Event    From 1951  To 1960

The Goon Show

Categories: Humour, TV & Radio

Radio comedy show, originally broadcast as 'Crazy People' The first scripts were co-written by Spike Milligan and Jimmy Grafton. The pressure of writing eventually contributed to Milligan's mental breakdown. Michael Bentine was a co-founder but left in 1953. The inventiveness of the programme has been cited as a major influence for many subsequent comedians. A puppet series for television, 'The Telegoons' was made in the early 1960s. Milligan, Secombe and Sellers reunited for a final show in 1972 as part of the BBC's 50th anniversary celebrations. Our picture shows, left to right: Sellers, Secombe, Milligan, Bentine.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
The Goon Show

Commemorated ati

Last Goon Show

The Camden Palace was home to the Goon Show through the 1950s.

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Spike's statue - Goons

This little group shows Secombe, Milligan and Sellers, holding "Goons" script...

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The Goon Show

{Caricatures of the four comedians, followed by:} The Goon Show, 1951-1960, f...

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Other Subjects

Joyce Grenfell

Joyce Grenfell

Born Joyce Phipps in Montpelier Square, London. Her mother was sister to Nancy Astor, MP, so she was "well brought up". Aged 19 she married Reggie, her husband until her death. The picture is a se...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Theatre

2 memorials
Irene Handl

Irene Handl

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Person, Cinema, Humour, Theatre, TV & Radio

2 memorials
Marti Caine

Marti Caine

All round entertainer.  Died High Wycombe.

Person, Humour, Music / songs, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Dame Thora Hird DBE

Dame Thora Hird DBE

Actor.  Born Lancashire.  Played many comic roles.  Late in her life Alan Bennett wrote a number of roles for her.

Person, Cinema, Humour, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Thomas Hood

Thomas Hood

Born 31 Poultry and died at home in Devonshire Lodge, London. Example: "Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms, But a cannon-ball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms."

Person, Humour, Poetry

4 memorials