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ATTENTION PLEASE! Following the long service of our chairman, John Repsch, he has decided to take a break and pass the chair to somebody else. We need your help! We need a new chairperson to help steer the Society towards its main goal, to keep The Goon Show fresh and alive in people’s minds and…

Our own Neddie Seagoon returns to the airwaves this month in a newly rediscovered and restored recording. It’s an episode of Hancock’s Half Hour which was originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 10th May 1955. The history is that, as the second series was about to begin, Tony Hancock fled to Italy while…

March 10th this year marked the centenary of the birth of the Goon Show’s musical maestro, Angela Morley, born as Wally Stott in 1924. In the latest issue of Goon Show News, we ran a tribute to mark the occasion. BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast the documentary Musical Variations: The Life of Angela Morley of…

Since early in the days of the GSPS we’ve been aware that there was the Goonist Movement, a Goon Show fan club in the 1950s. However, apart from getting a glimpse of one newsletter years ago, no one had ever tracked down any information. And yes, we did try using Google…. In a last ditch…

The first of our newsletters of 2024 is being delivered. The contents include Tyler Adams on how he started the ever wonderful GoonPod podcast, features on Wally Stott and Roger Wilmut and a look at the Goon Show revival performance at Birmingham Comedy Festival. All this and there’s more, check the Goontents list below. See…

BBC Radio 4 Extra airs one Goon Show per week, played in three time slots on a Tuesday. That much is old news. What’s new is that, for the first time, they’re using episodes from the Vintage Goons series. The first show in the series, The Mummified Priest, was played on 29th November, and more…

Birmingham is celebrating its connection with the Goon Show scriptwriter Larry Stephens this week. Larry was born in the West Midlands 100 years ago. On 3rd October, local radio station Switchradio.co.uk broadcast a new documentary in which James Sandy explored Larry’s life. It’s available to listen to on their catch-up service here. Also part of…

Our annual meeting took place at Stephens House and Gardens, Finchley, on 30th September. Unfortunately it coincided with a rail strike, which restricted the number of members who could make it. One pleasing note from the AGM was that membership of the GSPS has risen by about 25% since last year, which is encouraging. The…

…… yes, Goonists. We are making one last effort to gather together as much information as possible about The Goonist Movement, the erstwhile “official” Goon Show fan club. We know it had its own magazine and it was in touch with Spike and the others in the 1950s, but little more than that really. Any…

This year’s GSPS annual meeting will take place on Saturday 30th September in the same location as last year, folks. That’s Stephen’s House and Garden in Finchley, North London, where the Spike Milligan Memorial Bench sits just outside in the park. One order of business will be holding the Annual General Meeting and, with our…

It’s still only August, but the September issue of our newsletter is on its way to members already. That’s a clue to there being advance news of a member’s meeting in September. The big feature is a celebration of the Telegoons 60th anniversary, and there’s much more. If you’re not a member, why not join…

The Colin Murray show on BBC Radio 5 Live on 7th August dedicated its third hour to a celebration of the life and work of Spike Milligan (so actually it’s from midnight going into the 8th). The guests were Jane Milligan, GSPS Secretary Richard Usher, poet Henry Normal and war historian Professor Lucy Noakes. You…

16th July marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Larry Stephens, who, on his own or co-writing with Spike Milligan or others, contributed to the scripts of no less than 131 episodes of the Goon Show. Larry was part of the Goons from the very beginning, brought in to complement Spike’s work as…

From a press release:The Goon Show will be making a triumphant return to the stage at this October’s Birmingham Comedy Festival. The one-off performance sees the festival marking the centenary of the birth of Goon Show writer Larry Stephens – who was born in nearby West Bromwich and raised in Quinton, on the outskirts of…

We often remember the significant anniversaries of the talented people who contributed to the making of the Goon Show. Today it’s a pleasure to acknowledge one man who’s still with us and can celebrate his birthday. Happy birthday to John Antrobus, 90 years old today (born 2nd July 1933, and living well in Chelsea, sometimes…

The Goon Show Preservation Society is delighted to wish our monarch King Charles III our warmest congratulations both on his accession to the throne and upon the occasion of his Coronation. We are proud that as Prince Charles he has been the society’s patron for many years. He remains a strong supporter of The Goon…

May 4th 2023 is the centenary of that fine Oldham born comedian, actor and scriptwriter Eric Sykes. Eric shared offices with Spike for many years and they shared the scriptwriting duties during series 5 of the Goon Show. He and his wide array of talents will always be fondly remembered. He granted us this interview…

A blue plaque honouring a man with Goons connections has been unveiled. It’s on the former Marylebone home of Marcel Stellman, who passed away in 2021. Among the many, many credits in his long career as a record executive, writer and producer are Goon songs such as I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas and the Ying…

We hear that one of the iconic buildings in the history of the Goon Show, and much more British comedy besides, has changed hands. In 1959 the scriptwriters co-operative known as Associated London Scripts moved into 9 Orme Court, in London’s leafy Bayswater district. It was its third home. ALS had developed from an initial…

Yes, it’s new magazine time, the latest edition of Goon Show News is on its way to members letter boxes and inboxes. For all those of you who are reading this but aren’t members, you’re missing out. Join now and get one. What’s in this issue?We look at Annie Nightingale’s programme on the link between…

Newly released is An Album Named Fred, a new CD of Goons connected music and recordings from Jasmine Records. It features a selection of rare material, much of it previously unissued, very rare or made available for the first time on CD. The set opens with the song Harry Secombe regularly used as a warm-up…

As a birthday tribute to the late, great Michael Bentine, who would have celebrated his 101st Birthday on 26th January, the secretary of the GSPS, Richard Usher, presents his own performance of Bentine’s wonderful sketch ‘The Most Haunted House in Britain’, as featured in his show ‘The Best of Bentine’

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, we present the latest episode in our thrilling advertising campaign, written for cinema, television and radio. It’s appearing exclusively on this website for reasons of budget. Sadly, we don’t have enough pictures of Queen Victoria to pay for cinema, television or radio. Eccles: Hallo dere! Thank you for landing on…

There’s a celebration of Spike Milligan’s poetry running on Twitter during January. Organised by Craig McLeish, it includes delightful short video readings of Spike’s verse. For those of you who use that platform, it’s easiest to find them with a search for #MilliganPoetryOdyssey There’also s a full list here on the Seagoon Memoirs website. Here’s…

After Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive was broadcast on the Sky Arts channel last month, there’s another Spike documentary showing on TV this coming week. It’s on BBC4 this time and the programme is Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace, which is scheduled for Wednesday 11th January at 9pm. There’s also a repeat scheduled on…

As we enter 2023, here’s a New Year message from the Goons. Wal: Now that Mr Claus has delivered his presents and is taking a well-earned rest, I am reliably informed that The Goon Show Preservation Society would like to wish a Happy New Year and custard to all their readers. Neddie: That’s it Wal, give them…

Here’s a challenge to fill a little time over the festive period. This quiz first appeared in our Newsletter no. 121. There were wonderful prizes to be won, but the closing date was 31st January 2008, so it’s too late to enter now. How many can you get without checking Google, Bing, Ask Jeeves or…

We’ve heard news of another piece of Goon Show connected theatre which is about to hit the stage. Featuring the story of Wally Stott, the Goon Show’s musical director, the play is being staged at the Acorn Studio – Titchfield Festival Theatre, Faversham PO14 4BG, from Mon 23rd to Sat 28th January.more details here We’re…

To all members, check your postboxes, mailboxes, inboxes, matchboxes and any other boxes you have on your person. The December issue of our newsletter is on its way to you now.

There’s more Spike Milligan due to appear in the media very soon. The latest programme, to be shown on the Sky Arts channel, is a new documentary made by the Welsh independent company Yeti Television. It will feature never-before aired: film, interviews and scripts from the inimitable comedian and poet.Its first broadcast will be on…

As part of the BBC’s Centenary celebrations, several restored shows have been getting an airing. We’ve already looked at Peter Sellers on Hancock’s Half Hour (here). Next up for Goon fans is The Spike Milligan Show, which will be on Radio 4 Extra at 1030 on Sunday 6th November 2022.The original broadcast of this show,…

While the play Spike is touring the UK’s theatres, the script has become available to buy. So, if you’re not going to catch a performance in the theatre, or even if you are, here’s the chance to enjoy Nick Newnam & Ian Hislop’s text from the comfort of your own easy chair. The script is…

The 5th of October this year is the 50th anniversary of the original BBC Radio 4 broadcast of The Last Goon Show of All. As many of the original cast as possible had been gathered for the show, which itself was recorded to celebrate the BBCs 50th anniversary.It was after that show that enthusiasts came…

LAST CALLTyler Adams is planning an episode of the Goon Pod podcast for later in the year, to feature a list of the top twenty Goon Shows. To help compile the list, he’s asking all Goon fans to send him a message with the titles of their three favourite shows. Not an easy choice…Tyler can…

A group of us gathered at Stephens House and Gardens in Finchley on 24th September for our 2022 AGM event. As far as the formal business of the meeting went, a fierce and wide-ranging debate lasting several moments led to the re-election of the whole GSPS Committee. Other business of the day included marking the…

Since 1998, the Goon Show Preservation Society has been honoured and enjoyed the patronage which HRH Prince Charles bestowed on us. This reflected his personal support. Famously, he is a big fan of the show who was very disappointed to miss the Last Goon Show of All recording, fifty years ago. Everyone is aware of…

Spike, the play written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, has hit the road and is touring the country. Your humble website builder has his tickets for a Glasgow performance and is waiting in a state of severe excitement. See the previous post for tour dates, or check the play’s website. We rather liked this…

BBC Radio 4 Xtra news / GSPS Archive newsWhichever… it’s news The Beeb Beeb Ceeb has announced the closure of some broadcast services including Radio 4 Xtra, the current home of the weekly rebroadcast of The Goon Show (airs Tuesday at 08:00, 12:00 and 19:00).Listeners of this station should not be too concerned, as it…

The September 2022 issue of our newsletter has been sent out to members – and it’s only mid-August!

Herewith, hereby and herein, we give notice that this year’s AGM will be held on Saturday 24th September 2022, 10:00am to 5:00pmin the Stephens Room at Stephens House and Gardens, Avenue House, 17 East End Road, Finchley, London N3 3QE REASONS FOR COMING: you will see:the Spike Milligan Memorial BenchGuided tour by Jane Milligan of:The…

An announcement has been made, and it could be the highlight of the year. Spike, the play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, is being taken on a nationwide tour this very coming autumn. The play was first produced earlier this year at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury. It focuses on Spike Milligan in the early…

Let’s give a shout-out to Nick Reeve, who’s doing his bit to promote the Goon Show.Nick publishes a blog at The Seagoon Memoirs which he describes as ‘an attempt to channel this obsession into something creative, chronicle the show’s history, development and legacy, and in some small way contribute to preserving this masterpiece of British…