The Man Who Never Was
April the first, 1944. For the Allies, the first hope of victory was almost in sight. North Africa has been won with the aid of Lance...
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The Seagoon Memoirs
Chronicling a 21st century idiot's obsession with a 1950s radio comedy masterpiece.
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time capsule
Welcome, dear reader - pull up a bollard.
UPDATE: JUNE 2024
I am in the process of transferring this blog to Substack. You'll find me at theseagoonmemoirs.substack.com, where you can read for free and sign up to receive new posts (twice a week) direct to your email.
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On 28 May 1951, four young men took to the airwaves on the BBC's Home Service to launch their unique brand of comedy on an unsuspecting world.
In the mid-1990s, an even younger idiot was introduced to recordings of their broadcasts - and there began a strange obsession crossing decades and generations.
The Seagoon Memoirs is 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 radio comedy.
Listen to me waffle on about the Goons on the excellent Goon Pod here. Alternatively, listen to more interesting people on other episodes of Goon Pod, including Jane Milligan, Al Murray, Dirk Maggs, and the cast of 'Spike!', the new Milligan/Goon-themed play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.
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The Jet-Propelled Guided NAAFI
Major Bloodnok (voiced by Peter Sellers) regularly alludes to stealing money from various people. His character, so Sellers and Spike...
The Search for Rommel's Treasure
The scene is 1942. The date is El Alamein in North Africa. Kapitän Moriarty: Herr General Rommel, where are you? Rommel (Secombe,...
The Man Who Won The War
The Goon Show returned for its sixth series on 20 September 1955, and began in true Goon fashion: with the now-infamous ‘Fred the Oyster’...
The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler
The early episodes of the fifth series show the Goons at their best. Strong plots and settled characterisation allow Milligan’s...
Operation Bagpipes
Episode nine of the fourth series of the Goon Show was broadcast on the BBC Home Service – or “in” the Home Service, as was often written...
War is declared in all directions
Colonel (Jack Train): Now Seagoon, do you know we’re at war with naughty Germany? Seagoon: Well, I heard shouting. (from ‘Who Is Pink...
Spike's memoirs
Bloodnok: Waiter! One brandy, and pronto! Spriggs: One brandy and pronto coming up! Greenslade: Those were the last words said at peace....
Happy birthday, Jacques Brown
Happy birthday to… Jacques Brown, who was born on this day in 1900. He was producer for two Goon Show episodes: ‘The Missing Prime...
More wartime experiences
A couple of weeks ago we explored some of the Goons’ wartime experiences. Let’s pick up that theme again. Minister (Sellers): Gentlemen,...
The impact of war
Episode 16 of the first series was broadcast on 13 September 1951 and can be found on page 32 of the Radio Times. Grytpype: Now then,...
Spike Milligna, the well-known typing error
Episode 10 of the first series was broadcast on 2 August 1951 on the Home Service, the show having been shifted from Mondays to...
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