Starring Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan
Announcer: Wallace Greenslade
Music by Max Geldray and The Ray Ellington Quartet
The Orchestra was conducted by Wally Stott
Script: Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes
Producer: Peter Eton
Recorded: Sunday 13 February 1955
First Broadcast : Tuesday 15 February 1955 on the BBC Home Service
Billed in the Radio Times as “The Six Ingots of Leadenhall Street”, the script was changed at short notice to a story inspired by the appearance of a photograph of the floating pier at Westminster under several feet of water. Unfortunately, the Radio Times had already gone to press and the show starts with an argument between Secombe and Greenslade over the show that is to be performed. Wal insists that it must be “The Six Ingots of Leadenhall Street” because the Radio Times is never wrong. The plot proper starts with an inquiry by the Westminster Council into the sinking of the floating pier. Neddie Seagoon is put in charge of raising the pier. Ultimately, Neddie hires Moriarty and Grytpype to rescue the floating pier by lowering the level of the Thames. After a £3,000,000 expenditure, the Thames is not any lower. Seagoon discovers that Grytpype is merely pumping the water out at Westminster and back in again at Mortlake. He gets drunk on a visit to Mortlake Brewery and falls into the river. He is rescued by his old commanding officer, Major Bloodnok, who steals his money belt and gold Hunter watch. Seagoon enlists Bluebottle, Eccles, and Ellinga in a plan to quash Grytpype’s scheme by blowing up the pipe. Moriarty and Grytpype present Seagoon with a new floating pier that has holes bored in the bottom. Bluebottle has lit the dynamite under the pump, but is sent back by Moriarty to put the dynamite out. He isn’t in time and is blown up, as is Eccles. Meanwhile, Moriarty and Grytpype sell the new floating pier to Neddie, throw him into the river, and escape with the money. The show ends with Bloodnok about to rescue Neddie from drowning.
The Goon Show Preservation Society 