The Goon Show
- Radio sitcom / sketch show
- BBC Home Service
- 1951 - 1960
- 231 episodes (10 series)
Highly surreal radio adventures that helped take British comedy into a new age. Starring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. Also features Michael Bentine.
- Starts on Tuesday 12th December on Radio 4 Extra at 8am
- Series 4, Episode 24 repeated Tuesday at 8am on Radio 4 Extra
Key details
- Genres
- Sitcom, Sketch Show
- Broadcast
- 1951 - 1960
- Channel
- BBC Home Service
- Episodes
- 231 (10 series), plus 18 shorts and overseas specials
- Creator
- Spike Milligan
- Stars
- Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Michael Bentine, Max Geldray and Ray Ellington
- Writers
- Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Eric Sykes
- Producers
- Dennis Main Wilson, Peter Eton, Pat Dixon, Charles Chilton, Roy Speer, Tom Ronald and John Browell
- Company
The Goon Show, originally under the title of Crazy People focused on the bizarre experiments of Prof Osric Pureheart, played by Michael Bentine working alongside Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe.
After two series, Bentine left the show. As a result, a new title character was created - Neddie Seagoon. Episodes tended to involve Neddie trying to achieve some kind of greatness, often with the help of the idiotic but happy Eccles and the young Bluebottle. However, always willing to stop them and make as much money as possible were the impoverished Hercules Grytpype-Thynne and his French assistant Count Jim Moriarty. Also featuring alongside were the disgraced and flatulent Major Dennis Bloodnok, and elderly couple Henry Crun and Minnie Bannister.
Additional details
- Also known as
-
- The Goons
- Crazy People (Series 1 title)
- Production
- Studio
- Soundtrack
- The composer for the show was Angela Morley. Additional music was provided by the Ray Ellington quartet, and Max Geldray.
Website links
- BBC Comedy Guide
A guide to the series from the BBC. - The Goon Show Preservation Society - UK
The UK branch of the official society dedicated to the show. - The Goon Show Preservation Society - USA
The American version of the society. - The Goon Show Site
Another comprehensive website, including an archive of scripts from the show. - The Good Show Depository
Another passionate website about the show. Including the website'sGoonography
- The Goon Show Live
A live-on-stage recreation of The Goon Show which tours Australia. - Wikipedia
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Monday 28th May 1951 at 6:45pm on BBC Home Service
- Next repeats
-
- Series 4, Episode 24: Tuesday at 8am on Radio 4 Extra
- Series 4, Episode 24: Tuesday at 1pm on Radio 4 Extra
- Series 4, Episode 24: Tuesday at 6pm on Radio 4 Extra
- Series 4, Episode 24: Wednesday at 3am on Radio 4 Extra
- Overseas Episodes, Episode 8: Tuesday 12th December at 1pm on Radio 4 Extra
- Overseas Episodes, Episode 8: Tuesday 12th December at 6pm on Radio 4 Extra
- Overseas Episodes, Episode 8: Wednesday 13th December at 3am on Radio 4 Extra
- Most recent repeats
-
- Wednesday 29th November 2023 at 3:00am on Radio 4 Extra - Vintage Goons, Episode 1
- Tuesday 28th November 2023 at 6:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Vintage Goons, Episode 1
- Tuesday 28th November 2023 at 1:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Vintage Goons, Episode 1
Recording details
- The Camden Theatre