The Goon Show

We start with a brand new programme. This was on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday! Here it is, just in case you missed it. The first ten minutes are about…The Goons!
Archive on 4 – Annie Nightingale’s Age of Irreverence

A Profile on alchetron.com

Interesting collection of Goons-related records, discs and tapes
Go to www.6868.me.uk and search for goons

The Goon Show at GSMC Classics- Podcast – at www.listennotes.com

Advert: Florette Salad – Bags of Goodness  Music: The Goons – Eeh! Ah! Oh! Ooh! (so that’s what Prince Harry does now)

Now welcome to crazy song version corner!

The Bee Gees Sing The Goons – The Ying Tong song

Not to be outdone, Yes lead singer Jon Anderson does his version

Finally its the turn of the Muppets (scroll through to clip 8)


Peter Sellers

A Tribute To Peter Sellers

A Tribute To Blake Edwards


Another former Sellers car goes under the hammer
at www.carandclassic.com

1968 portrait of Sellers

The Best of British Laughs – Peter Sellers with Barry Took

A Profile at alchetron.com

Peter Sellers according to John Hester – at www.theargus.co.uk

Balham Gateway To The South – transcribed – at lproven.livejournal.com

Merrie Spaeth on Peter Sellers in The World of Henry Orient – on Facebook

For those interested in The Kings Theatre Southsea, where baby Sellers was carried on stage, here’s an interesting Facebook page

George Martin – A Painter In Sound. A 4 CD set including some tracks by Sellers as well as Bridge Over The River Wye and some tracks by Milligan and Bentine, Unchained Melody and a clip from a Goon Show.

PG Tips – The very first chimps TV commercial featuring the voice of…
on Facebook

Peter Sellers BBC TV film trailers from Christmas 1982

For those wanting to know how to get hold of The Ghost Of Peter Sellers, here’s a download site. Although there was a DVD release in the USA, there’s no DVD release in the UK


Spike Milligan

Nice piece on Spike at www.irishtimes.com

A Profile – at alchetron.com


Michael Bentine

A Profile – at alchetron.com

A great collection of cards including Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine
at www.moviecard.com


Harry Secombe

A Profile – at alchetron.com


And Finally…

If you’re not a member of The Goon Show Preservation Society, where have you been? 

For a ridiculously small annual subscription, you can join today and get access to the amazing Encyclopedia Goonicus, the only one-stop shop for all things Goon!
Simply open your wallet and say after me… “Help Yourself!” 

Born in 1972 as a direct result of The Last Goon Show Of All, the society celebrated its 50th birthday in 2022.

Finally, don’t forget to listen to the legend that is Tyler Adams’ GoonPod   Go on… you know you want to!

Listeners' Top 20 British Sitcoms Of All Time Goon Pod

Let's go out with a bang as we count down Listeners’ Top 20 British Sitcoms of All Time – as voted for by you. In total 73 different shows were nominated – some of the very greatest and most popular, others quite obscure or forgotten. But which ones made the final list? In this show we find out, with very special guests Chris Diamond and Donna Rees.Whether your tastes run towards the communal warmth of classic ensemble shows, the brittle awkwardness of suburban frustration, or the fragmented edges of sitcom storytelling, there’s plenty here to argue about. We talk about why some comedies endure, why others divide opinion and how shifting zeitgeists shape what people laugh at. Expect nostalgia, rediscovery and the occasional raised eyebrow or disapproving 'tut' as we move through the list. Will the obvious favourites dominate, or will a few unexpected titles sneak in? Expect a few surprises!
  1. Listeners' Top 20 British Sitcoms Of All Time
  2. Carol For Another Christmas (1964)
  3. This Is Your Life: Spike Milligan
  4. One Way Pendulum (1965) – with David Quantick
  5. Yellow Submarine (1968) – with Joel Morris

That’s all for now. Watch out for more A Kick Up The Archives Specials coming to a screen near you! Now wash your hands!