Compendium Volume THIRTEEN - Series 1 to 3 CRAZY PEOPLE – SERIES 1 a new form of ‘goon’ humour which they had developed since the war, making each other laugh at the family-run pub of Grafton’s on Strutton Grounds in APRIL 1949-DECEMBER 1951 Westminster. The landlord-cum-theatrical agent Jimmy Grafton had co-written the script under the pen-name ‘James Douglas’ along with his lodger, eccentric THE PROGRAMME musician Terence ‘Spike’ Milligan. Impersonator Peter Sellers headed the cast along with rising comics Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine and Robert Moreton, plus Doris Nichol (a colleague of Jacques Brown’s from Danger – ‘What exactly is a goon? Well, this is the answer Michael Bentine, Spike Men at Work!) and Bob Bain. Peter was Lord Peter, the twenty-second Earl Milligan, Peter Sellers and I cooked up whenever people asked us to explain of Sellers, with Robert as Mr Moreton the butler, Doris as Peter’s aunt Lady ourselves,’ wrote Harry Secombe in his newspaper column for the Glaswegian Lavinia, Harry and Michael as the crackpot wastrels Harry Secombe and the publication The Bulletin on Monday 24 June 1957. He then elaborated: ‘A goon Great Mike Bentine, and Bob as planning representative T Mucksworld Quince. is some one with a one-cell brain. Anything not basically simple puzzles a goon. The script also featured flashbacks to Peter’s ancestors, and opportunities for He thinks in the fourth dimension and his language is one step past babytalk. Peter to impersonate stars of the day such as Robb Wilton and Kenneth Horne. Goonery is bringing any situation to its illogical conclusion.’ Music was composed by established BBC pianist Jack Jordan, a veteran of Have a Go! and various musical shows, the melodies were conducted by From 3.30pm to 4.15pm on Wednesday 26 April 1949, a trial recording of a Stanley Black, and Dennis Castle acted as the announcer. new BBC radio comedy series called Tatters Castle took place in the silent, audience-free space of the Criterion Theatre in London. The lack of audience The trial recording was studied by BBC Light Entertainment (Sound)… was the idea of the Paris-born producer Jacques Brown, a compere and actor on and rejected. But it was the first recording undertaken by the Corporation to BBC radio before the war who had found success in the radio comedy Danger combine the talents of four comparatively new performers whose strange new – Men at Work! and who had then started to produce shows such as Taxi!, Hi ‘goon’ humour would soon herald a new generation in British comedy. Gang!, Can You Beat It? and Oliver’s Twists. The format of the show was a strange mix of humour concerning the crumbling estate of an eccentric English Born in 1918, Spike Milligan had been a jazz musician before being called earl, his butler and the rest of his staff who resided near Lower Sagging. The up for World War II, where he was hospitalised with shell shock after being cast comprised some of radio’s newest talent who had been experimenting with wounded in action at the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. After demob, he had returned to England and worked with the comedy music group The Bill In September 1947, Harry was appearing at the Hackney Empire and when Hall Trio from 1947; this included editions of BBC TV’s Variety produced by Spike visited him there he was introduced to another comedy act, impersonator Michael Mills in July 1947. Spike had also met up with – and lodged with – a Peter Sellers. Peter had been born into a theatrical family and had accompanied fellow soldier whom he had encountered during the war, Welsh singer and his parents on the variety circuit, working in the theatre and playing drums in comic Harry Secombe. Hailing from Swansea and three years younger than bands during the war. He entertained the troops in the Entertainments National Spike, Harry had been a pay clerk before the war and had encountered Spike Service Association (ENSA) and joined the RAF in 1943, serving in the Far during their time in North Africa. The pair found that they shared the same East. After demob, he continued to work as a drummer and impressionist. Peter strange sense of fun, and after demob, Harry started to perform on stage as a (who shared the same birthday as Harry but was four years younger) was also comic at the infamous Windmill Theatre from October 1946. He made his first quickly added to the Grafton’s mob where the former servicemen would get television broadcast on Little Show in November 1946, soon followed by BBC together in the upper room to engage in crazy banter, strange gags, and mess radio spots on Variety Bandbox and The Carroll Levis Show in 1947. And while around with tunes around the piano. at the Windmill, Harry encountered another comic with a different view of the post-war world: Michael Bentine. A major leap forward for this new style of humour came with a trial recording for a show entitled Listen My Children at the Camden Theatre on Wednesday Born in 1922, Eton-educated, half-Peruvian Michael had overcome a stammer 24 March 1948. The cast included Harry and the producer was Pat Dixon, to develop an interest in theatricals when war broke out and he joined the originally a writer on the pre-war show Give Me Air who had gone on to RAF, ultimately working for British Intelligence. His improvisational nature produce entertainment shows including Hoop-La! and Ignorance is Bliss. By with props led him to establish a stage act after demob, winning a place on April, the series had been confirmed, with eight shows to record from Saturday the bill at the Windmill as part of the double act Sherwood and Forrest. Also 8 May for broadcast on the Home Service from Tuesday 1 June.The ambitious a writer, Michael offered Harry some material for his appearances on Variety young Peter had approached the BBC for television auditions in January 1948 Bandbox and then introduced Harry to another writer, Major Jimmy Grafton with an act consisting of his wide range of characters from favourite radio (rtd) at Grafton’s; Jimmy soon became Harry’s agent. Seeing a fellow comedy personalities of the day to regional caricatures of his own. He made his BBC eccentric, Harry quickly introduced Spike to Michael… and Michael was soon TV debut in March 1948 on New To You and was soon acclaimed for his to experience success as part of the London Hippodrome revue Starlight Roof impersonations at the Windmill. A cheeky phone call to BBC producer Roy by late 1947. Speer – in which he impersonated Kenneth Horne, the star of Much-Binding- in-the-Marsh – got Peter work on Show Time in June 1948 which was followed Sellers were to join Harry Secombe in the line-up for the new show; Michael by spots on shows like Variety Bandbox, Starlight Hour and Tempo for Today had approached BBC radio and television in 1947 and had made television – a demanding schedule which he fitted in around touring in variety. Having appearances on Variety Express in May 1947 and more recently in Rooftop spent autumn 1947 touring Europe, Spike and the Bill Hall Trio appeared on Rendezvous. Also in the cast were Robert Moreton and comedy actress Margaret television in Rooftop Rendezvous (produced by Richard Afton) in August 1948. Lindsay. After a spell with the Ann Lenner Trio, Spike met up again with the Grafton’s mob and started to write a few gags for one of Jimmy’s clients, comedian Derek On New Year’s Day 1949, Harry and Michael appeared together on BBC TV’s Roy who was appearing on Variety Bandbox. However, Spike felt that Derek Rooftop Rendezvous. Then Third Division was scheduled to air from Wednesday was not a funny man and instead focussed more on messing around with his 26 January. It met with mixed success, while at Grafton’s – where Spike was own routines with the mob at Grafton’s, soon known as ‘Them ruddy Goons!’. now living and writing in the attic – the group started to mess around with a wire recorder, assembling surreal bits of sketches, mad characters and strange The word ‘Goon’ started to enter more public circulation when a piece about limericks or snatches of verse. Peter seemed to be particularly destined for Michael entitled What is a Goon? appeared in the Picture Post dated Friday 5 success at this time, and so Spike and Jimmy developed a pilot script for a series November 1948. The word ‘Goon’ came from numerous sources, notably the around him which Peter then pitched to Pat Dixon to test the BBC’s interest. character Alice the Goon, a strange creature which first appeared in theThimble Entitled Sellers’ Castle, this would see Peter as Lord Sellers – and his ancestors Theatre comic strip in December 1933. Tall, bald, large-nosed and heavy-armed, – and feature others from Grafton’s. Alfred Marks, another Windmill success Alice later was revealed to be part of a tribe living on Goon Island and her who had appeared in Stars in Your Eyes on TV and had worked with Peter on speech took the form of strange squiggles. Goon Island was then the setting for Starlight Hour for producer Roy Speer, was to play an impresario with Harry the animated 1938 short Goonland which chronicled the exploits of Popeye. The as his wandering minstrel singing protégé. Michael was to be a mad inventor. word had then been used during the war by prisoners of war as a slang term for Spike enjoyed playing an idiot servant character, using a voice similar to their German stalag guards. Mortimer Snerd, one of the vent dummies used by American entertainer Edgar Bergen. Others present at the recording at the Gui-de-Buire studios on New Listen My Children spawned a sequel in the form of Third Division – again Bond Street were Peter Butterworth (who had enjoyed success in Leave it to produced by Pat Dixon – which was recorded from Monday 6 December the Boys on the Light Programme), his wife Janet Brown (a Scots actress who to air on the high-brow BBC Third Programme. Michael Bentine and Peter had featured in revues and shows like Variety Bandbox), and Robert Moreton (who had featured regularly in Variety Bandbox since April 1948). The private material for radio and television under the gaze of talent-spotter Mary Cook. recording was announced by Andrew Timothy who had been a BBC Home Things finally started to happen for Spike in July 1949 when – at short notice – Service announcer since 1947. producer Charles Chilton gave him a break in the first episode ofThe Bowery Bar on the Home Service. Shortly afterwards, Spike and Jimmy wrote the Pat passed Jimmy’s recording of Sellers’ Castle to Roy Speer, a BBC radio scripts for a new Light Programme series for Derek Roy entitled Hip-Hip-Hoo- producer since 1938 who had been in charge of shows such as Show Time and Roy in which Spike would also appear. Starting in October, this was produced Starlight Hour. However, Roy felt that if the Corporation were to properly by Leslie Bridgmont with music from the Dance Orchestra conducted by assess the programme, a new version of it would need to be recorded by the Stanley Black. Spike played his Mortimer Snerd-style idiot, alongside Robert BBC itself. While producer Dennis Main Wilson – a friend of Harry – was a Moreton; Alfred Marks was billed in the first show only. Songs came from the champion of the new form of humour, he was felt to be too junior; as such, the Stargazers, a group formed only a few weeks earlier by singer Cliff Adams and project was passed on to Jacques Brown. Jacques in turn arranged the non- pianist Ronnie Milne; they performed alongside Dick James, Fred Datchler audience recording of Tatters Castle (the title referring to the 1942 filmHatter’s and Australian singer Marie Benson who had arrived in the UK in 1948. The Castle) in April. This failed to appeal to BBC Light Entertainment… and vocalists had broadcast since August in their own show on the London Home earned the wrath of Jimmy who had insisted that the Goons needed to play to an Service and also featured in Let’s Make Music. Spike and Jimmy dropped out of audience. scripting before the end of the run, but Spike remained in the cast through to the end of the run in December. During March 1949, Peter was signed to be part of the cast in a new radio comedy starring Ted Ray entitled Everything’s Under Control; this was soon By the autumn, Peter had joined the non-commercial entertainment group the renamed Ray’s a Laugh and after a trial recording on Thursday 31 March was Limelight Theatre Club which also numbered BBC producers Roy Speer, Pat immediately established as a full series. Peter conjured up a wide range of Dixon and Jacques Brown among its members. He also made his first successful popular comic characters including the saucy charlady Crystal Jollibottom and appearance at the London Palladium. A piece about Alfred Marks in the Daily dull schoolboy Soppy. Harry started to make appearances on the BBC Wales Mail on Monday 26 September noted that he was one of the ‘ex-Service variety show Welsh Rarebit from May. In addition to Grafton’s, a more public comedians who call themselves “goons” and plan some day to unite in a crazy stage to experiment with Goonery was the Nuffield Forces Centre behind show of their own’; the piece referred to Michael Bentine, Peter Sellers, Harry St Martin-in-the-Fields where many of the gang performed and honed their Secombe and Spike Milligan. In November 1949, the journal Bandwagon discussed the ‘Goon’ cult that was forming at Grafton’s, and presided over by aided by their radio exposure. By the autumn, Peter was heard on the Home Jimmy in his capacity of KOGVOS (‘Keeper of Goons and Voice of Sanity’). Service again in the second run of Ray’s a Laugh, but already the massive The key players were Peter Sellers, Alfred Marks, Michael Bentine (who demand for his talents meant that he was having to cancel some dates. appeared on the bill of the 1949 Royal Command Performance), Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, former opera singer and RAF Gang Show comic Dick Emery Despite the earlier setback of Tatters Castle, Pat Dixon did not want to give and actress Paddie O’Neill (later the wife of Alfred Marks). By now, Peter had up on what he saw as the next exciting new wave of comedy fermenting at met Australian actress Anne Howe (who acted as Anne Hayes) who in turn Grafton’s. Pushing for a show featuring the combined talents of Peter, Harry, introduced her best friend June Marlowe to Spike. Michael and Spike, on Wednesday 8 November Pat was given permission by the Head of Variety (Sound) Michael Standing to record another trial programme Harry became the resident comedian on Welsh Rarebit, a long-running variety paid for the by BBC’s Experimental Fund. Also featuring in trial recording show from the BBC’s studios in Wales, in January 1950. He also continued to would be Margaret Lindsay, while early publicity shots of the four Goons appear on Variety Bandbox, developing the ‘Goon’ humour; indeed on the show showed them alongside Ian Carmichael, a comedy actor who had appeared with of 29 January host Philip Slessor made reference to ‘professional broadcasting Alfred and Paddie on Don’t Look Now and was then training to be a television Goons’ including Harry who had attended the previous week’s show which producer; however, Ian took no part in the series which was to follow. In terms featured Peter. Spike was away on a tour of military bases in East Anglia as a of musical interludes for the pilot, these would be performed by the Stargazers solo comic; when he returned to London, he moved in with Peter at the Golders (now with Bob Brown in place of Dick James) along with jazz from the Ray Green flat of Peter’s parents and continued to write his new comedy material Ellington Quartet. Born in London in 1915 as Henry Brown, Ray Ellington had at Grafton’s. Spike also started to write with Larry Stephens, an ex-commando been in show business as a youngster and had joined Harry Roy and his Band in friend of Harry’s who had been writing for his friend Tony Hancock – another 1937 as a drummer and crooner, broadcasting regularly through to 1940 when rising radio star – and who found Spike shared his taste in more off-the-wall he joined the RAF as a PT instructor. After demob he continued to play with material. Harry Roy but also by early 1948 had formed the Ray Ellington Quartet and was soon in demand on the variety circuit, as well as broadcasting on his own A successful and rising star, Peter took over as the new resident comedian of radio shows. From 1949, the group – comprising Ray with bass player/vocalist Variety Bandbox from Sunday 16 April 1950. Spike toured with Derek Roy Coleridge Goode, pianist Dick Katz and Laurence Deniz on electric guitar – while Harry and Peter continued to work their way up various variety bills, released recordings via Parlophone such as Boppy Soxer and had developed a blend of advanced bop, jive and jazz mixed with humour. During 1950 they dubious retired major also staying at their hotel, Alfred Marks as a counterfeiter, had undertaken a major tour of Scandinavia and had returned to variety and and Paddy O’Neill as a gold-digger. Made by Advance Films and directed by broadcasting in August 1950.Two days later, contracts were sent out to book Tony Young, this was to be made at Brighton Studios over four weeks from the cast to record between 5pm and 5.45pm on Tuesday 19 December in Studio Monday 27 November. Spike was also to work on the music with Jack Jordan. 1 at Piccadilly when the pilot of The Junior Crazy Gang would be performed. By now, Alfred and Paddy were going in their own direction, appearing on BBC Although the new stars wanted the word ‘Goon’ to feature in the show’s title, TV in Don’t Look Now. ‘It was a self-defensive move,’ Paddy later said of the the BBC felt that this word was strange and confusing; instead the Corporation’s Goons in Sydney Morning Herald (18 March 1976), ‘Alfred didn’t stay long, proposal associated the Grafton’s quartet with a sextet of British entertainers because the BBC offered him another job and told him “This Goon Show will formed by the combination of three comedy double acts, who had been known never get anywhere.”’The Daily Mirror announced the December trial recording as the ‘Crazy Gang’ since 1937.The BBC’s assumption was that the script would of the Junior Crazy Gang on Wednesday 29 November… but already there was effectively be written by Spike and edited by Jimmy. However, while handling a problem with this session. Jimmy suddenly realised that Harry was booked Michael’s booking, his agent Denis Selinger informed the BBC’s Variety elsewhere on Tuesday 19 and so the recording would need to be scrubbed. At Booking Manager Patrick Newman that ‘I understand from Mr Bentine that he the same time, the BBC was already discussing a three-year contract for Peter’s will be responsible for quite a lot of material in conjunction with Mr Milligan.’ services with his agent, Montague Lyons. A few days later after consultation with Pat Dixon, Patrick wrote back to Denis and commented: ‘the producer does not agree with this view’. Only Spike On Wednesday 6 December, the BBC informed the cast of The Junior Crazy was contracted to deliver the script. For Peter and Harry – who were used to Gang that the trial recording had been moved to Sunday 4 February 1951. performing routines written for them by others – this was not an issue. However, Meanwhile, Double or Quits had been completed early in Brighton and so as Michael was used to developing his own unique style of humour and creating all not to waste the studio time, sets or cast, a short item of music and sketches was his own material. hastily assembled for Adelphi Films and directed by Alan Cullimore under the title Let’s Go Crazy. Most of the items featured Peter as various comedy figures Meanwhile, three of the Goons were booked elsewhere. A comedy support film ranging from Groucho Marx to his characters from Ray’s a Laugh; Spike also called Double or Quits had been written by John Ormonde (an author on the took part in an uncredited capacity. 1951 meant that Harry was still busy on 1947 revue So What) and featured Harry as a foolish pools winner going on variety bills while being heard on Variety Bandbox, Welsh Rarebit and Music holiday to Brighton, Spike as his unlucky but smarter buddy, Peter as a rather Hall while the Stargazers were in demand on Calling All Forces, Variety Ahoy! and Workers’ Playtime. Peter was similarly busy on stage and radio and the BBC series working with Pat Dixon. In the meantime, on Wednesday 14 March, the were still considering locking this hot new talent into a two-year contract. In the Daily Mirror announced that Michael, Spike, Harry and Peter would broadcast edition of The Stage dated Thursday 11 January, an advert appeared reading: the first edition of their new show on Monday 14 May with a special music ‘Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Norman Vaughn wish to thank spot for Ray Ellington. Meanwhile in early April, Peter started a run at the Arnold Fringe for his continued guidance over the past number of years. Now in London Palladium and the Stargazers recorded their first record for Decca in production: ‘The Fringe Frolics’. Business Manager: Harold Vest.’ the form of Rose, Rose, I Love You. Finally, on Wednesday 11 April, the Goon With a budget of £125, the pilot for The Junior Crazy Gang was recorded on series found its producer in the form of Dennis Main Wilson who would work Sunday 4 February 1951. ‘The audience didn’t understand a word of it. God on establishing the show in conjunction with Pat Dixon. Dennis had started bless the band. They saved it. They dug all the jokes,’ commented Spike. News producing with the Light Programme talent show Opportunity Knocks in early that the trial recording had taken place with the ‘Goon gang’ was welcomed by 1949, moving on to First House and The George Mitchell Glee Club on the the Daily Mirror and Daily Express on Wednesday 14 February with readers Home Service.On Monday 23 April, the BBC offered Peter a radio contract to informed that a Goon was ‘a crazy character from a Pop Eye [sic] cartoon’. guarantee him a minimum 26 broadcasts a year from July 1951 to July 1953; This time, with an audience present, Pat Dixon’s pilot had been a success and Peter quickly signed, and soon had another two-month run at the Palladium the cost was now covered by the Home Service rather than the Experimental from the start of May. Meanwhile, the gang continued to appear in variety, at Fund. On Friday 2 March, Junior Crazy Gang was scheduled to run for six the Nuffield Centre and on various radio spots, with Spike’s musical and comic programmes – with an option on six more – and debut at 7.45pm on Monday 14 talents harnessed by Joe Loss and his orchestra for their stage appearances. May. Double or Quits – now retitled Penny Points to Paradise – had been certified by the British Board of Film Censors in late February and made its debut at a In the early part of 1951, Pat Dixon had been producing two other Home trade show on Wednesday 25 April prior to its release in May. Let’s Go Crazy Service comedy programmes, We Beg to Differ and Bedtime with Braden. He would be certified at the end of the month and similarly released during May. was then also scheduled to produce a third show, In the Blue of the Evening But back at the BBC, the two producers were having a difference of opinion on during March, meaning that the Junior Crazy Gang would have to be assigned the scripts for Junior Crazy Gang as Pat Dixon informed Michael Standing on elsewhere. On Tuesday 13 March, Michael Standing offered the project to junior Friday 4 May: ‘I feel [...] that it is harmful for me to occupy a back-seat driver’s producer Ian Messiter, indicating that the shows would have a budget of £240 position in this matter [the script needs] extensive re-writing […] I think it best, each. Next on Wednesday 21 March, Jacques Brown was asked to produce the therefore, that I withdraw from any position of adviser on this show.’ The cast were contracted for six editions of Junior Crazy Gang (with an option submissions by Larry Stephens; Spike and Dennis both felt that writing one on six more) on Thursday 10 May. Peter and Harry were paid the most as entire half-hour show a week was too much. There was also considerable editing they were established radio stars, with Michael on slightly less and Spike – a required which Jimmy was prepared to do since Dennis himself was to be too relative unknown – on around half as much. The projected shows would be busy on Top of the Bill and other shows. taped weekly from Sunday 27 May at 6.15pm, with the programmes airing on the London Home Service from Monday 28 May. A few days later, Harry was The Radio Times for the London region billed the new series as ‘CRAZY booked by Roy Speer for another new radio series; this was Educating Archie, PEOPLE featuring Radio’s Own Crazy Gang “The Goons”’ and carried featuring ventriloquist Peter Brough and his dummy Archie Andrews which photos of the four stars; the bearded Michael Bentine looked particularly crazy was to debut in early June. The intention was that Harry would replace Robert while his colleagues appeared rather handsome. The text accompanying this Moreton for six shows from the start of August.Then on Tuesday 15 May, Spike box-out referred to Spike Milligan compiling the ‘Goon Show’ material and was injured by a revolver loaded with blanks while appearing at the East Ham commenting: ‘Now it remains to be seen what will happen when their differing Palace of Varieties and had to have five stitches in his hand; this had been part brands of comedy are fused in the one show.’ More publicity appeared in the of his comedy act where he shot his invisible little brother off-stage. The Goons’ press in the lead-up to the first recording.The Stage on Thursday 24 highlighted new series was previewed by the News Chronicle and The Stage on Thursday 17 the involvement of Margaret Lindsay and Spike explained that ‘Goon’ meant May; no secret was made of the fact that three producers had bowed out on the that ‘every one of the gags has an illogical conclusion.’ ‘The biggest BBC project before Dennis Main Wilson had taken the helm, and the new series was gamble in radio humour’ was how the Daily Mirror described the forthcoming not referred to by title, only as the ‘Goon Show’ featuring the quartet. The Stage recording at Studio 1 of the Aeolian Hall (a former gallery on New Bond Street claimed that the scripts would be written by ‘a certain Arnold Fringe, known turned into a concert hall and taken over by the BBC during the war) on Friday as the spirit of the Goons’ and translated by Spike Milligan; Fringe had been 25 which referred to catchphrases such as ‘Yackabakkakaa’ and emphasised that publicly thanked in various Goon-related trade adverts since late December. at 27, Dennis was the BBC’s youngest variety producer. ‘Unlike [the wartime A couple of days later, the news that Harry was replacing Robert in Educating radio comedy] ITMA, goon humour will not be relying on puns. There is no Archie was reported in the papers. cross talk. We take several situations and develop them to their most illogical conclusion,’explained Spike. ‘My main worry over this exciting experiment Although Spike had been established as the writer of the scripts, by Thursday is the time of the broadcast. Six forty-five on a Monday night is no time for 24 May he was asking for an ‘additional material’ fee to cover the costs of specialised humour of this sort,’ wrote the journalist, ‘I hope the Home Service will switch the goons to a nine-thirty airing.’ Jones (‘My name is Jones’), a man who then told a tall tale of how he became a fugitive after opening a tobacconists. Following a number from the Stargazers, The Ray Ellington Quartet had been busy in Milan during March and April Peter became veteran BBC sports commentator Raymond Glendenning in an but were present and correct for the first recording. In addition to the quartet interview with a winning driver of the British Racing Motors car, Michael and the Stargazers, another musician had been added to the mix in the form of was Captain Pureheart; Pureheart was assisted by a young idiot called Ernie harmonica player Max Geldray. Born in the Netherlands in 1916 as Max van Splutmuscle, played by Peter (‘Er, did you want me n’at Captain?’). After Gelder, Max had settled in England at the start of the war and been wounded a song from the Ray Ellington Quartet, Peter, Harry and Spike played the during the Invasion of Normandy. He had performed on BBC radio since 1941 characters of Dick Barton, Snowy and Jock in a spoof of the BBC radio serial on shows like Radio Rhythm Club and Bandstand, and while making a living Dick Barton – Special Agent which had concluded in March 1951 after a five- on the variety circuit had started to appear on Variety Bandbox in October 1947 year run. Max Geldray played a number before the first adventure for Peter’s followed by work on shows like Show Time, Workers’ Playtime and appearances Sir Harold Porridge who embarked on the Quest for Tutankhamen assisted by at the Nuffield Centre. By 1951, his act was referred to as‘Max Geldray and his Harold Vest, played by Spike; Spike’s idiot character from Hip-Hip-Hoo-Roy electronic harmonica’. also appeared as a character aboard a ship. Following another number from the Stargazers, the spoof documentary 1951: Salute to Britain! closed the show, On the day of recording, there was a band call for Stanley Black, the twelve with a few lines of dialogue intended for Margaret Lindsay (who did not appear piece Dance Orchestra and the other musicians at 1.30pm, a walk-through of in the show) delivered by Marie Benson; Dennis Main Wilson later commented Spike’s script (with the cast laughing joyously at the gags) at 2.30pm and then that he felt the cast worked better being entirely male. With a playout of March a run-through at 3.30pm prior to the audience being admitted at 5pm. The of the Goons composed by Arthur Wilkinson, the appearances of Peter and performance itself at 5.30pm – with sound effects performed live or from 78rpm Michael in variety at the London Palladium and Glasgow Empire respectively discs – was recorded over landlines at Broadcasting House on a 33⅓ rpm coarse were advertised. groove 16-inch disc. As ‘those Crazy People, the Goons’ were introduced by Andrew Timothy, the show’s opening theme – Goons Gallup composed by The following night, the programme aired at 6.45pm on the London Home Arthur Wilkinson – was heard, over which an eccentric set of announcements Service only, with the West, Wales, North, Northern Ireland, Midlands and introduced the participants. As with many early shows, Peter then introduced Scotland services generally taking local music programmes. This regionalised the show’s supposed writer Arnold Fringe… but the speaker was then Harry as slot was earlier than usual because of a special programme with coverage of the Festival of Britain at 8pm; it would normally air at 7.45pm, effectively as a As with the previous week there was a spoof documentary (featuring Peter as a replacement for Variety Ahoy! On Wednesday 30 May, Harry and Peter recorded ‘George Sanders’ style doctor), and Splutmuscle returned to be interviewed in an edition of Henry Hall’s Guest Night for broadcast on the Home Service on his capacity as a rat-catcher; Ray Ellington was given a few lines in this item Wednesday 6 June; Peter continued at the Palladium while Michael was at the and would increase his appearances in coming weeks. Sir Harold Porridge, now Chiswick Empire, Spike touring with Joe Loss, and Harry had a summer show accompanied by Spike as Quagmire Vest and Harry as Harold Flugg, returned lined up in the form of Happy-Go-Lucky at Blackpool’s prestigious Opera in a section of the show referred to as Adventure Unlimited. From now, the final House. music spot tended to be the Stargazers singing with Ray’s quartet. The following day, this second edition (which introduced the running gag of concluding with ‘The Goons got away to a fine start on Monday,’ wrote the News Chronicle on a fake trail for the following week’s show) was moved to the regular slot of Thursday 31 May,‘but who wants to listen to this kind of specialized humour 7.45pm and was now also taken by the Northern Home Service in place of at 6.45 […] tucked away on the Home Service?’ The following day, it was Northern Orchestra. By Thursday 7 June, Michael Standing was asking Pat decided that ‘Crazy People’ would also receive repeats on the Home Service at Dixon to establish if the BBC held ‘some solid rights’ in Crazy People since – 9.30am on Saturdays from the start of August. Furthermore it was hoped that the already – the Corporation had received an application for the stage show rights. General Overseas Service would also take the series. The BBC’s own Listener It was planned that from early July, the show would move to Thursdays at 8pm. Research Department reviewed the shows for the week and commented that ‘the Appreciation Index for the first of the new comedy seriesCrazy People […] was The script for the third show also listed ‘Carl Boltnagle’ in the cast list and 54, below the current variety average of 65. It would be premature to take this continued the heavy use of the nonsense word ‘Yuckabakaba’, appearances of rather adverse reaction very seriously for the show is of a novel kind. Listeners Spike’s idiot character, offered a history of flight documentary in the style of the were ready to make allowances for this, but there were complaints about the soon to be defunct cinema newsreel TheMarch of Time, and in the Adventure over-exuberance of the studio audience and the visual character of the humour.’ Unlimited escapade Sir Harold was now accompanied by Captain Cloot Wilmington (Michael) and Major West (Spike). For the second show on Sunday 3 June, the read-through took place from 10am prior to the rehearsals and the recording was now at 5.45pm. This was the first The options on the cast were taken up for six more editions on Monday 11 script edited by Jimmy with contributions from Larry. In the strange opening June, and on Monday 18 it was confirmed that the slot change would now take story from Jones, Harry’s character now spoke to Peter’s interviewer, Herschell. place on Thursday 2 August, whereafter the Saturday repeat at 9.30am would also be introduced. Shortly afterwards, it was decided that Peter’s long-term as Carstairs and Harry as Spalding. The script also saw Peter playing Crystal contract would be dropped and the BBC would now contract him as before. A Jollibottom from Ray’s a Laugh and gags which would later appear in the 1957 new venture for him was a trial recording for a show called Bumblethorpe on episode Wings over Dagenham. The closing Adventure Unlimited epic was a Monday 25 June which was to be helmed by producer and talented cartoonist Western and was originally written for Peter to play a character called Major Peter Eton; this Peter had been wounded at Dunkirk while serving with the Bloodnok, although this was changed before recording to Major O’Shea; this Navy, and after being invalided out had joined the BBC in 1941, producing also introduced Harry as the Native American Chief Wurree-Guts. This was shows like March of the Movies, Navy Mixture and Picture Parade in features the first of various shows to be occasionally recorded onto disc at 200 Oxford and drama before transferring to the Variety Department in 1951.By the fourth Street rather than Broadcasting House. On Wednesday 27 June, the Daily Mirror show – which Harry announced calling out ‘it’s the Goon’s Show’ – some of announced that Crazy People‘will shift to the coveted Thursday night spot when Spike’s favourite gags were starting to appear for the first time, recurring in Ray’s a Laugh closes’. Two days later, contracts for the six further shows (with subsequent editions over the years; the joke about tapping to communicate options on five beyond that) were issued to the cast, covering recordings through between prison cells heard in the 1955 episode The Sale of Manhattan appeared to Sunday 12 August. in the opening Herschell and Jones item. Peter also impersonated senior BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby in his Today in Parliament spoof, and the The spoofs of March of Time continued with the sixth show for which Robert Porridge/Vest Adventure Unlimited quest introduced the idea of a comical list Busby and the Revue Orchestra deputised at short notice for Stanley Black of bizarre equipment required by an expedition. Following the recording of and his usual team, and Walter ‘Wally’ Stott (who had arranged on shows like this edition at the later time of 6.45pm, the Ray Ellington Quartet then pre- Band Parade) started to compose some of the music links in addition to those recorded two numbers for the next show which they were unable to attend. This by Arthur Wilkinson. Ray’s quartet again pre-recorded their numbers for the fourth show was now also taken by the Northern Ireland Home Service.The following week. The script now credited Spike, Larry and Jimmy as writers. fifth show (promoted in theRadio Times by a photo of the quartet) opened with Michael played the director of MI6 in a spy spoof, assisted again by Spike and Harry declaring ‘It’s the Goon Show’ and featured Peter again as a ‘Saunders’ Harry as Carstairs and Spalding plus Peter as Saunders. Sir Harold Porridge type plastic surgeon in a health clinic sketch which saw Splutmuscle assisting was then back in Allan Quatermain-mode replacing the scripted Sir Hermes Harry’s Dr Evan Evans. Michael’s character Pureheart – now Captain Osric Clushboot in Adventures Unlimited. Pureheart – returned as the designer of the Brabagoon (a reference to the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s Brabazon prototype) and was now assisted by Spike The show and Harry Secombe – who had top billing – were so popular that the BBC agreed to pay some of his travel costs as he commuted between Swansea, Bluebird), Peter took over as Spalding, with Harry as Carstairs and Spike’s idiot Blackpool and the London recordings. Then on Wednesday 4 July, Variety character now christened as Eccles. This edition though was only carried by the reported that Michael had turned down a season in Miami due to the fact that London and Northern Home Services. Crazy People’s run had been extended. For the later-than-usual recording of Sunday 8 July, Robert Busby and the Revue Orchestra again deputised for By mid-July, it seemed that the BBC now wanted to take up the five-show Stanley Black. The documentary The History of Communications was to be option to give a run of seventeen editions through to mid-September. This meant reworked in later editions and featured a gag about police radios which would that there was now a clash of commitments for Harry, so instead his friend surface in the 1955 television film pilot,The Case of the Mukkinese Battle- Tony Hancock would be taking over on Educating Archie. Then on Wednesday horn. The show also introduced a serial initially entitled The Sun Never Sets 18, the Light Programme was given permission by the Home Service to take which featured Spike as a character called Philip String who became involved five editions ofCrazy People from late August in place of a slot booked for in a bank robbery – a narrative that would form the basis of the 1954 episode Bing Sings. The plan was now that Crazy People would run until the end of Dishonoured. Pureheart was back as the designer of the Mergseygoon Tunnel, September, after which Peter would resume his appearances on Ray’s a Laugh assisted as before by Spalding and Carstairs, plus Spike playing his idiot in October. Initially it was planned that the Light Programme would take the character under the name Chatsby and Peter as a character called Eccles who series on Tuesdays from 21 August, starting with the third, fourth and sixth spoke gibberish. This edition aired in the new earlier slot of 6.30pm due to the editions.‘NOTICE: ARNOLD FRINGE wishes to state that he is in no way broadcast of the inaugural concert from Bristol’s Colston Hall.The BBC Dance responsible for any debts incurred by HAROLD VEST who also wishes to state Orchestra was back for the eighth recording on Sunday 15, and for this show that he is in no way responsible for any debts incurred by ARNOLD FRINGE. and the next two, Denys Drower – the presenter of the Home Service’s Midday GOON SHOW – HOME SERVICE – MONDAYS’ read an advert in The Stage on Miscellany – took over as announcer from Andrew Timothy. The Sun Never Thursday 19 July. Back at the BBC, Dennis was due to go on leave at the end Sets continued to chart the progress of Phillip String (now played by Harry) of July, and so on Friday 20 July it was confirmed that Leslie Bridgmont would and Peter’s many voices were employed in a BBC skit where programmes take over in an uncredited capacity for five of the recordings from Sunday 29 were combined in an economy drive. Two ongoing commentators – Roger July. The ninth show, recorded on Sunday 22 July, saw a film crew present Fudgeknuckle (Michael) and Jack Islott (Peter spoofing sports reporter John from Edwin J Fancey Productions, one of the companies involved in Penny Arlott) – were introduced in a piece about a funfair, and in Pureheart’s latest Points to Paradise. The team were shooting a travelogue short entitled London escapade with a speedboat called The Goonbird (referring to Donald Campbell’s Entertains featuring Eamonn Andrews which included a visit to the recording at Aeolian 1. The Sun Never Sets concluded String’s adventures prematurely when the series in a national slot at 9.30am on Saturdays, and it was also agreed that a subsequent instalment was cut, Peter continued to voice Dick Barton in a rather than take selected editions, the Light Programme would also repeat the Splutmuscle sketch, and Pureheart continued be assisted by Carstairs, Spalding final four projected editions later the same week. Furthermore, the General and Eccles on a space mission. Before going on leave, on Monday 23 July Overseas Service was due to take the series in three slots from mid-September. Dennis was told that his suggestion for a 45-minute Christmas panto performed Leslie Bridgmont continued to stand in for Dennis (who ‘has not been heard by the Goons had been approved and that he could commission a script; this of since’ according to Andrew Timothy) on Sunday 5 August. The opening was formally requested from Spike and Larry on Thursday 2 August. The final Herschell (one of the characters whose name was often spelt differently Monday broadcast for Crazy People came that evening, and was also taken for from script to script) and Jones routine was a semi-autobiographical piece the first time by the Midlands and Scotland Home Services. from Spike about growing up as the son of a soldier in Poona in India. The BBC commentators dropped in on the Admiralty where one of Peter’s camp Dennis Main Wilson was still credited as producer on the tenth show on Sunday characters was now named Flowerdew. Major Bloodnok – played by Peter – 29 July, although Denys Drower commented at the edition’s conclusion that he finally appeared in the last edition of Adventure Unlimited, with Ray as his had ‘deserted’. This recording at Aeolian I again dropped back to 8.15pm (the batman and Harry as the Irish Sergeant Major Rick O’Shea (resurrected from general time for the rest of the run) and one of the music numbers – featuring an earlier edition). This edition aired to listeners in London, the Midlands the Stargazers singing with Ray’s quartet – was now dropped. Eccles was now and Wales.The Critics, a Home Service arts review programme, turned their appearing in numerous sketches and Pureheart’s exploits now often featured attention to Crazy People at lunchtime on Sunday 12 August, apparently special ‘Bentine’ equipment. Harry now joined Michael’s Fudgeknuckle as suggesting that the characters needed catchphrases. In the twelfth edition of fellow commentator Jasper Crake and the extended closing adventure sketch the series recorded that evening (and aired in London next day), Flowerdew featured Peter as Colonel Slocombe (described in the script as an ‘American returned again as a colonel who was Pureheart’s uncle and the major adventure Bloodnok’) up against Chief Wurri-guts and aided by Michael’s Captain Blade. set-piece which concluded the show was now extended across the last half of the programme, bridging Ray Ellington’s number. This would be the final A Home Service concert was now introduced on Monday evenings, and so appearance of Sir Harold Porridge, this time sent on a quest to find the missing Crazy People and other shows were moved to Thursday nights now that Ray’s Professor Cloot Wilmington by Mrs Cloot Wilmington (played by Harry). a Laugh had concluded, with the Goons airing to London and the Midlands Michael again played Captain Spalding and O’Shea returned in a tale which only at 8pm on 2 August. However, the entire Home Service could now catch included gags that would later feature in episodes such as The International Christmas Pudding and The House of Teeth. from Monday 27 August and the next day Crazy People made its Light Programme debut at 7.30pm in part of a general rescheduling for the channel’s Some variety theatres were now starting to book members of the Goons at Tuesday nights. Attracting a far larger audience than the Home Service the same time; the second week of August saw both Peter and Michael on the because of its blend of music and comedy, the Light Programme meant that the bill at the Leeds Empire. There was also the news on Monday 13 that Crazy Goons were heard by almost six million listeners compared to their existing People would be carried by the General Overseas Service in the final quarter of catchment which had never topped a million. The Listener Research for the the year. Larry Stephens even had a little dialogue in the thirteenth show as a week’s radio noted that despite the larger audience than on the Home Service, character in The Story of Colonel Slocombe which filled the last quarter of the ‘the Appreciation Index, 54 against 53, did not suggest that the programme show taken by London and the Midlands. Leslie Bridgmont’s final supervision appealed much more to Panel members who were mainly Light Programme of Crazy People came on Sunday 26 August which opened with a spoof of The “patrons” than those who inclined to the Home Service. There are still many Lives of Harry Lime, a syndicated radio series spin-off from the 1949 movie among its audience for whom the “crazy” type of humour and its accompanying The Third Man which had debuted on the BBC Light Programme at the start “noisiness” has no attraction. For another section of the audience however this of August. Following their review on the real programme, the Goons then sent was, they said, an amusing and original show.’ up The Critics with another Dick Barton spoof after which Mrs Selina Crutch (Michael) suggested that Crazy People could do with a catchphrase such as With Dennis Main Wilson back at the helm for the fifteenth show on Sunday ‘More coal, Larry’. In the final half of the show, Bloodnok was now becoming 2 September (and also producing All Star Bill for the Light Programme), the more of a scrounger in his period adventures and was now generally found meaningless ‘More coal, Larry’ catchphrase was sprinkled liberally through in the company of Mrs Wilmington (Harry)… despite the fact that his wife the script. The opening Herschel and Jones sketch was then amended by hand, had featured in his debut appearance! Spike later noted that his conception of dropping the character names and rechristening the speakers simply as Sellers Bloodnok was inspired in part by the womanising, drunken and embezzling and Secombe (‘My name is Secombe’). Pureheart’s new venture was the SS army officers he recalled during his youth in India, and also the character of Goonitania (referring to the ill-fated RMS Lusitania torpedoed in 1915) and Captain Foulenough from the By the Way column in the Daily Express since the closing two-sketch tale, The Quest for the Ring-Tailed Yakkabakaka! had 1936. been written for Sir Harold Porridge but was now performed by Bloodnok who was accompanied by familiar characters such as his batman (Ray), Captain Michael and Peter again appeared together in variety at the Newcastle Empire Spalding (usually Michael), Mrs Wilmington, Sergeant Major O’Shea (Harry), Captain Osric Pureheart and Eccles, with Spike often appearing as Abdul (first Unfortunately, Max Geldray had undergone an operation during the previous heard in the sixth show as Porridge’s aide). Again, rather than being cut to week and was still in hospital recovering on Sunday 16 September when the disc at Broadcasting House, this week Bush House was used. Following the final show of the run was recorded in his absence with Marie Benson of the Light Programme exposure, over a million listeners in London, the Midlands, Stargazers performing an extra number. Also the Skyrocket Orchestra under the North and Northern Ireland now tuned in. And now he had returned to Woolf Phillips deputised for Stanley Black and his musicians. Harry’s serious the recordings, Dennis also arranged for the delivery of the dialogue to be musical talents were emphasised in the opening sketch which allowed him to slowed down marginally to make the rapid humour easier for the listeners to sing opera and perform a number of his own, with another appearance from understand. Michael as his mother. Two sketches from the fifth show were then recycled, and the series concluded with another escapade for Major Bloodnok of the 3rd At the start of September, Peter was booked for another three months in Ray’s a Prickly Heats, signing off by promising that next week listeners could hear the Laugh from the start of November. In the penultimate Crazy People (where the craziest broadcast of all: the General Election.The Light Programme declined Revue Orchestra again deputised for the Dance Orchestra), Pureheart salvaged to take the final edition, bowing out with four million listeners tuning into the the sunken Goonitania from the previous week and Bloodnok’s cowardice was sixteenth show on Tuesday 18 September, after which the slot was given back being expressed in jokes that would resurface in shows like Shangri-La Again. to the popular series The Adventures of PC49. London, Scotland and the North The weekly demand for mad material seemed to be taking its toll and the third took the final edition ofCrazy People on Thursday 20, following which the slot sketch of the edition was a new performance of a court case built around sound was taken over by a concert as PC49 moved to the Home Service in the early effects heard in the third show. The Light Programme repeat of the previous evening and a music recital filled the Saturday morning slot. week’s show was promoted in the Radio Times by a shot of the crazy stars studying ‘Goon hieroglyphics’ in their script. Also, Tuesday 11 September saw One of those listening to Crazy People was a young comedy writer called Eric the debut of Crazy People on the General Overseas Service, running from the Sykes, who wrote for Frankie Howerd in Fine Goings On. On hearing the show eleventh show at 7.30am on Tuesdays, 3.15am on Thursdays and 2.15pm on while recovering from mastoid surgery in the Royal London Homeopathic Fridays.Almost two million listeners tuned in for the last two editions of Crazy Hospital, he was impressed and wrote a letter of appreciation to Spike and People around the regions. Then on Saturday 15 September, Peter married Anne Larry. The writing duo went to visit him, and Spike discovered a lifelong friend in a ceremony covered extensively by the press. who shared his sense of the absurd in terms of comedy scripting. On Friday 21 September, Peter entered into discussions about Peter Eton’s on Thursday 1 November, Ray’s a Laugh returned to the Home Service and Bumblethorpe series with Michael Standing, explaining that he didn’t like Dennis scheduled the Goon Pantomime to record on Sunday 18 December with the scripts and that he was too busy with Ray’s a Laugh. However, he instead transmission on Boxing Day. suggested that Spike and Larry had an idea for a new show which Leslie Bridgmont could produce. A couple of weeks later, he also told BBC TV’s Peter Eton drafted in Spike and Larry to join Peter Ling as writers on Head of Light Entertainment Ronnie Waldman that he would like to perform Bumblethorpe which now starred Robert Moreton with Avril Angers, Valentine material by Spike and Larry, and by mid-October, The Stage announced that Dyall and Kenneth Connor and recorded weekly from Monday 12 November he had a new stage act written by the duo in which he would be abandoning with transmission later the same day on the Home Service. Spike joined the his impersonations. As his successful Blackpool show drew to a close, Harry cast the following week along with Alfred Marks and Graham Stark (an old heard that he had been selected for the Royal Command Performance. Michael mate of Peter’s from the last days in the RAF who had featured in Happy Go Bentine meanwhile was trying to crack the American market and appeared on Lucky), and Peter Sellers also appeared, replacing Valentine who had gone CBS’ The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday 14 October and Sunday 4 November, missing while holidaying in France. Valentine returned the next week, but and had made the short filmCookery Nook. Spike remained with the cast. On Thursday 15 November, Dennis was told that Crazy People would start again from the last week of January 1952, but the Plans for The Goons Pantomime continued at the BBC during October with producer was concerned that Spike and Larry would not be able to write new Michael Standing feeling that a 45 minute slot would suffice. The Head of Crazy People scripts at the same time as Bumblethorpe. It was decided that Variety also informed Peter that the ‘useful vehicle’ proposed by Spike and Bumblethorpe would be limited to eight editions, allowing the writers time to Larry would be considered in the New Year because of his work on both Ray’s script new editions of Crazy People which was guaranteed a six-week run. The a Laugh (which started pre-recording on Wednesday 24 October) and also his recordings would commence on Sunday 20 January 1952 and air on Mondays at other series which was now finally referred to asThe Goon Show. Meanwhile, 8.15pm. Dennis used Peter on All Star Bill to record on Tuesday 6 November for broadcast eight days later. At the start of December, Harry, Peter and the Stargazers took part in a pantomime for servicemen recorded by Leslie Bridgmont for the Forces Harry featured prominently on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance held on Broadcast Service at the Nuffield Centre. The Goons’ own Boxing Day panto Monday 29 October at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London. Later that week was then announced as Goonderella in The Stage on Thursday 6 December; Harry would be Buttons, Peter would play the Baron, Spike would team up special, the Radio Times claimed that ‘there was a conspiracy by writers and with Graham Stark as the Ugly Sisters, and actress/singer Lizbeth Webb would cast to call their show Goonderella, but this was firmly resisted’. The small be Cinderella herself. Lizbeth had enjoyed West End success in Oklahoma! article noted that it was now eight months since the Variety Department ‘essayed and was then appearing in the revue Gay’s the Word at the Saville Theatre; she a bold experiment […] There have been no regrets […] there is room on the had also appeared on Dennis’ All Star Bill during the autumn and was then air for at least one show of this kind - and three weeks after Cinderella, the broadcasting on Leisure Hour. The cast were then contracted by the BBC the “Goons” reappear in their new 1952 series. following day, and Michael made another appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday 9; by now, he had been offered a chance to do a four-week season at Peter was also one of the stars featured in the Light Programme special the Gilded Cage in New York.On Friday 14 December, it was decided that the Christmas Crackers on Christmas Day, an item which he recorded on Sunday new run of Crazy People would be moved to 9.30pm on Tuesdays. The Goon 23. Cinderella aired on the Home Service – except in Wales or Northern Ireland Pantomime was recorded at the Aeolian Hall on Sunday 16. Since the end of – at 8.15pm on Boxing Day and drew an audience of just under two million. the series, the Ray Ellington Quartet had been broadcasting on BBC TV’s The As 1951 drew to a close, Spike made his final appearance inBumblethorpe on Eric Barker Half-Hour from October and Bob Duffy had joined as bass player New Year’s Eve while Harry was appearing in Dick Whittington at the Sheffield in time for a Dutch tour for Christmas. The Stargazers had also been busy on Lyceum, Peter performed more variety engagements and Michael appeared on the radio show Two-Style Rhythm. The festive show itself was a single plot BBC TV’s Music Hall. The team were now looking forward to the New Year spoofing the much-loved fairy tale, and allowed for a number of music spots and their chance to deploy Goon humour on the air, free of the Crazy People including items for both Harry and Lizbeth. Peter played Baron Bloodnok and trappings … Splutmuscle, Graham was the prince, Michael was fairy godmother Captain Osric Pureheart, Peter and Spike were Pureheart’s assistants Flowerdew and Spalding, and Spike also voiced the prince’s elderly mother using the character SERIES ONE: CRAZY PEOPLE of Miss Bannister whom he had developed in Bumblethorpe. Jimmy Grafton also contributed a parody of Johnny Mercer’s The Waiter, The Porter and the With Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine, Spike Milligan, Graham Upstairs Maid which was performed by Peter and Spike with the Ray Ellington Stark [Cinderella], the Stargazers, Max Geldray [1-16], the Ray Ellington Quartet. Even Max Geldray was blessed with a few lines of dialogue… and Quartet and Marie Benson [17] with Stanley Black and the Dance Orchestra [1- demonstrated that acting was not one of his strengths…Promoting the Christmas 5, Cinderella], Robert Busby and the Revue Orchestra [6-7,16], Woolf Phillips and the Skyrockets Orchestra [17]. a gas-filled sewer;The Quest for Tutankhamen! with Sir Harold Porridge and Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens [3-17], Jimmy Grafton [Cinderella]. Harold Vest; 1951: The Festival of Britain! saluting Britain. Additional material by Larry Stephens [2]. Music: The Stargazers perform Let Yourself Go (Irving Berlin); The Ray Edited by Jimmy Grafton [2-17]. Ellington Quartet plays Keep off the Grass (Don Raye/Gene de Paul); Max The programme was produced by Dennis Main Wilson [Leslie Bridgmont Geldray plays I Can’t Give You Anything but Love (Jimmy McHugh); The supervised the recordings for 10-14, uncredited] Stargazers perform Honey, I Love You But (Conrad). Uncredited announcer: Andrew Timothy [1-7,11-17,Cinderella], Denys Drower [8-10]. SHOW 2 Recording: Sunday 3 June 1951, 5.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 90269. Programme research and booklet notes by Andrew Pixley First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 4 June 1951, 7.45pm [London and Northern only]. Ratings: 0.4 million. Notes: None of these shows had titles on the scripts as they consisted of four Sketches: Jones explains how his son was involved in capturing a bank robber; or five different sketches separated by musical items. Scripted subtitles are the programme surveys the nation’s health; an interview with London’s leading given in single inverted commas where available and sketch titles announced rat-catcher, Ernest Splutmuscle; A Hundred Years from Today! shows a world on-air presented in italics based on the available scripts. It should be noted where criminals out-number law-abiding citizens; Adventure Unlimited with Sir that spellings of character names varied from script to script. Harold Porridge’s quest for the East Pole. Music: The Stargazers perform Great Day (Vincent Youmans); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Teddy Bear’s Picnic (John W Bratton/Jimmy Kennedy); Max Geldray plays If I Had You (James Campbell/Reginald Connolly); The SHOW 1 Ray Ellington Quartet and the Stargazers perform Old Mother Hubbard (Babe Recording: Sunday 27 May 1951, 5.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 90260. Wallis/Ray Ellington). First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 28 May 1951, 6.45pm [London only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. AI: 54. SHOW 3 Sketches: Jones explains how he got this series on radio; The Story of the BRM Recording: Sunday 10 June 1951, 5.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 90452. with racing driver Captain Pureheart; Dick Barton – Special Agent trapped in First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 11 June 1951, 7.45pm [London and Northern only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Sketches: ‘Herschell & Jones – Jones’ Schooldays’; ‘History of Flight’; ‘Russian Sports’ with Splutmuscle as a famous athlete of yesteryear; ‘Sound Effects’ SHOW 5 which punctuate a court case; ‘The Bluffs’, an Adventure Unlimited tale of Sir Pre-recording: Sunday 17 June 1951, 7.15pm, Aeolian I. SLO 91111a [Ray Harold Porridge on the North West Frontier. Ellington Quartet]. Music: The Stargazers perform How High the Moon (Morgan Lewis); The Ray Recording: Sunday 24 June 1951, 6.30pm, Aeolian I. SOX 59949. Ellington Quartet plays Barnyard Boogie (Wilhelmina Grey/Louis Jordan); Max First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 25 June 1951, 7.45pm [London, Geldray plays Melancholy Baby (Ernie Burnett); The Ray Ellington Quartet Northern and Northern Ireland only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. plays Three Bears (Bobby Troup). Sketches: ‘Herschell & Jones: Jones’ Adventures in Russia’; ‘Visit to the Health Clinic’ with Splutmuscle assisting Dr Evan Evans; ‘Story of the Airliner’ SHOW 4 investigates Captain Osric Pureheart and his Brabagoon; ‘Holidays’; ‘Story of Recording: Sunday 17 June 1951, 6.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 90366. the Yukon Gold Rush’, an Adventure Unlimited tale of Major O’Shea and The First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 18 June 1951, 7.45pm [London, Story of the Yukon Trail. Northern and Northern Ireland only]. Ratings: 0.4 million. Music: The Stargazers perform This Can’t Be Love (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Sketches: ‘Herschell & Jones: Jones goes to prison’; ‘Slimming’ – Survey of the Hart); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Time Takes Care of Everything (Al People; ‘Honeymoon Memories’ with Splutmuscle and his wife Sib; ‘Parliament Fields/Timmie Rogers/Nat King Cole); Max Geldray plays After You’ve Gone in Session’ looks at the British way of life; ‘The Conquest of Everest’ an (Henry Creamer/Turner Layton); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Beans and Adventure Unlimited tale of Sir Harold Porridge. Cornbread (Freddie Clark/Fleecie Moore). . .

Music: The Stargazers perform Kerry Dance (James Lynam Molloy); The Ray SHOW 6 Ellington Quartet plays Dry Bones (Will Osborne/Dick Rogers) and Beware, Recording: Sunday 1 July 1951, 6.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 91295. Brother Beware (Morry Lasco/Fleecie Moore/Richard Adams); The Ray First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 2 July 1951, 7.45pm [London, Northern Ellington Quartet and the Stargazers perform Five Guys Named Moe (Larry and Northern Ireland only]. Ratings: 0.4 million. Wynn/Jerry Bresler); Max Geldray plays My Blue Heaven (Walter Donaldson). Sketches: ‘Further adventures of Herschel’ recounts how Jones’ mother took him to a psychiatrist; ‘The Story of Civilization’; ‘Splutmuscle – the Boxer’ meets ‘Kid’ Splutmuscle; ‘Operations of MI6’; ‘African adventures’, an Adventure Unlimited tale of Sir Harold Porridge meeting the Yakkabakka tribe in The Ivory Hunters! SHOW 8 Music: The Stargazers perform Christopher Columbus (The World Ain’t Big Recording: Sunday 15 July 1951, 6.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 92262. Enough For Me) (Terry Gilkyson); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Beware, First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 16 July 1951, 6.30pm [London and Sister Beware (Morry Lasco/Fleecie Moore/Richard Adams); Max Geldray and Northern only]. Ratings: 0.4 million. the Ray Ellington Quartet play Max’s Blues (Max Geldray); The Ray Ellington Sketches: ‘Herschel & Jones’ sees Jones recalling the poverty of growing up Quartet and the Stargazers perform Row Row Row (Jimmie V Monaco/William in the country; ‘BBC Skit’ reports on economies at the BBC as programmes Jerome). are combined; ‘Episode 2 of Phillip String’ continues String’s escapades in The Sun Never Sets; ‘Commentaries from the Funfair’ features reports from SHOW 7 Roger Fudgeknuckle and Jack Islott; ‘The Goonbird’ followed the progress of Pre-recording: Sunday 1 July 1951, 7.30pm, Aeolian I. SOX 59639 [Ray speedboat designer Captain Osric Pureheart. Ellington Quartet]. Music: The Stargazers perform Lover (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart); The Recording: Sunday 8 July 1951, 9.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 91565. Ray Ellington Quartet plays Let the Good Times Roll (Louis Jordan); Max First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 9 July 1951, 6.30pm [London, Northern Geldray plays Bubble Bubble Bubble (Pink Champagne) (George Forrest/Robert and Northern Ireland only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Wright); The Ray Ellington Quartet and the Stargazers perform Shine (Cecil Sketches: ‘Herschel & Jones’ sees Jones recalling how his yacht was hit Mack/Lew Brown/Ford Dabney). by a storm; ‘The Story of Civilization’; ‘The History of Communications’; ‘Adventures of Philip String’ sees Philip String ensnared in a bank robbery in The Sun Never Sets; ‘Sea Stories’ with Captain Ernie Splutmuscle; ‘The SHOW 9 Building of the Merseygoon Tunnel’ with Captain Osric Pureheart. Recording: Sunday 22 July 1951, 6.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 92468. Music: The Stargazers perform Jezebel (Wayne Shanklin); The Ray Ellington First Home Service Broadcast: Monday 23 July 1951, 6.30pm [London, Quartet plays Black Eyes (trad.); Max Geldray plays Sabre Dance (Aram Midlands, Northern, Northern Ireland and Scotland only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Khachaturian); The Ray Ellington Quartet and the Stargazers perform Life is So Sketches: ‘Herschel & Jones’ sees Jones recalling how he joined the cavalry Peculiar (Johnny Van Heusen/Johnny Burke). during the war; ‘Summertime Activities’; ‘Episode 3 of Phillip String’ continues String’s escapades in The Sun Never Sets; ‘Splutmuscle the Private Investigator’ First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 9 August 1951, 8pm [London, follows a case with Special Investigator Ernie ‘Hawkeye’ Splutmuscle; ‘Journey Midlands and Wales only]. Ratings: 0.4 million. into Space’ reports on Captain Osric Pureheart’s space mission in Journey to the Repeat: Saturday 11 August 1951, 9.30am, under 0.4 million [Home Service]. Unknown: Destination Goon!. Sketches: Jones tells Hershel about growing up in Poona; Stories of Scotland Music: The Stargazers perform Button Up Your Overcoat (Ray Henderson/BG Yard featured Chief Inspector McFringe; Roger Fudgeknuckle and Jack DeSylva/Lew Brown); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Everybody Wants to Islott comment from the Admiralty on a mock sea battle; Major Bloodnok go to Heaven (Timmy Rogers/Albert Fields/Tom Delaney); Max Geldray plays and Captain Osric Pureheart embark on The Quest for the White Queen! in Jealousy (Jacob Gade); The Ray Ellington Quartet and the Stargazers perform Adventure Unlimited. Get Out and Get Under (Maurice Abrahams/Grant Clarke/Edgar Leslie). Music: The Stargazers perform My Heart Cries For You (Carl Sigman/Percy Faith); Max Geldray plays Tea for Two (Vincent Youmans); The Ray Ellington SHOW 10 Quartet plays Smokey Mountain Boogie (Tennessee Ernie Ford/Cliffe Stone). Recording: Sunday 29 July 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SLO 92867. First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 2 August 1951, 8pm [London and SHOW 12 Midlands only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Recording: Sunday 12 August 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SLO 93368. Repeat: Saturday 4 August 1951, 9.30am, 0.4 million [Home Service]. First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 16 August 1951, 8pm [London only]. Sketches: ‘Herschel & Jones’ sees Jones feeling ill; ‘The building of Sydney Ratings: 0.4 million. Harbour Goon Bridge’ with Captain Osric Pureheart; Roger Fudgeknuckle and Repeat: Saturday 18 August 1951, 9.30am, 0.4 million [Home Service]. Jasper Crake report on an air pageant and country fete; ‘The Story of Colonel Sketches: Jones tells Hershel about his time in the Boer War; Captain Osric Slocombe’ tells a tale of the American Civil War. Pureheart discusses his Bentine Lurgi-Driven Truck; Sir Harold Porridge Music: The Stargazers perform Cherokee (Ray Noble); Max Geldray plays My searches for a missing professor in The Quest for Cloot Wilmington. Resistance is Low (Hoagy Carmichael); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays That’s Music: The Stargazers perform Hiawatha’s Mittens (Dwight Latham/Moe Jaffe); My Girl (Joe McKiernan). Max Geldray plays Old Man River (Jerome Kern); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Little Girl (Madeline Hyde/Francis Henry). SHOW 11 Recording: Sunday 5 August 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SOX 61088. Sketches: The Lives of Harry Lime sees Jones as the Chief of the British Secret Police in Vienna; two critics are played an edition of Dick Barton – SHOW 13 Special Agent and feel it needs a catchphrase; The Boxer Rebellion sees Major Recording: Sunday 19 August 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SOX 61088 [same as Bloodnok head for China with Captain Pureheart. Show 11]. Music: The Stargazers perform The Cry of the Wild Goose (Terry Gilkyson); First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 23 August 1951, 8pm [London and Max Geldray plays The Syncopated Clock (Leroy Anderson); The Ray Ellington Midlands only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. AI: 53. Quartet plays Black Note Serenade (Benny Litchfield/Harry Bolton). Repeats: Saturday 25 August 1951, 9.30am, 0.4 million [Home Service]; Tuesday 28 August 1951, 7.30pm, 5.8 million. AI: 54 [Light Programme]. SHOW 15 Sketches: Jones explains how he is a Harley Street brain specialist; a Survey Recording: Sunday 2 September 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SBU 71149. of Britain looks at The Housing Problem; Roger Fudgeknuckle and Jack Islott First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 6 September 1951, 8pm [London, report from the holiday resort of Clushboot-on-Sea; The Story of Colonel Midlands, Northern and Northern Ireland only]. Ratings: 1.1 million. Slocombe! finds the Colonel and his cavalry terrorised by the tribes at Skunk Repeats: Saturday 8 September 1951, 9.30am, 0.4 million [Home Service]; Hollow. Tuesday 11 September 1951, 7.30pm, 5.1 million. [Light Programme]. Music: The Stargazers perform Somebody Loves Me (George Gershwin/Ballard Sketches: Secombe tells Sellers about the catchphrase ‘More coal, Larry’ and MacDonald/BG DeSylva); Max Geldray plays The Loveliest Night of the Year being sent to Calais in connection with the Derby; The Goonitania! tells the (Irving Aaronson); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Don’t Burn the Candle at story of Captain Osric Pureheart’s latest design; The Quest for the Ring-Tailed Both Ends (Bob Carter/Mack Gordon/Louis Jordan). Yakkabakaka! recounts another adventure as Major Bloodnok went to hunt a rare bird in the Amazon for Mrs Wilmington. SHOW 14 Music: The Stargazers perform Truckin’ (Rube Blume/Ted Koehler); Max Recording: Sunday 26 August 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SLO 94300. Geldray plays My Blue Heaven (Walter Donaldson); The Ray Ellington Quartet First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 30 August 1951, 8pm [London and plays Teddy Bear’s Picnic (John W Bratton/Jimmy Kennedy). Midlands only]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Repeats: Saturday 1 September 1951, 9.30am, under 0.4 million [Home SHOW 16 Service]; Tuesday 4 September 1951, 7.30pm, 5.1 million. [Light Programme]. Recording: Sunday 9 September 1951, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SLO 94892. First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 13 September 1951, 8pm [London, the Stargazers perform I Don’t Want a World (Johnny Lange/Hy Heath); The Midlands, Northern and Northern Ireland only]. Ratings: 1.8 million. Ray Ellington Quartet plays That’s My Girl (Joe McKiernan/Harry D Kerr). Repeats: Saturday 15 September 1951, 9.30am, under 0.4 million [Home Service]; Tuesday 18 September 1951, 7.30pm, 4.0 million. [Light Programme]. SPECIAL: Cinderella Sketches: The Loves of Harold Secombe! recounts how Harry’s mother told him Pre-recording: Sunday 16 December 1951, 1.15pm, Aeolian I. DLO 1505. to marry Hydia Harbinger; The Salvaging of the Goonitania! tells the tale of Recording: Sunday 16 December 1951, 8pm, Aeolian I. SLO 99928. Captain Osric Pureheart’s recovery of his last creation; ‘Sound Effects’ which First Home Service Broadcast: Wednesday 26 December 1951, 8.15pm [except punctuate a court case (from Show 3); Bloodnok of Borgoona finds the Major Wales and Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 1.8 million. AI: 59. facing advances by the Borgoonese army. BBC Audio Synopsis: Based on actual documents from the files and the dustbins Music: The Stargazers perform Mademoiselle de Paris (Paul Durand/Henri of the FBI, the torrid drama unfolds on Christmas Eve as the King decrees that Contet/Mitchell Parish); Max Geldray plays Max’s Blues (Max Geldray); The every aligebbebble spinster will attend a Royal Ball in order that the Prince may Ray Ellington Quartet plays Come on-a My House (Ross Bagdasarian/William choose a bride. But there is no way that Cinderella can attend when her Ugly Saroyan). Sisters keep her hard at work cooking the dinner, stewing the prunes, peeling the spuds, dibbing the dobber, nashering the nasher and zibbling the zobber. SHOW 17 However, help is on hand in the form of Montague Mouse and his friends … Recording: Sunday 16 September 1951, 8pm, Aeolian I. SLO 95143. Music: Lizabeth Webb and the Stargazers perform Dream Lover (Victor L First Home Service Broadcast: Thursday 20 September 1951, 8pm [London, Schertzinger/Clifford Grey); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays The Baron, The Northern and Scotland only]. Ratings: 1.8 million. Butler and The Bobbajee (Jimmy Grafton); Max Geldray and Ray Ellington Repeat: Saturday 22 September 1951, 9.30am, 0.4 million [Home Service]. play Lover (Richard Rodgers); Harry Secombe performs Cinderella, Stay in My Sketches: Secombe sings Pagliacci and tells Sellers about his musical career; Arms (Jimmy Kennedy/Michael Carr); Harry Secombe, Lizbeth Webb and the ‘Story of the Airliner’ investigates Captain Osric Pureheart and his Brabagoon Stargazers perform Wunderbar (Cole Porter). (from Show 5); ‘Holidays’ (from Show 5); Bloodnok the Peacemaker! finds the Major in Africa at the end of the Zulu wars. THE GOON SHOW – SERIES 2 Music: Harry Secombe sings Be My Love (Vincent Youmans); The Stargazers perform My Heart Cries For You (Carl Sigman/Percy Faith); Marie Benson and JANUARY 1952-JULY 1952 As 1952 arrived, the Ray Ellington Quartet returned from Holland, the In late 1951, producer Dennis Main Wilson was planning the new run of Goon travelogue London Entertains (which had featured a recording of Crazy People) programmes featuring Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine and Spike was certified for release by the BBFC, and an early amendment to the schedule Milligan and assembled a document entitled The Goon Show – Second Series. for Crazy People was that the show would be pre-empted on Tuesday 26 The listener reports had suggested that the performers needed to be identified February to make way for speeches from the Pilgrims’ Dinner. The Stargazers more with the characters that they played, and he aimed to keep the pace of the were also announced as appearing on the monthly BBC TV show Hit Parade. shows akin to the last three editions of the previous run. A ‘running gag’ was to be introduced to run through each edition, leading to the final pay-off for The Daily Mail indicated on Friday 4 January that thanks to BBC TV Head of each show. The characters of ‘Baron’ Bloodnok, Captain Pureheart, Abdul and Light Entertainment Ronnie Waldman the Goons were to make ‘an experimental Ellington would be retained while Harry Secombe’s opening spot would become television appearance’ after all, using the facilities of the Bedford Theatre. On Handsome Harry Secombe as he played a more heroic character who was really Tuesday 8 January, Dennis noted that Michael was keen to transfer the Goons a ‘comedy coward’. Spike’s idiotic character Eccles would be retained, but the to television in a project concurrent with the new series and written by himself plan was to rename him as ‘Spike’ to identify him closely with his performer. with the radio series editor Jimmy Grafton. Spike had reluctantly been talked Writers Larry Stephens and Spike Milligan planned that each edition would into the project, feeling it was impractical at the same time as the radio show close with ‘a Goon History of the World’. In terms of music, harmonica player and was dubious about the availability of Harry who was still in the panto Max Geldray would continue in his current style, the vocal group Stargazers Dick Whittington at the Sheffield Lyceum. Peter was happy to go along with were moving their style closer to that of American conductor Mitch Miller, and everyone else, but Harry was against the television show ‘on principle’. In the jazz-orientated Ray Ellington Quartet would engage in more ‘personality conclusion about this jump to the new media, Dennis commented: ‘The whole comedy’. The first sketch would close with Harry performing a popular song, as thing boils down to the fact that Jimmy Grafton and Michael Bentine want to do per the final show of the last run. Dennis concluded:‘We hope that Planners will the Television show regardless of anybody, and the other three Goons at present agree to bill the programme as The Goon Show rather than Crazy People. This are not particularly interested […] there is no unity in the work of the Goons is purely because everybody, both in and outside the business, refers to it as the themselves with regard to their plans and policy for their own future.’ Goon Show (or that Goon Show) but never as Crazy People (which quite frankly could be applied to almost any comedy show).’ On Thursday 10, The Stage announced that the Goons would return to the Home Service on Tuesday 22 January with a Light Programme repeat, and emphasised that Harry would be employing his ‘fine tenor voice’ in a straight song each background. In terms of programme billing, the show was now heralded as ‘The week. Meanwhile, the television project moved ahead; Michael and Jimmy’s Goon Show with those crazy people’ and – as with the shows themselves – Peter script was entitled Trial Gallop and was planned to air from 9pm to 9.30pm now took top billing with Harry relegated to second place. on Wednesday 13 February with Richard Afton (from Rooftop Rendezvous) as producer. Then on Tuesday 15 January, the cast were offered contracts for six The first shows of the run were recorded back at Aeolian I at 7.45pm on radio shows to be recorded on Sundays from 20 January to 2 March (apart from Sundays, starting on 20 January; the script was now entitled The Goon Show 24 February) and aired two days later; an option for a further six shows could and continued the numbering from Crazy People as ‘No 18 (2nd series)’. The be taken up by the BBC before Monday 11 February. The same day, Dennis programmes opened as before after the theme tune and cast announcements circulated the memo Crazy People Series Retitled, saying: ‘Would you please from Andrew Timothy with a short adventure built around Harry, now entitled note that the former series Crazy People which is returning to the air […] has Handsome Harry Secombe! (with a Handsome Harry opening theme composed been retitled The Goon Show.’ by Wally Stott) and concluding with him singing a popular number (the 1951 chart hit Longing for You in the first edition). As with some subsequent editions, The Stargazers were now getting a lot of work elsewhere and by mid-January Harry found himself in pursuit of an oriental miscreant played by Michael – in indicated that they would be in Hamburg with Calling All Forces on Sunday this case Lo Hing Ding – and working with Peter’s Inspector Thud. After the 30 March, and so not available. Meanwhile, Spike had got engaged to June Stargazers, Wally’s Pureheart Opening Theme heralded Captain Osric Pureheart Marlowe when she suddenly suggested that they got married before she being interviewed by Spike about his latest invention, the Suez Canal, with emigrated to Australia with her parents; she would then return later in the year Flowerdew as Pureheart’s assistant. Following Max’s number, contemporary to set up home with him. programmes were sent up in a glance ahead to what broadcasting would be like in 1999, with Harry taking on the role of idiotic northerner Fred Bogg. The Ray The debut of The Goon Show was emphasised in the Radio Times with a short Ellington Quartet’s contribution came next, and the show concluded with Major article entitled The Goons Again about the ‘newest and youngest comedy team’ Bloodnok in the Quest for the Abominable Snowman in which the Major was in which it was noted that Larry, Spike and Jimmy ‘have been compiling for the back with his batman Abdul Milligan, references to Lady Wilmington and Ray new series a Goon Thesis on the History of England.’ Accompanying the text as Ellington the Butler. The character’s arrival was now heralded by Wally’s was a photograph of Dennis (armed with a mallet) and Jimmy watching Spike musical Bloodnok Motif. Spike remained a minor performer or straight man and Larry study the script while their three colleagues larked around in the compared to the rest of the cast, feeling that he lacked the talent of his three cohorts and was there simply to play the fool in the form of Eccles. who featured in a sketch about education. Throughout the show a running gag was Harry as a character asking ‘Excuse me, is this the Bijou Palais-de-Dance Scheduled at 9.30pm on Tuesdays by the Home Service, The Goon Show was and Cafeteria?’… until he was shot after the closing credits. This edition also replacing Over to You with Richard Murdoch and Kenneth Horne from 22 introduced the notion of the Ray Ellington Quartet paying tribute to a musical January. However, the West and Wales Home Service instead opted for Anything star, starting with Gracie Fields and her song Sally while by now the usual play- Goes with Benny Hill and Swing Your Partners for the next few weeks. Just out by Max, the Quartet and the orchestra after Stanley Black’s new closing under two million listeners tuned in, commensurate with the end of Crazy theme tune was established as Crazy Rhythm, a piece written by Irving Caesar, People. Joseph Meyer, and Roger Wolfe Kahn in 1928 for the Broadway musical Here’s Howe. With the first edition ofThe Goon Show completed, Peter agreed to stay in the live broadcasts of Ray’s a Laugh through to the middle of July. On Saturday Scotland also dropped out of the series on the second edition on Tuesday 29, 26 January, Spike married June and – after recording the second show of the although the General Overseas Service took the show at 6.30am, 3.30pm and new series on Sunday 27 – grabbed a two-day honeymoon in a hotel on the 11.45pm on Thursday 31. An indication of how much the BBC valued the show Bayswater Road before June sailed for Australia. This second edition of The and Harry in particular came when the Corporation agreed to pay his commuting Goon Show had a last-minute cast change: Andrew Timothy was unable to fares from Sheffield for the weekend recordings.An example of the BBC’s new, attend, with his announcing work taken over by Wallace Greenslade. Born in more detailed Listener Research Reports was prepared on the first edition of Formby, Lancashire, Wallace – or ‘Bill’ as he was known – had been a purser The Goon Show on Friday 1 February, summarising the 333 questionnaires that with the P&O Ferry company and joined the BBC in 1945, reading the news made up 14% of the listening panel in the areas where the Home Service had for the European Service, announcing on the Home Service from 1949 and taken the show. The show had retained a similar audience to the later editions of hosting various shows including Saturday Sports Review, Midday Miscellany Crazy People and attained an Appreciation Index (AI) of 54 … although regular and various other shows. Spike took over as the villainous Ho Fu Chung in listeners to Crazy People gave an average of 65. Many listeners still found The Adventures of Handsome Harry Secombe and in the closing sketch, Major it difficult to identify which Goon was which, but praised Harry and Peter in Bloodnok was introduced as the Goon’s military historian who then recounted particular. Harry’s vocal spot had gone down badly and the panel had found the the tale of one of his ancestors – Angus McBloodnok. Another character show ‘moderately amusing’ although many complained that it was noisy. Those introduced in the show was Crun, an elderly teacher at England’s oldest school who enjoyed the show described it as ‘distinctly different’. Peter’s wife, Anne and choreography by Michael’s wife, ballerina Clementina The third show, recorded on Sunday 3 February, shuffled the order of the Stuart. The article A Goon Prepares had carried comments from Michael sketches, kicking off with Pureheart and then continuing with The Adventures who was due to appear as a witch doctor and a guide at an atomic plant. ‘I’ve of Handsome Harry Secombe, Bloodnok’s historical anecdote and closing with tried to see the programme entirely in pictures,’ explained Michael, ‘This is a sketch spoofing the Roman epicQuo Vadis which had opened the previous not the crazy show to end all crazy shows.’ The show was formally cancelled week. By the following day, the Home Service had decided to take up its option on Monday 11, with the cast paid in full; The Limit of Human Endurance on a second batch of six shows, and indeed fix an option for six beyond that. effectively replaced the broadcast, moved up from 9.40pm to 9pm. Then two days later came the news that Britain had feared for months; King George VI’s health had deteriorated over the last year and he had died in his On Tuesday 12, the Home Service edition of The Goon Show was replaced sleep on the morning of Wednesday 6. Most of the BBC’s scheduled radio by The World Today and Everyman. Having lost a show due because of the broadcasts were removed and replaced by the same programme of orchestral mourning period, the cancellation of the Pilgrim’s Dinner meant that the Home music across each channel. Variety shows were removed until after the period of Service now required a Goon show on Tuesday 26 February and this was mourning which concluded with the royal funeral on Friday 15. arranged on Thursday 14. The third show of the run was briefly assessed on Friday 15 February when a Listener Research Report summarised the views of A Listener Research Report on the second edition was assembled from 305 196 listeners; the show continued to attract 5% of the audience who lived in the questionnaires on Thursday 7 February; this was a brief affair which indicated relevant regions and the Appreciation Index was now 57. The Light Programme the audience had been sustained and the Appreciation Index had risen to 58. then repeated the third edition at lunchtime on Saturday 16 as a replacement for Meanwhile, the knock-on effect of the national bereavement was that on a dance music programme. When the deferred fourth show was performed on Thursday 8, the pre-recording of The Goon Show planned for that Sunday Sunday 17, a rivalry in the opening Handsome Harry Secombe sketch between was cancelled. Trial Gallop was also due to have been screened from 8.55pm Harry and announcer Andrew Timothy was established and gave the show its to 9.40pm on Wednesday 13 with rehearsals from Monday 11. It had been catchphrase of the week (‘Put some more coal on Mr Secombe!’). Pureheart’s promoted in the Radio Times as ‘An experiment in organised chaos’ in which Triumph of Engineering was Croydon Airport, which developed various gags Michael and Peter (pictured with the billing) were to have been joined by their that reappeared in the 1957 episode Wings Over Dagenham, and Colonel Josh chums Peter Butterworth and Graham Stark as well as commentator Leslie Slocombe from Crazy People reappeared in the final sketch. By now, the Eccles Mitchell, Leslie Randall of TV’s Music Hall and various others including character was so well established that the script would refer to him as a cast member in the dialogue as ‘ECCLES’ alongside ‘SPIKE’, ‘HARRY’, ‘PETER’ in Dick Turpin, a Light Programme broadcast produced by Dennis.The sixth and ‘MICHAEL’. Scotland joined the show on their Home Service with the show on Sunday 2 March was planned to have Harry pre-record Beggar in Love fourth show on Tuesday 19 February, the same day on which it was decided that at 6pm for playback into the main show at 7.30pm, but this was cut. Bloodnok the option on the Stargazers – increasingly in demand elsewhere – would not became even more dubious on his quest for the Golden Idol of Dennis Wilson be taken up for the further editions of The Goon Show. The rest of the cast were in Africa, Fred Bogg returned and the BBC’s Dick Barton joined Pureheart in a contracted on Thursday 21 February for six shows to record from 9 March to 13 space mission. Previewed with a 33 second extract from the Bloodnok sequence April, and with an option for a further six to be taken by the end of March. on the Home Service’s Programme Parade at both 7.10am and 8.10pm, this show was fully networked two days later and was the final edition to feature For the fifth show performed on Sunday 24 February, Ray Ellington’s number the Stargazers whose BBC broadcasts continued with series such as Calling had to be pre-recorded at the start of the evening for insertion into the main All Forces, Home at Eight, Show Band Show, On the Beat, The Stargazers’ show which was now performed at the later time of around 9pm. With only Music Shop, A Proper Charlie and Saturday’s Music Album. Recording through three sketches (omitting a Bloodnok item), Max and the Stargazers combined to 1960, the group enjoyed chart fame from February 1953 to June 1956 with their numbers. The Monte Carlo Rally, which had taken place in late January, Number One hits like Broken Wings and I See the Moon and also backed Dickie was sent up with the return of the BBC commentary sketches; however, Valentine on his chart-topper The Finger of Suspicion in December 1954. while Peter continued to appear as Jack Islott, Michael was now playing a commentator called Michael Bentine. Splutmuscle returned to the array of At the start of March, the Ray Ellington Quartet began a three month characters, joined by Harry as Fred Bogg.On Monday 25 came the good news engagement at the Royal Dance Hall in Tottenham while Michael Bentine joined that the Light Programme was possibly going to repeat The Goon Show to the first variety bill of the season at the Palladium. The Home Service decided a wider audience from April through to May, and on Thursday 28 the Home to extend the run again by another six weeks, and on Friday 7, Dennis expressed Service agreed to take up the option for another six shows – giving a run of to his superiors his concern that Anything Goes with Benny Hill from the West eighteen – with another option for six beyond that. In the meantime, the Welsh Home Service was ‘uncomfortably close’ to The Goon Show and indicated that Home Service took The Goon Show again from Tuesday 26, but the Midlands he would like them to take action to ‘stop this purloining of ideas’. transmitters now dropped out. This edition was also aired in the later slot of 10.01pm to allow for The Loss of the Birkenhead, a documentary about the Now without the Stargazers, Harry’s pre-recorded music item for the seventh steam ship which vanished a century earlier. The following day, Harry featured show was used to separate off his first Handsome Harry Secombe sketch from the Pureheart engineering report. Pureheart’s exploits continued with assistance should offer ‘action and movement as in Pureheart but with broader, more from Peter as Flowerdew and Malfeasance and Spike as Eccles, the Bentine- direct humour’. Aware of the complaints about noise from the Listener Research Islott commentators were back with an item based around the Winter Olympics Reports, Dennis was delighted that Harry and Michael had brought their which had taken place in Oslo in late February, and Bloodnok again presented performances down a bit over the last two shows. He advised against ‘Gags out the exploits of one of his ancestors. When the cast were booked on Monday of context’ and although some of their ‘Running gags’ had been a hit, he was 10 March, it was for only five shows (the sixth scheduled being covered by cautious of over-using them. He also wanted tighter ‘Structural continuity’ with the contract for the cancelled broadcast); these would record on Sundays from regards to characters in the Pureheart and Bloodnok narratives. Dennis was 20 April to 18 May, and the BBC could option six more by Tuesday 29 April. concerned that they missed out on topical material; Olympic Winter Sports had In fact, the Home Service extended The Goon Show through to mid-July on been written ten days after the event finished while theIrish Bloodnok sequence Wednesday 12 March (the same day that Peter and Michael appeared on the bill was a week before St Patrick’s Day. The Home Service sketch show Take It of the 31st Variety Ball at Grosvenor House). From Here had beaten them to air with a spoof of the filmThe Greatest Show on Earth despite Dennis suggesting it to the writers weeks ago; hence they needed In the meantime, Dennis took some time to comment on the shows and to plan ahead far more effectively. assembled a General Policy document for the series. Although the new shows were more ‘commercial’ he was wary that this approach might rob Dennis followed this up with thoughts on the Construction of the Four Main the programme of its wit; similarly he had concerns about ‘long build-up’ Spots. Regarding Handsome Harry Secombe, while he liked Harry’s feud with gags which were creeping in as they were difficult to sustain. He felt that the Andrew Timothy he was aware of the danger of making the announcer a fifth Pureheart items needed to be more of ‘a Goon action plot with subsidiary Goon; he also noted that Harry had difficulty with tongue-twisting phrases gags’ rather than a string of themed jokes. This and the Bloodnok item were at which should be avoided in the scripts. Captain Pureheart had been created times getting too close in style to the ‘Secombe’ and ‘Gimmick’ spots. Of the as an inventor but had degenerated into a feed for Malfeasance, Eccles and four items in the show, he felt that Handsome Harry Secombe should be ‘gag Flowerdew; he recommended looking at the Brabagoon and Goonitania items comedy’ which built to ‘full blooded wild Secombe goonery’, Pureheart should from Crazy People again to get this spot back on course. The Gimmick Spot had be ‘more relaxed […] more movement and more clever plot [with] occasional been very successful as per the 1951 shows – notably with topical items like the satire’, the ‘Gimmick’ documentary would have a ‘strong theme’ as ‘the main Monte Carlo Rally, thus the Boat Race and the Grand National were suggested outlet for Goon subtlety and satire’ and the climactic item with Bloodnok for forthcoming shows. Finally, Dennis noted that ‘On the whole, Bloodnok has been our strongest spot’; the tales had improved but needed to avoid repetition by the Earl of Secombe, Major Bloodnok and Captain Pureheart accompanied of basic plots and possibly introduce a strong, permanent character to work by characters such as Carstairs, Malfeasance, Eccles, Flowerdew, Abdul and with but contrast against Bloodnok, with this possibly being Michael’s posh Ellinga (Ray Ellington’s ‘native’); there were also interludes to poke fun at subaltern. the British politicians of the day. When this edition was scheduled in the later 9.45pm slot on Tuesday 18 (to allow for a special broadcast on Britain in Finally Dennis offered Additional Details & Suggestions dated Tuesday 11 Europe), Scotland failed to carry it. A detailed Listener Research Report on the March. Bloodnok could feature the Napoleonic Pierre Bloodnok, the dashing sixth show was written up based on comments from 348 listeners on Thursday d’Artagnan Bloodnok, or the South American revolutionary Jose el Bloodnok 20 March. The Home Service transmission attracted an AI of 58, rising to 60 with scenarios including Bloodnok the Empire Builder (for Empire Day on 24 for the Light Programme repeat; 51% of Light Programme listeners had already May), Mutiny on the Goonty and Sir Henry Bloodnok – Scourge of the Seven tuned in for the Home Service transmission. Asked if they liked this ‘crazy Seas. The Gimmick Spot could also cover the Manx T-T Motorbike Races in humour’, 70% of the Home Service listeners confirmed that they did, the share June and Silverstone Grand Prix in July. The Pureheart Spot proposed ‘ideas rising to 77% for the Light Programme; these sub-groups awarded AIs of 68 and mainly from Michael Bentine’ concerning the inventor’s own versions of the 66. Home Service listeners enjoyed Harry the most, but Peter and Harry split Russian MIG.15, a satellite town, the Boulder Dam and an atomic-powered the Light Programme vote. There was some dislike of the musical numbers, submarine. although Max’s spot was praised. Those tuned to the Home Service enjoyed Fred Bogg in the Army and Major Bloodnok’s Quest. All listeners enjoyed ‘the The Northern Ireland Home Service dropped The Goon Show from Tuesday wit and speed of the show’. 11 March for the remainder of its run, instead transmitting Fairy Faith (and later Here’s Your Chance). Nevertheless, on Wednesday 12 the Home Service The familiar sketches of Handsome Harry, Pureheart, a gimmick item and extended the run of The Goon Show through to July. Bloodnok’s adventures (in which he faced the Mad Mullah for the first time) returned for the ninth edition recorded on Sunday 23 March; Crun was now For the eighth show, recorded on Sunday 16 March, the script carried only starting to appear as a politician. By the end of March, Harry’s panto run in a single sketch: ‘The Goons’ version of Rider Haggard’s She entitled Her’ Sheffield had concluded and he had returned to London. This meant that Harry, which was presented ‘in four dramatic scenes’. This script was far closer to Michael, Spike and Max plus impressionist Janet Brown could appear on the the structure of the later editions of the series, following the quest conducted same Goon-orientated bill at the East Ham Metropolitan in the last week of March. Index had risen to 63, with 77% of the audience indicating that they liked this ‘crazy humour’. Many of those reporting were now firm fans and the more A quick Listener Research Report on the eighth show assembled from 238 mixed views came from newcomers to the series. Some found the show very questionnaires on Friday 28 March revealed an Appreciation Index of 58. noisy, while others felt that ‘they were missing a lot by not being able to see the With the tenth show recorded on Sunday 30, Spike’s Miss Banister appeared Goons.’ Criticism was mild. Harry was enjoyed the most (including his song) as ‘Auntie Bannister’ to Captain Pureheart while in the commentary for the followed by Peter, Max and Ray. There was little comment on Spike or Michael, Grand National – due to be run the following Saturday – Peter appeared again ‘perhaps because listeners were not sure which parts they played.’ One specific as Raymond Goondenning (spoofing Raymond Glendenning). This edition comment indicated that the ‘Survey of Britain’ sketches had been a weak point, aired in the later slot of 9.45pm on April Fool’s Day because of the discussion opinions varied as to whether the tempo was ‘too quick’ or just right, and the Governing London. It also gained a substantial audience when repeated in a new report concluded with a ‘Miner’s Wife’ declaring: ‘This show is a delightful slot on the Light Programme at 7.30pm on Thursday 3 April; almost five million example of pure radio and it is a relief to hear a programme which does not listeners had tuned in for The Goon Show when it replaced Anything Goes, echo several others.’ while ballet music was placed in its vacated slot at Saturday lunchtime. With the recording of the twelfth show on Sunday 13 April, the pre-recording ‘Without Spike Milligan who is away with influenza,’ announced Andrew of Harry’s number was abandoned… as was his solo spot. Max’s number was Timothy at the start of the eleventh show which was recorded on Sunday 6 moved up to follow Harry’s opening escapade (which now tended to drop the April. Various of Spike’s roles such as Eccles and an upper class officer were Handsome Harry Secombe announcement although it retained the theme) and divided out among the cast for the recording, and the Pureheart sketch had a rare instead the ‘gimmick’ spot tended to conclude with a parody song assembled appearance of Sir Harold Porridge while Clara Wilmington (Harry) reappeared by Jimmy Graftton. Bloodnok faced the Mad Mullah again and Splutmuscle in a sketch where Crun acted as a critic for a love scene. Colonel Slocombe returned as one of Pureheart’s assistants. was also back, complete with his own theme, in place of the closing Bloodnok item.The Goon-themed variety show next opened at the Chelsea Palace on The New Empire in Cardiff was the next to receive the Goon-filled variety bill Monday 7 April while Peter formed part of a new bill at the prestigious London from Monday 14 April, while the Midlands Home Service dropped the Tuesday Palladium. A detailed Listener Research Report assessing the reaction of 199 15 broadcast for one week only. The next edition of The Goon Show saw the listeners to the ninth edition was issued on Tuesday 8 April. The Appreciation recording relocated from the Aeolian Hall to the Playhouse, the former Royal Avenue Theatre on Northumberland Avenue which had been taken over by atomic scientist on a camping holiday who is being followed by two spies, the BBC in 1951. This thirteenth show of the run included a joke about senior played by Andrew Timothy and Graham Stark. Much of the action took place BBC announcer John Snagge which would later turn up in 1955’s Foiled By at Warwell Atomic Research Station where security was handled by Colonel President Fred, a gimmick sketch about the USA presidential election to be Bloodnok (Peter) and his men including Private Eccles, played as ever by Spike. held in November, and also the final appearance for some years of Colonel Also starring as an MI5 agent was Carole Carr, a singer and actress whose radio Slocombe. The Kingston-upon-Thames Empire saw the return of Harry, Spike career had begun during the war on shows like Variety Bandbox and who had and Michael’s show to England on Monday 21 April, and parts of the show worked on Listen My Children; by now she was a regular on Calling All Forces featuring Harry and Max were broadcast on the Home Service’s Vaudeville from and the Western serial Riders of the Range. By the time the film was underway 7pm on Tuesday 22… just before the next edition of The Goon Show which with director Maclean Rogers, the title was changed to Down Among the Z Men attracted almost three million listeners. The same day, Peter was booked for and an appropriate song formed part of the score written by Jack Jordan. Ray’s a Laugh through to mid-July, and then on Friday 25 the cast of The Goon Show were contracted to record from 25 May to 13 July, with yet another option The fourteenth show recorded on Sunday 27 experimented with a new closing for six additional programmes which the BBC could take by Friday 27 June. adventure with neither Bloodnok nor Slocombe, but concerning the Mexican However, by the following week the BBC indicated that this option had been bandit El Gato (Harry). Comedian Stan Stennett then joined the bill of the an error, and the Home Service would be happy for the show to close after 25 Goon variety show when it opened at the Brixton Empress on Monday 28. editions. The fifteenth show performed on Sunday 4 May saw Bloodnok appearing in the Pureheart sketch while the final narrative was a French revolutionary item. From April, the Goons spent two weeks on their first combined film venture. Harry was now also playing an idiotic northern character called Bass, Peters’ The support feature Stand Easy had been written by Jimmy Grafton and one ‘Sanders’ character was featuring more prominently, and the opening sketch saw Francis Charles, and with Jimmy as executive producer was to be made by fun poked at the BBC Head of Variety and the department’s reliance on Listener EJ Fancey Productions at Kay Carlton Hill Studios in Maida Vale, Pepys Research Reports…By Wednesday 7 May, plans were being made to reschedule House near to Grafton’s, and on location in the vicinity of Denham in Trial Gallop to air from Lime Grove Studios at 8.30pm on Wednesday 2 July, Buckinghamshire. Harry played the nominal hero, Harry Jones, a shop assistant with the cast required for rehearsals and pre-filming on Wednesday 18 June. with dreams of becoming a private eye who becomes caught up in a plot when The producer was now Michael Mills, a variety producer who had been at one of his customers, Professor Osric Pureheart (Michael), turns out to be an the helm of Turn It Up! and Picture Page. Meanwhile, an advert in The Stage on Thursday 8 May announced that ‘NUGENT THUNDERBONCE joins While Spike was thrilled by the idea of becoming a father, he was deeply HARRY SECOMBE, MICHAEL BENTINE and SPIKE MILLIGAN in thanking concerned that he did not have a home for his family. He was working flat out EMMANUEL BEESWAX for a successful season on the Arloo Circuit.’ The on writing material for The Goon Show while learning more about structure Home Service took a firm decision onThe Goon Show on Friday 9 May; the from the experienced Larry Stephens. Friends and family took him in until he current run would conclude on Tuesday 15 July, but already another series relocated to a flat in Kensington in mid-May.The date of the final recording for was being commissioned to commence in mid-November. For the next show the current run was amended on Thursday 22 May; two shows would now be recorded that Sunday, the four sketches were shuffled around late in the day taped instead on Sunday 6 July. By now, Dennis was also producing the Vera and a ‘gimmick’ item about mixing up the BBC radio stations was dropped. A Lynn series We’ll Meet Again for the Light Programme in addition to his Goon character of Harry’s in a few sketches was referred to as ‘Simple Simon’ and duties. The eighteenth edition of The Goon Show was performed on Sunday 25; the concluding item was a longer adventure in which Pureheart was now joined this saw the return of one of Bloodnok’s ancestors in the closing sketch, and also by Professor Crun, Major Bloodnok and Eccles. More new characters were also the first pairing of the ‘Miss Bannister’ character with Crun (now named Henry) tested in High Goon, a spoof Western sending up the iconic movie High Noon when Pureheart was informed that they were man and wife. which had been released at the start of May. Having studied the original script for Trial Gallop, Michael Mills commented The Goon variety show opened at the East Ham Hippodrome on Monday 12 to BBC copyright on Wednesday 28 May that ‘I am using very little of the May, the same day that a brief Listener Research Report revealed that 285 original material’ in his revised version which was now entitled Goonreel. members of the Listening Panel had awarded the fourteenth show an AI of 59. There was similar analysis of the team’s radio work in the Variety (Sound) However, the audiences on the Light Programme had been falling, and only Department. ‘I think the Goons are in danger of being submerged by the very around four million tuned in for that Thursday’s repeat. qualities that have helped them to success, namely their own gusto and extreme The seventeenth show of the run was recorded on Sunday 18 May and again eccentricity,’ wrote Michael Standing to Dennis Main Wilson on Thursday 29 saw Crun working with Pureheart, another rare appearance of Sir Harold in a May. The Head of Variety was concerned about ineffectual endings to sketches send up of the Third Programme, and a closing narrative using Harry in the lead and indistinct shows, feeling that ‘the cast have got somewhat out of control at role of a Welsh chieftain from history. the microphone, out of balance, and more than once out of audibility range. I do not expect them to perform within the dramatic limitations of [the daily Light En route for Australia, June Milligan had been suffering from morning sickness. Programme soap] Mrs Dale’s Diary but I do expect them to give an exclusively microphone performance without pandering, as they frequently do, to the studio taking on a life of their own for the cast. Peter had letterheads representing the audience. If these tendencies are not arrested very quickly the show may well solicitors’ firm of Whacklow, Futtle & Crun in Lincoln Inn Fields printed to collapse like a pricked balloon.’ send joke correspondence to Spike; this exchange of missives between figures such as Crun, Bluebottle, Grytpype-Thynne and others would continue for a Since the Dance Orchestra was on leave on Sunday 1 June, Dennis had arranged couple of decades. for the music to be provided by Robert Busby’s Revue Orchestra instead; Jack Jordan was now contributing incidental music for the shows. This script mixed A strong AI of 62 was the verdict of 172 listeners whose opinions were collated the format a little with the opening cross-talk between Harry and Andrew in a Listener Research Report for the seventeenth show on Friday 6 June. The setting up a sketch for later in the programme. The robbery of a mail van in same day, Dennis replied to his boss’ earlier memo and noted that the start of London’s Eastcastle Street on Wednesday 21 May had inspired a Pureheart the Goons not exclusively performing for the microphone coincided with their adventure involving Special Branch, and Dr Henry Crun now graduated to the move to the Playhouse. This new venue was structured so that the laughter lead character of the show’s closing sketch – the first of a two-part trip up the for a pay-off gag would be lost in the auditorium dome and not heard by the Amazon.The Ray Ellington Quartet embarked upon a three-month tour of the performer on stage. ‘It is for this reason that there has been an atmosphere UK for Mecca starting on Monday 2 June which meant that they would have of near-panic in the last Goon Shows,’ wrote Dennis, explaining that the cast to fly back for some recordings from venues such as Glasgow and Belfast. were convinced their material was falling flat … while in the control room The Goon variety show had now effectively broken up, but Harry and Michael the audience reaction was strong. ‘When the Goon Show moves to the Paris appeared on the same bill that week at the Chiswick Empire. It was apparently Cinema on Sunday, I am sure that the show will get back to normal,’ he assured. during this week that they were approached at the stage door one night by the However, he agreed with Michael’s comments on the scripts and explained eccentric figure of Ruxton Hayward, a six-foot-two, red-bearded scoutmaster ‘there has been a rift between Milligan and Stephens who instead of working with a bicycle who – in a high-pitched voice – announced that he wanted to together on all four comedy spots, are now writing two apiece as solo efforts be a Goon. Bemused by Ruxton, Michael told him to find Peter Sellers over at […] Milligan is an excellent gag and ideas man with little or no sense of pure the Finsbury Empire and present himself by saying: ‘Michael Bentine says I’m wit, construction, line or situation. Stephens is a good situation and character a genius’… with Ruxton unaware that this was a signal to Peter that he might writer […] but he has a weaker sense of purely gag comedy. Added to this, we find the scoutmaster worthy of incorporation into his act… and ultimately the lost quite a lot of headway on scripts when Milligan was away ill for two weeks inspiration for his Bluebottle character. By now, the Goons’ characters were some while ago.’ Dennis noted that he hoped to bring the two writers ‘to their senses’ shortly to resolve the ‘silly, childish situation’. from ‘Sanders’, ‘Simple Simon’ and ‘Bass’. The following week, Harry topped the bill when he opened in Show Time at the Southsea South Parade Pier on The Goon Show relocated from the less-than-ideal Playhouse to the Paris Thursday 26 June. In the Daily Express on Friday 27 June, Leonard Mosely Theatre, a former cinema on Lower Regent Street, on Sunday 8 June. In the eagerly looked ahead to the Goons’ television experiment the following week, second of the show’s two Handsome Harry-style items, Harry was visited by his noting that the group had ‘added a new word to the language – Goonery.’ Two agent, the Honourable Terence Blatt – a new Jewish agent character played by editions of The Goon Show were recorded on Sunday 29 June; the first at 4.15 Peter who would manipulate his client each week for the rest of the run. Crun’s would air second and was performed without the Ray Ellington Quartet who wife – the ‘Miss Bannister’ character – also kept tabs on her husband as he were not available until the evening and who would post-record their tribute to concluded his Amazonian adventure from the previous week. Fats Waller for later insertion. ‘Sanders’, Carstairs, Splutmuscle, Flowerdew and Eccles helped Pureheart in his battle to find a cure for Lurgi in a tale which From Monday 9 June, Peter and Max were on the bill at the Finsbury Empire, spanned the second and third parts of the show. Then in the evening edition, while Dennis was now producing another radio show; this was All Star Bill for Harry made direct references to Michael Standing and how he wanted to get which the scripts came from Jimmy Grafton and the music was performed by elected to BBC Variety (‘Standing for Standing’), Bloodnok acquired the Robert Busby’s Revue Orchestra. Michael Bentine was taken ill and unable Christian name of Cosmo (which he would retain into the next series) in a spoof to attend the recording of The Goon Show on Sunday 15; Pureheart was of Moby Dick, and the Goons looked at the supposed hopefuls then in training omitted from several sections of the script at short notice, with the bulk of the for the Helsinki Olympics which would be staged the following month. programme – all except the opening Harry/Blatt item – being a spoof of the 1933 novel Lost Horizon which featured Major Bloodnok and Harold Secombe A Listener Research Report concerning the twenty-first show was compiled discovering the secret of eternal life in Shangri La. This would form the basis from 157 questionnaires on Tuesday 17 June and awarded The Goon Show an of the episode Shangri La Again in 1955. When broadcast on Tuesday 17, this AI of 65 – a new high for the series. Harry was ‘considered the outstanding show was not taken by Scotland which instead scheduled Scotland Sings. performer’ and the combined talents of the team made ‘an amusingly slick, delightfully daft and refreshingly original entertainment.’ A minority felt the Filming of inserts for Goonreel began on Wednesday 18 June while the next series was falling into a stale ‘set pattern’ ,while many others enjoyed it but edition of The Goon Show was recorded on Sunday 22 June and again used found it noisy. The bottom line came from a ‘Civil Servant’: ‘enormous fun Bloodnok as a character in the Pureheart venture of the week with appearances and very witty – the quick fire wit left me gasping.’ Rehearsals for Goonreel took place at Lime Grove Studio G on Tuesday 1 July, ready for the live him into making a fortnightly series for us in Jan-Mar.’ As such, Michael was transmission from 8.45pm to 9pm the following evening. Joined by compere looking to move on.The final recording of the series took place back at the Andrew Timothy, Graham Stark, Sam Kydd, Robert Cawdron, choreographer Playhouse on Sunday 6 July. As with the end of Crazy People, this last show Clementina Stuart, Jack Hayes and ‘Mr Emanuel Beeswax’, the quartet’s show saw the recycling of earlier Handsome Harry items, but was then followed was promoted in the Radio Times with a shot of the Goons larking around. The by largely new material. Bloodnok acquired a daughter, Felicity (Michael), in show was apparently ‘Devised, presented, directed and produced by Mr Claude the Goons’ version of The Story of The Green Eyed Little Yellow God, and the Boote, assisted by Michael Mills’ and music came from Jack Jordan. Some of BBC commentators eavesdropped on the annual BBC Bridge Contest featuring the material – such as the story of the BRM and the spoof of The Waiter, The Michael Standing and three junior producers (plus an appearance from Peter Porter and the Upstairs Maid – was familiar to radio listeners, with the script as Nugent, a schoolboy like his Soppy character in Ray’s a Laugh), before assembled by Spike, Michael and Jimmy. The day that Goonreel hit the screens, Crun and Pureheart signed off the series with a quest for a rare African White Michael Standing wrote to Peter Eton: ‘After honorable service as producer Carnation. of the Goons programme Dennis Wilson would like to stand down for the next series starting in the autumn and I would like you to take over the production.’ The day after the final recording, Peter Eton indicated that after talking to Spike, Peter was a good choice to inherit the Goons, having a good relationship with Jimmy and Larry they would start writing again after a short rest, noting that all the cast, particularly Spike; at the time Peter was producing Arthur’s Inn, a it would ‘be a real benefit to the show if money were made available well in vehicle for Arthur Askey. He was informed that The Goon Show would return on advance to commission, say, the first six scripts’. On Wednesday 9, the Home its usual slot of Tuesdays at 9.30pm from mid-November. Service committed to twelve shows with an option for twelve more and – taking Peter’s advice – commissioned half a dozen scripts. Michael Bentine was now feeling increasingly frustrated at being unable to contribute more material to the scripts. He was also pushing to move into Following the final broadcast of the runThe Goon Show was replaced on the television, aiming to create a series of short television films which would Home Service by Rogues’ Gallery (a series of comedies featuring Naunton feature his own strange, idiotic creatures – the Bumblies. BBC Television were Wayne and Basil Radford) and on the Light Programme by a selection of interested in his talents, with Ronnie Waldman noting on Friday 4 July: ‘I Danny Kaye records. Peter Sellers concluded his current run of Ray’s a Laugh am now convinced that Michael Bentine is the man we have for so long been on Thursday 17 July. Following a broadcast in Up the Pole on Friday 18 and a needing to put more inventiveness and wit into our shows. I have almost talked recording for Calling All Forces on Saturday 19, he departed for a long ‘out of town’ tour, while Michael Bentine was also on the road, opening at the Glasgow grammatically challenging! The shows generally consisted of four different Empire on Monday 21. sketches separated by musical items. Scripted subtitles are given in single inverted commas where available and titles announced on-air presented The Goons had established themselves as a radio success with innovative in italics based on the available scripts. Programme numbering continued material and also attempted to transfer this to the visual media via film and directly on from the first run ofCrazy People. television. But a change to the familiar four-man line-up was looming … SHOW 18 (2/1): Adventures of Handsome Harry Secombe (CD 2, Track 1) SERIES TWO Recording: Sunday 20 January 1952, 7.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 1768. A recorded programme featuring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 22 January 1952, 9.30pm [except Wales [1-20,22-25], and Spike Milligan [1-10,12-25] with the Ray Ellington Quartet, and West]. Ratings: 1.8 million. AI: 54. Max Geldray and the Stargazers [1-6]. Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry Secombe (pursues Lo Hing Ding)’ finds Handsome The BBC Dance Orchestra was conducted by Stanley Black [1-7, 9-18, 21-25]. Harry asked to help Inspector Thud find a kidnapper; ‘Captain Pureheart builds Incidental music by Wally Stott [3-7,9-18,21-25], Arthur Wilkinson [12], Jack the Suez Canal’ sees Pureheart explain how he doesn’t want his canal filled with Jordan [19-20] The Revue Orchestra conducted by Robert Busby [19] water in Triumphs of Engineering; ‘Broadcasting in 1999’ takes a look into the Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black [20] future to see what has happened to various popular shows; ‘Major Bloodnok’s The script was written by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens and edited by Quest for the Abominable Snowman’ has the Major coming out of jail to take Jimmy Grafton. charge of new weather stations on Mount Everest. Technical supervision of the series was by Keith Fell [25] Music: Harry Secombe sings Longing for You (Walter Dana/Bernard Jansen); The programme was produced by Dennis Main Wilson. The Stargazers perform I Never Was Loved by Anyone Else (Cy Coben); Max Uncredited announcer: Andrew Timothy [except 2], Wallace Greenslade [2]. Geldray plays Three Little Words (Harry Ruby); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Boum! (Charles Trenet). Programme research and booklet notes by Andrew Pixley SHOW 19 (2/2): Story of the Trans Siberian Express Notes: The programme titles given to this series – where available – are Recording: Sunday 27 January 1952, 7.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 2147. as written on the BBC Archive copies after production and are often First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 29 January 1952, 9.30pm [except Scotland, Wales and West]. Ratings: 1.8 million. AI: 58. to Manicure Hill; ‘Queue Vadit’ relates the story of the World’s Greatest Film, a Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry Secombe chases Ho Fu Chang’ sees Harry trying Roman epic about Nero. to rescue the kidnapped advertising girl Gladys Fringe in The Adventures Music: The Stargazers perform Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle (Bob Merrill); of Handsome Harry Secombe; ‘Captain Pureheart builds the Trans-Siberian Harry Secombe sings Vesti la giubba from Pagliacci (Ruggero Leoncavallo); Express’ sees the inventor telling an interviewer about his latest project; Max Geldray plays Undecided (Charlie Shavers); The Ray Ellington Quartet ‘Education Sketch’ takes a look at England’s oldest school, Rottingdean; pays tribute to Al Jolson with Sonny Boy (Ray Henderson/ BG De Sylva/Lew ‘Bloodnok in the Highlands in 1745’ finds the Goons’ military historian Major Brown). Bloodnok recalling the exploits of his ancestor Angus McBloodnok with Bonnie Prince Charlie. SHOW 21 (2/4) Music: Harry Secombe sings The World is Mine Tonight (George Posford/Holt Scheduled Recording: Sunday 10 February 1952, 7.45pm, Aeolian I. Marvell); The Stargazers perform Rollin’ Stone (Irving Gordon); Max Geldray Recording: Sunday 17 February 1952, 7.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 3334. plays Jalousie (Jacob Gade); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Gracie Scheduled Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 12 February 1952, 9.30pm Fields with Sally (Will E. Haines/Harry Leon/Leo Towers). [replaced by The World Today and Everyman] First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 19 February 1952, 9.30pm [except SHOW 20 (2/3) (CD 2, Track 11) Wales]. Ratings: 1.8 million. Recording: Sunday 3 February 1952, 7.45pm, Aeolian I. SLO 2519. Repeat: Saturday 23 February 1952, 12.15pm, 0.4 million [Light Programme]. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 5 February 1952, 9.30pm [except Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry chases Andrew Timothy’ finds Harry accusing Scotland, Wales and West]. Ratings: 1.8 million. AI: 57. the announcer of trying to burn him alive in The Return of Handsome Harry Repeat: Saturday 16 February 1952, 12.15pm, 0.7 million [Light Programme]. Secombe; ‘Captain Pureheart constructs Croydon Airport’ is the latest Sketches: ‘Captain Pureheart builds the Crystal Palace’ finds the inventor busy Triumphs of Engineering; ‘BBC Programmes crammed together’ looks at the in Hyde Park but not insuring his creation against fire; ‘Handsome Harry hunts consequences of the Corporation losing wavelengths to commercial stations for lost drummer’ has Harry hired to find a drummer for an orchestra while and so having to combine programmes like Flint, the Flying Codd; ‘Colonel in Venice in The Adventures of Handsome Harry Secombe; ‘Major Bloodnok Slocombe fights the Chippawar Tribe’ is another tale of encounters with protects the women from Senapatti and his tribesmen’ features the show’s American Indians from Colonel Josh Slocombe. historian recalling a dangerous mission from his days in India when he was sent Music: Harry Secombe sings Tell Me Tonight (Mischa Spoliansky); Max Geldray plays Allentown Jail (Irving Gordon); The Stargazers perform There’s Repeat: Saturday 8 March 1952, 12.15pm, 0.7 million, AI: 60 [Light Always Room at Our House (Bob Merrill); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays Programme]. tribute to Donald Peers with In a Shady Nook (Harry Pease/Ed G Nelson). Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry Secombe goes home’ sees Harry recount what happened when he went home to the wrong house; ‘Major Bloodnok’s quest SHOW 22 (2/5) for the Golden Idol’ finds Bloodnok recalling his adventures in Africa with Pre-recording: Sunday 17 February 1952, 6.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 3627a. [Ray the Monottia tribe; ‘Fred Bogg in the Army’ comprises Harry relating the Ellington Quartet] experiences of a friend of his from a letter; ‘Barton & Pureheart’s Interplanetary Recording: Sunday 24 February 1952, 9.15pm, Aeolian I. SLO 3627. Adventures’ presents Flash Barton – Special Interplanetary Agent! in which First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 26 February 1952, 10.01pm [except Barton boards Pureheart’s rocket heading for Mars. Midlands]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Music: The Stargazers perform Button Up Your Overcoat (Ray Henderson/ Repeat: Saturday 1 March 1952, 12.15pm, 0.4 million [Light Programme]. BG De Sylva and Lew Brown.); Max Geldray plays I Can’t Give You Anything Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry guards a vineyard in France’ finds Harry responding but Love, Baby (Jimmy McHugh); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to to a newspaper advert for a free holiday in France; ‘Commentaries on the Monte Carmen Miranda with I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much) (Harry Warren/ Carlo Car Rally 1952’ come from Michael Bentine and Jack Islott and feature Mack Gordon). Fred Bogg and Ernie Splutmuscle; ‘Captain Pureheart photographs the world’ finds the inventor building a rocket so that he can take a photograph to prove SHOW 24 (2/7) that the world is flat. Pre-recording: Sunday 9 March 1952, 6pm, Aeolian I. SLO 4179a. [Harry Music: Harry Secombe sings Ma Belle Marguerite (Vivian Ellis/AP Herbert); Secombe] Max Geldray and the Stargazers perform Night and Day (Cole Porter); The Ray Recording: Sunday 9 March 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 4179. Ellington Quartet plays Let’s Try It (John Gaise). First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 11 March 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 0.7 million. AI: 58.Repeat: Saturday 15 March 1952, SHOW 23 (2/6) 12.15pm, 0.7 million [Light Programme]. Recording: Sunday 2 March 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 4021. Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry investigates a murder’ sees Harry recount to First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 4 March 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 Andrew Timothy one of his cases when he was the world’s greatest private million. AI: 58. detective; ‘Pureheart lays the Atlantic Cable’ has the Captain recall how the Postmaster General asked him to install telephone cables in another Great Honeymoon (Arthur Fields/Walter Donovan). Engineering Triumph; ‘Swiss Winter Sports Sketch’ with commentators Michael Bentine and Jack Islott talking to the likes of Ernie Splutmuscle in Switzerland; SHOW 26 (2/9) ‘Major Bloodnok protects the Blarney Stone’ has the Major recounting how Pre-recording: Sunday 23 March 1952, 6pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5277a. [Harry his ancestor Rory O’Bloodnok saved the Blarney Stone from being pinched by Secombe] Oliver Cromwell in 1641. Recording: Sunday 23 March 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5277. Music: Harry Secombe sings A Beggar in Love (Bob Merrill); Max Geldray First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 25 March 1952, 9.30pm [except plays My Yiddishe Momme (Jack Yellen/Lew Pollack); The Ray Ellington Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 1.8 million. AI: 63. Quartet pays tribute to Allan Jones with In a Shady Nook (Rudolf Friml/Herbert Repeat: Saturday 29 March 1952, 12.15pm, 0.7 million [Light Programme]. Stothart/Bob Wright/Chet Forrest). Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry the Toreador’ in which Harry tells Andrew Timothy how last summer he was short of money to pay his Spanish hotel bill; ‘Pureheart SHOW 25 (2/8): Her builds a Jet Fighter, X9’ has the Captain recount how last year the Air Ministry Pre-recording: Sunday 16 March 1952, 6pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5112a. [Harry asked him to build a new fighter plane; ‘Survey of Britain’ takes a look at film Secombe] studios, the workforce and politics; ‘Major Bloodnok (2nd/7th Bombay Biddis Recording: Sunday 16 March 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5112. at Goonistan) attacks the Mad Mullah’ sees the Major ordered to march across First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 18 March 1952, 9.45pm [except the Azi river to the relief of Pondicherry. Scotland and Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 1.1 million. AI: 58. Music: Harry Secombe sings Granada (Agustin Lara); Max Geldray plays Oh, Repeat: Saturday 22 March 1952, 12.15pm, 0.4 million [Light Programme]. You Beautiful Doll (Nat D Ayer); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to BBC Audio Synopsis: In 1882, the Earl of Secombe receives a visit at his Danny Kaye with Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calloway/Irving Mills). country mansion from Major Bloodnok. Bloodnok had found an old map of Africa telling where they can find an African Queen who is over two thousand years old but who still only looks eighteen because of an eternal flame in a SHOW 27 (2/10) cave… a flame which is threatened by the gas man!Music: Harry Secombe Pre-recording: Sunday 30 March 1952, 6pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5380a. [Harry sings You Are Love (Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II); Max Geldray plays Secombe] Unforgettable (Irving Gordon); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Aba Daba Recording: Sunday 30 March 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5380. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 1 April 1952, 9.45pm [except Northern the Roman Villa)’ features Pureheart telling Andrew Timothy of his great Ireland]. Ratings: 1.5 million. achievement in Italy; ‘Wacklow & Crun censor a show’ sees Crun scrutinising a Repeat: Thursday 3 April 1952, 7.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. Goons love scene between Bentine and Clara Wilmington; ‘Colonel Slocombe Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry Secombe and the lost Million’ sees a threatened and the Southern Army’ tells the tale of how Colonel Josh Slocombe joined the Harry discover that his safe has been robbed; ‘Pureheart’ finds the Captain Civil War conflict. telling Tim about how he proposed a tunnel under English Channel to the Music: Harry Secombe sings With a Song in My Heart (Lorenz Hart/Richard Permanent Under Secretary of State for Large Holes; ‘The Grand National’ Rodgers); Max Geldray plays Saint Louis Blues (WC Handy); The Ray offers Michael Bentine and Raymond Goondenning’s commentary ahead of next Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Eddie Cantor with If You Knew Susie (BG De Saturday’s race; ‘Major Von Bloodnok – German Secret Agent’ has the military Sylva/Joseph Meyer). historian relating the tale of Oberleutenant Von Bloodnok, the first German agent parachuted into Britain from Zeppelin in the 14-18 war. SHOW 29 (2/12) Music: Harry Secombe sings My Heart and I (Richard Tauber/Fred Tysh); Max Recording: Sunday 13 April 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 6306. Geldray plays Tea for Two (Vincent Youmans); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 15 April 1952, 9.30pm [except tribute to Johnnie Ray with Cry (Churchill Kohlman). Midlands and Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 2.2 million. Repeat: Thursday 17 April 1952, 7.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. SHOW 28 (2/11) Sketches: ‘Harry Secombe – Secret Agent’ finds Harry telling Andrew Timothy Pre-recording: Sunday 6 April 1952, 6pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5684a. [Harry of how he was asked to take atom secrets to Nosdrovia; ‘Bloodnok fights the Secombe] Mad Mullah (rehash)’ in which Andrew Timothy promises the final encounter Recording: Sunday 6 April 1952, 9pm, Aeolian I. SLO 5684. between Bloodnok and his North West Frontier enemy; ‘Goon focus on other First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 8 April 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern programmes’ covers shows such as G-Men, We Beg to Suffer and cricket Ireland]. Ratings: 1.8 million. commentary; ‘Pureheart builds a Satellite town’ finds Captain Osric Pureheart Repeat: Thursday 10 April 1952, 7.30pm, 5.1 million [Light Programme]. approach the House of Commons with a speedier method of building houses. Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry is taken prisoner in the Army by the British’ in Music: Max Geldray plays Bubble, Bubble, Bubble (Pink Champagne) (Robert which Harry recalls what happened in the last war when he was a Colonel of Wright/George Forrest); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Nellie Intelligence in Western desert; ‘Pureheart’s excavations at Pompeii (unearths Lutcher with My Mother’s Eyes (Abel Baer/Wolfe Gilbert) and Hurry On Down (Nellie Lutcher); The Goons sing the ‘Parody Number’. Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 1.5 million. AI: 59. Repeat: Thursday 1 May 1952, 7.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. SHOW 30 (2/13) Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry and the Ministry of Documentation’ tells how Recording: Sunday 20 April 1952, 9pm, The Playhouse Theatre. SLO 6737. Harry safeguarded the Ministry of Documentation against burglary when he was First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 22 April 1952, 9.30pm [except a detective; ‘Captain Pureheart builds a Time Machine’ has Pureheart telling Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 2.9 million. Andrew Timothy how he was summoned by the President of the Scientific Repeat: Thursday 24 April 1952, 7.30pm, 4.4 million [Light Programme]. Research Committee to make HG Wells’ Time Machine; ‘Regent’s Park Zoo’ Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry – Military Intelligence’ finds Harry explaining how features Michael Bentine, Brian Johnston and Jack Islott commentating on one last week he was given a job in Military Intelligence to investigate smuggling in of the most popular places to visit on Easter Monday; Haroldo Secombe loves the British Zone of Germany; ‘Filthmuck gets a Laundry (Pureheart)’ is a story the President’s daughter Conchita and becomes the Mexican bandit El Gato to of progress, telling how London sent Pureheart to install a laundry in a town rebel against repression and taxes. where people had been itching to have one for a century; ‘Presidential Elections’ Music: Max Geldray plays Adios, Muchachos (Julio Cesar Sanders); The Ray features radio reporters speaking to American citizens including civil war Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Sophie Tucker with Some of These Days veteran Colonel Josh Slocombe; ‘Slocombe goes to the Firing Line’ recounts the (Shelton Brooks) and My Yiddishe Momme (Jack Yellen/Lew Pollack); The events when the Colonel was woken by Ellington and Bentine who had returned Goons sing Jimmy Grafton’s parodies of Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross from the fighting. (trad), I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much) (Harry Warren/Mack Gordon), El Music: Max Geldray plays My Melancholy Baby (Ernie Burnett); The Ray Cumbanchero (Rafael Hernández), Jarabe Tapatío (trad) and Tico-Tico no Fubá Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Ray Ellington (!) with Little Red Riding Hood (Zequinha de Abreu/Aloysio de Oliveira). (Olav Fermelin) and The Three Bears (Bobby Troup); The Goons sing Jimmy Grafton’s parodies of The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid (Johnny SHOW 32 (2/15) Mercer) and Friendship (Cole Porter). Recording: Sunday 4 May 1952, 9pm, Playhouse. SBU 83555. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 6 May 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern SHOW 31 (2/14) Ireland]. Ratings: 2.2 million. Recording: Sunday 27 April 1952, 9pm, Playhouse. SLO 6959. Repeat: Thursday 8 May 1952, 7.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 29 April 1952, 9.30pm [except Sketches: Harry Secombe has to educate the BBC after he is summoned by the Head of Variety following poor figures forThe Goon Show in a Nosey Parker Bizet), Largo al factotum (Gioachino Rossini), La donna è mobile (Giuseppe Listener Research Report; in another tale of engineering genius from 1944, Verdi) and Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (Giuseppe Verdi); Max Geldray plays Indian Captain Pureheart builds the Mulberry Harbour; the Goons interview Olympic Love Call (Rudolf Friml/Herbert Stothart); The Ray Ellington Quartet plays possibles in training such as Sid Flange, Ernie Splutmuscle and Jasper Bass; in Louise (Richard A Whiting/Leo Robin) and Infernal Galop (Jacques Offenbach). 1789, Lord Nugent Gascoine travels to France in order to rescue the King from being executed by revolutionaries. SHOW 34 (2/17) Music: Max Geldray plays The Trolley Song (Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane); The Recording: Sunday 18 May 1952, 9pm, Playhouse. SLO 8202. Ray Ellington Quartet plays Boum! (Charles Trenet); The Goons sing Jimmy First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 20 May 1952, 9.30pm [except Grafton’s parodies of String Quartet in E (Luigi Boccherini) and Vive La Midlands and Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 0.7 million. AI: 62. Compagnie (trad). Repeat: Thursday 22 May 1952, 7.30pm, 3.6 million [Light Programme]. Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry Secombe’ finds Harry compiling a dictionary and a SHOW 33 (2/16) new version of The Goon Show made in Japan for foreign audiences; ‘Sinking Recording: Sunday 11 May 1952, 9pm, Playhouse. SLO 7761. of the Goonmark’ recounts Captain Pureheart attacking the German ship in the First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 13 May 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Venerable on 6 May 1944; ‘Home, Light and Third Programme Gimmick’ sees Ireland]. Ratings: 2.2 million. the Goons shaking up the channel styles with critical analysis of jokes in Ray Repeat: Thursday 15 May 1952, 7.30pm, 4.0 million [Light Programme]. is Hilarious and Shakespeare performed with popular music; ‘Welsh Spot’ tells Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry’s Dream – on trial for singing’ sees Harry recount the story of how King Ug Elfrida Athelsta Hainult Eglata (better known as King how he was prosecuted before Mr Sellers in the court of Mr Justice Bentine; Fred) attacked King Ecgbert in the year 803. High Goon is a Western epic for radio in which Filthmuck Gulch needs a new Music: Max Geldray plays Pennies from Heaven (Arthur Johnston); The Ray sheriff to face Tiger McGoon; ‘Pureheart – the Gorilla Hunter’ sees Pureheart Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Ginger Rogers with The Continental (Con recall the events of the previous month when he, Professor Crun and Major Conrad/ Herb Magidson); The Goons sing the Goon Welsh Number Operatic Bloodnok undertook an intrepid adventure to capture a giant gorilla for a zoo Sequence (Jimmy Grafton/Wally Stott). which was short of specimens. Music: The Goons sing Jimmy Grafton’s parodies of Funiculì, Funiculà (Luigi SHOW 35 (2/18) Denza), Chi mi frena in tal momento (Gaetano Donizetti), Habanera (Georges Recording: Sunday 25 May 1952, 9pm, Playhouse. SLO 8179. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 27 May 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Captain Osric Pureheart is sworn in as a Special Branch Superintendent assisted Ireland]. Ratings: 1.5 million. by Bloodnok, Eccles and Secombe; Harry recalls investigating the burglary of Repeat: Thursday 29 May 1952, 7.30pm, 4.4 million [Light Programme]. the Opera House in Milan when he was a private detective; the Personal Diary Sketches: ‘Handsome Harry Secombe hunted by Gang’ sees Harry telling Tim of Dr Henry Crun recounts the Royal Geographical Society expedition up the how he called upon Inspector Thud for help when he was hunted by a group Amazon in June 1881. of sound effects men on a radio play; ‘Captain Pureheart photographs Ghosts’ Music: Max Geldray plays Blue Tango (Leroy Anderson); The Ray Ellington features Pureheart leaving a conference of photographic experts to get a shot Quartet pays tribute to Bing Crosby with Where the Blue of the Night (Meets of the family ghost at Henry Crun’s castle; ‘Manoeuvres’ includes commentary the Gold of the Day) (Bing Crosby/ Roy Turk/Fred E Ahlert) and Pennies from Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine about the annual exercises of Great from Heaven (Arthur Johnston); The Goons sing Jimmy Grafton’s parodies of Britain’s armed forces on Goonsbury Plain; ‘Napoleon’s hours before Waterloo’ Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl (trad), Oh No, John! (trad) and Oh Dear! What focuses on when Napoleon and Marshall Le Bloodnok received news of Nelson Can the Matter Be? (trad). destroying the French fleet. Music: Max Geldray plays When I Take My Sugar to Tea (Sammy Fain/Irving SHOW 37 (2/20) Kahal/Pierre Norman); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Fats Waller Recording: Sunday 8 June 1952, 9pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO 9307. with Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Fats Waller/Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf) and It’s a Sin to First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 10 June 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Tell a Lie (Billy Mayhew); The Goons sing the Jimmy Grafton’s parody of We Ireland]. Ratings: 0.7 million. Saw the Sea (Irving Berlin). Repeat: Thursday 12 June 1952, 7.30pm, 4.3 million [Light Programme]. Sketches: Harry tells Andrew that he is writing daytime radio serials like Mrs SHOW 36 (2/19) Dale’s Diary; Michael Bentine and Brian Johnston deliver sports reports for Recording: Sunday 1 June 1952, 9pm, Playhouse. SLO 9302. the Whitsun Bank Holiday including the Five Timber Car Races and the World First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 3 June 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Chess Championship; Harry receives a visit from his agent, the Honourable Ireland]. Ratings: 2.2 million. Terence Blatt, who restyles him as a Peruvian Soprano; the Further Adventures Repeat: Thursday 5 June 1952, 7.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. of Dr Henry Crun in the Amazon Jungle chronicle the events of May 1881 when Sketches: Harry tells Andrew that he will leave his story until later in the show the expedition crosses the River Karpartee and arrives in the Spanish Mexican because Max is waiting to play; emergency measures at Scotland Yard mean that Town of San Itary. Music: Max Geldray plays Dinah (Harry Akst); The Goons sing Jimmy Sketches: Harry tells Andrew how the Hon Terence Blatt arranged for him Grafton’s parodies of Widecombe Fair (trad); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays to perform a lion act at Fuzzo Bentino’s circus; recent oil discoveries at Hifa tribute to Lena Horne with Stormy Weather (Ted Koehler/Harold Arlen), I Feel Yalava Sands in Africa involve the great maths scientist Captain Osric Pureheart So Smoochie (Phil Moore) and ’Deed I Do (Walter Hirsch/Fred Rose). and Dr Henry Crun of the Royal Society of Minerologists; Michael Bentine and Glendenning report on the sporting events of the week; a Brief Survey of SHOW 38 (2/21) the Holiday Season considers leisure opportunities on the Continent and in Recording: Sunday 15 June 1952, 9pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO 9638. Scotland. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 17 June 1952, 9.30pm [except Scotland Music: Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers sing Jimmy Grafton’s parody of Largo and Northern Ireland]. Ratings: 2.2 million. AI: 65. al factotum (Gioachino Rossini); Max Geldray plays Saint Louis Blues (WC Repeat: Thursday 19 June 1952, 7.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. Handy); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with A-Tisket, Sketches: After the sound effects engineer leaves early, Harry explains to A-Tasket (Ella Fitzgerald/Al Feldman) and Oh, Lady Be Good! (George Andrew about his first television commercial in which he will be promoting Gershwin/Ira Gershwin). O’Managhan’s Indian Curry Powder; Lost Horizontal relates the story of Shangri-La, discovered in 1938 by Major Bloodnok, Harold Secombe, Abdul SHOW 40 (2/23) and Eccles when they attempted to escape from Peking and were escorted to Recording: Sunday 29 June 1952, 9pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO 10474. Television Set Mountain by Tibetan peasants. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 1 July 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Music: Max Geldray plays Trust in Me (Ned Wever/Milton Ager/Jean Ireland]. Ratings: 1.5 million. Schwartz); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Vera Lynn with I’ll Be Repeat: Thursday 3 July 1952, 7.30pm, 3.6 million [Light Programme]. Seeing You (Irving Kahal/Sammy Fain). Sketches: Harry tells Andrew that he is going up against John Snagge as chief announcer… as the sound effects engineers go on strike; a stirring survey of SHOW 39 (2/22) the Glorious History of Britain tries to raise the nation’s spirits; a look at The Recording: Sunday 22 June 1952, 9pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO 9955. Whaling Industry since the ninth century sees Major Cosmo Bloodnok recall First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 24 June 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern the obsession of Captain Pureheart with the scourge of the Indian Ocean, Dhobi Ireland]. Ratings: 1.8 million. Mick; the Goons made a recording of recent trials for the forthcoming Olympics Repeat: Thursday 26 June 1952, 7.30pm, 4.0 million [Light Programme]. at White City. Music: Max Geldray plays Old Man River (Jerome Kern); The Ray Ellington First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 15 July 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Quartet pays tribute to Marie Lloyd with My Old Man (Said Follow the Van) Ireland]. Ratings: 1.5 million. (Fred W Leigh/Charles Collins). Repeat: Thursday 17 July 1952, 7.30pm, 4.4 million [Light Programme]. Sketches: Harry tells Andrew Timothy about his recent appearances and they SHOW 41 (2/24) recount several of his earlier exploits (from Shows 2/1, 2/7, 2/3, 2/20); the Recording: Sunday 29 June 1952, 4.15pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO 11378. Goons tell the Story of The Green Eyed Little Yellow God with Major Bloodnok Post-Recording: Sunday 29 June 1952, 8.45pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO and Captain Mad Carew in Poona, 1903; commentators Glendenning and 11378a. [Ray Ellington Quartet] Bentine report on the Annual BBC Bridge Contest, the Groingeweather Dog First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 8 July 1952, 9.30pm [except Northern Show and Shellsea Bay fairground; in 1931, Captain Osric Pureheart answers an Ireland]. Ratings: 2.2 million. advert and is sent with Crun to bring back a specimen of the rare African White Repeat: Thursday 10 July 1952, 7.30pm, 3.6 million [Light Programme]. Carnation. Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe tells Andrew about an audition arranged Music: Harry Secombe sings Heart of a Clown (Francis Kane/Steve Nelson/ for him by the Hon Terence Blatt which required make-up to allow him to play a Jack Rollins); Max Geldray plays My Blue Heaven (Walter Donaldson); The young man; Captain Osric Pureheart is called before the English Medical Board Ray Ellington Quartet plays Teddy Bear’s Picnic (John W Bratton/Jimmy when he needs to find a cure for Lurgi;Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott features Kennedy). Sir Cedric Bloodnok, his long lost son Wilfred of Ivanhoe and a serf called Filthmuck. THE GOON SHOW – SERIES 3 Music: The Goons sing Jimmy Grafton’s parody of Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor’s Life for Me) (Leigh Herline/Ned Washington); Max Geldray plays JULY 1952-JUNE 1953 Donkey Serenade (Rudolf Friml/Herbert Stothart); The Ray Ellington Quartet pays tribute to Fats Waller with Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Fats Waller/Harry Brooks/ While preparing to take over as producer of The Goon Show for its third season, Andy Razaf) and It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie (Billy Mayhew). Peter Eton was informed on Monday 21 July that the next run would not be taken by the General Overseas Service. The show’s editor Jimmy Grafton also SHOW 42 (2/25) (CD 3, Track 1) informed BBC TV that in the wake of the attempt to bring Goon humour to Recording: Sunday 6 July 1952, 9pm, The Playhouse Theatre. SLO 10808. television in the form of Goonreel at the start of July, three of the show’s stars – Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers – would be available for Ellington of the Ray Ellington Quartet would also live in adjacent buildings. But ‘another “Goon” show any time in October’ but did not yet know about the writing, performing and preparing a home had placed Spike under great strain… commitments of the fourth team member, Michael Bentine. While a firm commission for the first twelve scripts of the new run ofThe Goon Show was issued to Larry and Spike on Thursday 4 September, the following During the summer break, Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens – the writers of day the BBC Head of Variety Michael Standing sent a letter which indicated The Goon Show – contributed to Forces All Star Bill which was to be produced that there was a fundamental change for the show looming. The recipient was by former Goons producer Dennis Main Wilson for the Light Programme. Michael Bentine, then appearing at Southampton’s Gaumont Theatre. ‘I am very Along with the team’s friend Eric Sykes, Larry also started to write for veteran distressed to hear that for certain reasons – which I gather are largely personal entertainer Jimmy James. Meanwhile Harry featured on BBC radio shows such – you are at present unwilling to take part in the revival of “The Goon Show” as Seaside Variety, Force All Star Bill and Summer Showtime, while Peter could this autumn.’ The Variety chief indicated that while he would not force the be heard on Music Hall. Spike recorded an edition of Arthur’s Inn for Peter performer to change his mind: ‘I should represent to you my own view that if is Eton, and he and Larry then ended up scripting two editions of the show to help a great pity to break up a team which has produced such successful results […] Peter out when problems arose with other writers. If you [...] think that it would useful to have a talk with me I shall be very glad to see you.’ On Thursday 31 July, Peter Sellers and harmonica player Max Geldray were offered contracts for twelve editions of The Goon Show to be recorded at the To get ahead with the series, Larry and Spike were asked to deliver the first two Paris Cinema from Sunday 9 November for transmission from Tuesday 11 scripts by Monday 29 September, the next three by Monday 27 October and November; an option on a further twelve had to be taken by Monday 5 January their sixth by Friday 7 November. However, there was an element of negotiation 1953. Spike and Harry were similarly approached on Friday 8 August; the same to be taken into account as the writers indicated that The Goon Show writing day, Harry was also contracted to return for a run of his other Home Service process was demanding. ‘It is a fast, high-pressure [series] containing probably comedy series Educating Archie during September and October. In mid-June more gags per minute than any other show on air; and writing it is very hard 1952, Peter and his wife Anne had moved into a flat in Highgate on Shepherd’s work,’ wrote Larry on Wednesday 17 September as he noted that the scripts Hill, with Spike as their lodger. When another flat became available in the same now needed to be longer than before (‘it is now to be a three-spot show with just building, Spike took it as a home for his new wife June who was then pregnant two musical items’). The BBC agreed to an increase in payment for the scripts; and on her way back from Australia. Eventually Max Geldray and vocalist Ray Larry was also being asked to develop a new sitcom for Tony Hancock called Vacant Lot. Meanwhile, Michael Standing wrote to Michael Bentine again hosted by comedy legend Jimmy James on Saturday 1 November; Harry had on Wednesday 17 to say that he was sorry to have missed his phone call the also been booked for other editions in this series’ run. That night, life changed previous week: ‘It seems that you have firmly made up your mind against taking for Spike. June went into labour as Don’t Spare the Horses was going out, and part in the revival of “The Goons”, and though I do not myself agree with the with the help of the family’s friend Graham Stark she was rushed to the Royal rightness of the decision I respect your feelings, and will pursue the matter no Northern Hospital where Laura Milligan was born in the early hours of Sunday further.’ 2 November.Within hours of getting home with Laura, June suffered a bout of post-natal fever and had to leave the baby in Spike’s hands. A full-time nurse The filmDown Among the Z Men, shot by the Goons earlier in the year, from New Zealand was assigned to assist the family, with Spike sleeping on the was registered by the British Board of Film Classification on Wednesday 24 sofa and trying to write scripts around tending to his new daughter. Then Laura September and was on release by the start of October. Back on Educating Archie fell ill when she was given the wrong strength of milk mixture, Spike having from Sunday 14 September, Harry released his first commercial recording – followed the helpful but erroneous advice of the couple in the flat above.As Here in My Heart backed with Faith Can Move Mountains – as a 78rpm disc Spike struggled to cope with all these different demands for his attention, the from HMV on Thursday 16 October. Still appearing in variety, Peter and Harry nurse became convinced that his wild-eyed appearance was the side effect of were united for a week at the Hippodrome Theatre in Dudley from Monday 20 alcoholism… October and featured as part of the venue’s fourteenth birthday celebrations on that week’s Around the Halls from the Light Programme on Tuesday With the first recording of the new series looming on Sunday 9 November, Peter 21. Peter had been busy on tour in recent weeks, and had been heard on the Eton invited Michael Bentine along to the performance. Michael wrote to the BBC’s Star Show. On Thursday 23 October, it was decided that the seventh incoming producer on Sunday 2 to comment that he would probably be away in show – provisionally scheduled for Tuesday 23 December – would be replaced Dorset that weekend: ‘However I do, most sincerely wish you and the boys every by a 45-minute ‘Goons Melodrama’ which would air on the Home Service success and a really terrific series […] Larry dropped in and suggested a guest at 8.15pm on Boxing Day. Rumours that Harry would be leaving Educating appearance later in the series, which was very nice of you all, but I do feel that, Archie to rejoin The Goon Show featured in the Daily Express on Friday 24 “Professionally”, a break must be a break, though, of course I hope that our October. However, the BBC quickly had second thoughts regarding this notion friendship will continue for many years to come […] I honestly do feel that the and rearranged production to allow Harry to feature in both series. Peter and “Goons” have a much better balance with three comics and a straight man […] Spike appeared together on Don’t Spare the Horses, a BBC TV variety show and that the foregoing series did show a decided overbalancing of comedy [...] with the addition of the extra one.’ Michael promised to ‘eagerly listen’ to the series and Variety Fanfare had been giving broadcasting time to Max Geldray. finished show. The Ray Ellington Quartet had been appearing at the Café de Paris in London ‘We have been asked […] to write a brief article for an obscure journal called and featured on BBC TV’s Toppers About Town from the venue on Friday 31 … er … the “Wireless Advertiser”, or the “Marconi Time”, or the “Crystal- October. Recordings for the new series were arranged carefully around those Set Observer”. I forget which,’ Spike told the Radio Times as he and Larry for Educating Archie; it was originally intended that both would be recorded described the creation of The Goon Show in the issue of Friday 7 November. at the Paris Cinema, Educating Archie at 8.30pm and then The Goon Show The piece Three Men in a Whirl heralded the ‘third run’ of The Goon Show at 9pm. In fact, work was rescheduled to the Aeolian Hall, so after rehearsals which was due to arrive the following Tuesday, now without Michael Bentine for the Goons at Aeolian 2 from 6pm, Harry departed for the Paris to rehearse whom it was indicated had dropped out to allow him to spend more time Educating Archie while the music numbers were rehearsed from 6.30pm. Harry with his family alongside his six-day-a-week variety work. The new series then returned in time to rehearse The Goon Show in Aeolian 1 from 7.30pm, but was previewed with discussion about Harry’s character of Fred Bogg in the departed at 8.10pm to record Educating Archie… with the doors of Aeolian 2 confessional I Was a Male Fan-Dancer and also Fred of the Islands, one of the opening at 9pm to admit the audience with Harry back for the 9.30pm recording. new sketches under the heading of Adapted from the Classics. Peter was due The BBC indicated to the press that Harry’s engagement on The Goon Show was to be back as Major Bloodnok, Henry Crun, Ernie Splutmuscle, Flowerdew, the reason that he would no longer have a ‘song spot’ in Educating Archie; this Colonel Slocombe and the Honourable Terence Blatt, plus poet and tragedian element had also been dropped from The Goon Show. Mr William McGoonagle (another character whose name would change spelling wildly during the show’s run). Spike would be on board as Eccles and Abdul. The new three-act structure was established with Max performing the first While Max Geldray and the Ray Ellington Quartet were also back, Stanley number and Ray and his quartet the second. Opening ‘No 1 (Third series)’ was Black and the Dance Orchestra were now busy on Educating Archie; in their a sketch about Peter Eton which featured Spike’s Miss Bannister character as place came a new orchestra directed by musical arranger Wally Stott. The series Eton’s secretary, Miss Flangebox, in the opening sequence. The middle section was now produced by Peter Eton, ‘better known as Sid Walpurgis’ (a name used of the show was an adventure which focused on the characters of Fred Bogg, on the second of the new scripts).The cast of The Goon Show came together Major Bloodnok and Eccles, while the final third returned to the magazine again on Saturday 9 November. The previous evening, Peter had recorded a trial format with Peter’s Splutmuscle character now referred to as Horsefern episode for a reformatted version of Ray’s a Laugh. Harry had been appearing Walkboot and Harry doing a upper crust officer voice referred to as ‘Splenders’. on All Star Bill for Dennis Main Wilson in early November, and both that The show ended with a fake trailer, supposedly promoting the subsequent edition. Harry, Peter and Spike joined impressionist Janet Brown for a week in The The following week, Harry joined Michael at the Croydon Empire, while Peter Goon Show on stage at the Alma Theatre in Luton from Monday 17 November. recorded a production called Foursome at the Paris on Monday 10. The Goon The following weekend, Spike informed the BBC that he desperately needed the Show returned to its usual Home Service slot of 9.30pm on a Tuesday on 11 Corporation to arrange with the GPO to have a phone installed at his Highview November – a slot which had recently been filled byLeave it to Me with Cicely flat so that he could be in communication regarding scripts. In the third show – Courtneidge. The debut edition attracted an audience of around two million, recorded on Sunday 23 – Handsome Harry, directed by Moriarty, got mixed up much the same as for the previous run. with Inspector Delysius Sellers of Scotland Yard, a trend which would continue each week as he tangled with a different Sellers family member. Harry’s Miss On Thursday 13 November, Harry was formally contracted by producer Roy Wilmington character made a final appearance, and Eccles featured prominently Speer on Educating Archie through to the end of November. Repeats of The in a spoof of Gone with the Wind. Goon Show on the Light Programme were now placed at 4.30pm on Sundays from 16 November, effectively replacing the serial The Regent starring Wilfred Booked for further editions of Educating Archie, Harry spent the week of Pickles. The Light Programme reruns again attracted larger audiences than Monday 24 November at the Shepherds Bush Empire, while Max was heard the Home Service; around five million listeners tuned in, giving a generally on Worker’s Playtime from a Manchester power station on Thursday 27. On larger reach then the previous run. The second show of the series, recorded that Friday 28, Peter was also booked for a new run of Ray’s a Laugh which would evening, saw the return of the useless hero ‘Handsome’ Harry Secombe who be broadcast live from the Paris Cinema from New Year’s Day. Driving down after some initial chat with Andrew Timothy was now generally directed into to London from Leeds on Saturday 29 November, Max was involved in an some nefarious activity in which he would come off worse by an international accident at Alconbury when his car somersaulted on an icy road. Badly bruised crook and con man called Moriarty, played by Spike. This script also introduced on his mouth, nose and leg, Max managed to attend the recording the next day. Odium, Crun’s butler who spoke rubbish courtesy of Spike, and again saw This show featured The Saga of HMS Aldgate narrated by Peter as William Harry involved with one of the Sellers’ family … for which Peter used his McGoonigle – a figure inspired by the nineteenth-century Scottish weaver and ‘[George] Sanders’ voice. A single narrative spanned the second and third parts actor William McGonagall whose famously bad poetry had been a source of of the show, and in this Bloodnok worked with Burke, the name assigned to amusement to Spike and Peter in their correspondence over the summer. Harry’s ‘Splenders’ character. The first week of December found a recovered Max on stage at theWood Green Empire while Ray and his quartet began an engagement at the Locarno Dance Hall in Streatham; Ray’s recording of Feet Up with the Stargazers was released Spike was hospitalized for a few weeks in Muswell Hill. Strait-jacketed and by Decca (F10023) that week and briefly charted. Harry spent the week at the in isolation, within days he wanted to be back at work writing The Goon Show Blackpool Palace. – which he saw as his only means of supporting his wife and daughter. His therapists however wanted him to rest and he was given sedatives, with the A Listener Research Report for the opening episode of the run was circulated by doctors and nurses taking pencils away from him to enforce rest. Harry agreed the Audience Research Department on Tuesday 2 December. 326 questionnaires to take over some of the Milligan household’s bills until he could write again. were summarised, indicating that the series gained a marginally larger audience At this point, Larry Stephens was also unwell, and so the Christmas special than Leave It to Me, and although the appreciation index was lower than the was partly written by Jimmy Grafton.The Grade organisation had now had an previous year at only 51, regular listeners had given it a notable rating of 71. offer from Bernard Delfont for Peter Sellers to star in a comic revue which ‘One Man’s Meat is Another Man’s Poison’ noted the report; the ‘Anti-Goon’ would take him out of town from Monday 16 March 1953, and his availability section of the audience felt it was ‘childish, noisy, infantile rubbish’ but even was checked with the Corporation to whom he was ‘on first call’ until the end enthusiasts felt it was ‘patchy’ and ‘less amusingly slick’ than previous years. of March. At this point, Peter was contracted to the end of January on Ray’s Peter and Harry were considered the ‘shining lights’ of the cast while the only a Laugh (with an option on six more) and The Goon Show (with an option of items mentioned as ‘rather poor’ were the numbers from Max and Ray. twelve more). On Friday 5 December, the BBC indicated that it was likely that the option would be exercised for both shows, although this would only cause a At the start of December, the strain became too much for Spike. He was problem with the live Thursday broadcasts of Ray’s a Laugh. exhausted from writing and performing, June had been in terrible pain with a breast abscess, and Laura had been ill from shortly after her birth. In addition, Harry recorded two editions of Educating Archie on the afternoon of Sunday Peter Eton was asking for early delivery on scripts, and Peter Sellers wanted to 7 December before joining Peter to handle The Goon Show at 9.30pm at the drop by at all hours to discuss ideas with his friend. Spike began to hallucinate. different venue of Piccadilly 1. Although that week Moriarty had actually been Taking a potato knife, he made his way to Peter’s flat, later explaining: I‘ was referred to as ‘Moriarty Milligan’ in the opening Handsome Harry sequence, the so mad that I thought that if I killed Peter it would all come right. I think I just part was now taken by Peter as he and Harry divided Spike’s roles up between wanted them to lock me up. I was totally demented. Poor Peter hadn’t done them, depending on which characters were featured in the scene. Because of his anything.’ ill-health, the BBC cancelled Spike’s performing contract through to the end of January 1953. outstanding artists’.

Despite Spike’s health, on Wednesday 10 December, the Home Service The Home Service scheduled The Goon Show through to the end of March on indicated that an extension on The Goon Show was desirable – if the scripts Wednesday 17 December, indicating that contracts would be issued for seven were available – but the Light Programme could not offer a repeat slot other more shows with an option of six more beyond that. On Thursday 18, Peter than 10am on Sundays after Christmas. The same day, Ray’s a Laugh was broadcast from Rhymney in Worker’s Playtime on the Welsh Home Service, extended beyond January for Peter. The script for the recording of Sunday 14 and also featured on Talent Theatre from Newbridge for the same channel – the middle part of which was a spoof of the Light Programme’s rural soap the following day. He had also been due to record The Santa Claus Show for opera The Archers with Peter taking on the rustic Spruntly character – was Dennis Main Wilson at the Garrick Theatre on Sunday 21, but this Boxing restructured without the need for Spike. The following day, Max began a week Day programme was changed at the last moment and he dropped out. Instead, at the West Bromwich Plaza. Although Spike was in hospital, the trade press Peter joined Harry and Carole for the recording of the ‘Goons Melodrama’ continued to indicate that he would be working in variety, such as a booking Robin Hood at the Paris with the extended 75-minute recording commencing at the Palace in Chelsea from Monday 15 December and also the Robin Hood at 9.15pm. Deputising for Spike was the Goons’ friend Dick Emery, called in ‘Goons pantomime’ special which was announced in The Stage on Thursday by Peter Eton. Although trained as an operatic performer before the war, Dick 18 December. The cast for this festive special also included Carole Carr from had also been part of the RAF Gang Show, developing a solo act with numerous Down Among the Z Men. By now, June Milligan had recovered and took baby appearances on Variety Bandbox, Music-Hall, Happy-Go-Lucky and Variety Laura to Muswell Hill to see her father; sometimes Spike was glad to see them, Ahoy!. and on other days he would refuse to have them near him.The Listener Research Report on the third show, summarising 261 questionnaires, was available On Monday 22 December, Harry recorded the Christmas Day edition of Welsh from Tuesday 16 December. The audience size was growing and appreciation Rarebit for the Welsh Light Programme. The festive edition of The Goon remained average, with the summary noting that the ‘anti-Goon’ panel members Show was moved to 9.30pm on the Friday Boxing Day, clearing the evening were no longer tuning in with more positive responses to questions such as of Tuesday 23 for a broadcast of Handel’s Messiah on the Home Service. ‘Do you usually like this kind of humour?’ The usual split in the audience was However, on the Friday the Welsh Home Service scheduled the quiz Pawb Yn Ei still apparent, with the enthusiasts still feeling that this show was ‘perhaps not Dro while listeners in Scotland heard the discussion A Matter of Opinion instead quite as good as usual’. Harry and Peter were most often singled out as ‘the of the Goons.On Sunday 28 December, the Light Programme moved The Goon Show to 10am and the slot previously filled byWith Heart and Voice, placing in practice that if we are able to accept the scripts we must have them in the abridged film soundtracks at the vacated 4.30pm slot; in the morning schedule, producer’s office without fail by the mid-day of the Wednesday so that they can listening figures fell to around two million. Recording onEducating Archie be ready for recording on the following Sunday.’ resumed on Sunday 28 December, with The Goon Show back at the Piccadilly for recording from 9.30pm. Spike was still absent and the script – which reused On New Year’s Day, The Stage carried the announcement: ‘PETER SELLERS the skit on The Archers from a fortnight earlier – was revised around him; wishes all his friends a Happy New Year. Thanks to Arnold Fringe, Harold Vest, ‘Moriarty Milligan’ was said to be sick, leaving his cohort Giuseppe (Peter) to The Arloo Tour, The Flunge Circuit, and Fern Muleboot for their continued get Handsome Harry into another scrape. guidance in the face of overwhelming odds [...] Personal Management: The Hon. Terence Blatt.’ The same day, Peter resumed his live broadcasts of Ray’s a On Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December, the BBC issued artiste contracts Laugh from the Paris Cinema. for a further eight editions of The Goon Show to be recorded at the Paris from 1 February to 22 March, with an option on six additional shows to be taken Despite the joint credits, Larry wrote the whole of the script recorded on Sunday by Tuesday 31 March. A brief Listener Research Report on the fourth show of 4 January which had been tailored to include Dick Emery, to the extent that it the run summarised 310 questionnaires on Monday 29, showing little change opened with Peter warning Dick not to take over any of his characters and Harry from the previous audience responses in which some ‘said they missed Michael talking about Educating Archie (which he had recorded earlier that day). The Bentine’ and most enjoyed the ‘genuinely lunatic’ style of wit. Harry took part same day, CF Meehan – the Assistant Head of Variety – wrote to both Spike and in Pocket Variety in Swansea on Tuesday 30; he was then appearing in the Larry concerning script delivery: ‘It has been reported to me by Mr Peter Eton city as Miffins in the pantoPuss in Boots at the Empire Theatre. New ‘Goons’ that despite his constant requests for early delivery your scripts for the above announced the Daily Mail on New Year’s Eve, breaking the story that Spike production continue to arrive late – in some cases not until the morning of the would be absent from the radio series for the next few editions: ‘His place will pre-recording […] In the circumstances, I must ask you to deliver scripts to the be taken by Graham Stark and Dick Emery on alternate weeks’. The same day, producer not later than Thursday of each week and I trust you will not fail.’ the BBC wrote to Larry Stephens about the change in payments because of Spike’s illness and the increased workload on himself and Jimmy, adding: ‘The The fifth edition of the series – the first without Spike – was the subject of the producer asks me to emphasise the importance of letting us have the scripts next Listener Research Report on Wednesday 7, with the 296 questionnaires in sufficient time for them to be able to be used for broadcasting. This means giving an appreciation index of 67, the highest for the series so far. A few listeners felt this edition was ‘not so funny as usual’ although ‘the Wife of had with both Spike and Jimmy also resolved, Peter Eton indicated that ‘by a Tax Officer’ commented ‘I find the high spirits of these awful people very March, the “Goon Show” should be back in its old form.’ infectious. I have to listen because my schoolboy son insists on turning on the radio against my wishes, but many times I chuckle into my knitting – to my own Harry’s option for six more editions of Educating Archie to early February was undoing.’ Other comments included a ‘Housewife’ who found the toothpaste taken up on Thursday 8 January. Graham Stark – then a regular in All-Star Bill mining tale ‘quite good’ while a ‘Doctor’s Wife’ said ‘I’d like Michael Bentine – joined the cast for the recording on Sunday 11 February, taking on the mantle back’, a ‘Retired Civil Servant’ found it ‘a rather queer kind of tonic’, a ‘Gas of Crun’s assistant Scrongleshot (reprising his ‘Prince Charming’ voice from the Carboniser Foreman’ felt ‘the crazy team are now really in top gear’ and a 1951 Cinderella panto), while Peter resumed the role of Moriarty in the opening ‘Salesman’ declared it to be ‘an excellent tonic for me every week’. sequence and Harry’s gallery of characters now included the Scot McNab. Spike was now slowly contributing more to the scripts again, although the majority After a few months on the series, Peter Eton sent Michael Standing a memo was still by Larry.Comments from 93 questionnaires about the Robin Hood headed The Goon Show – Final Options on Thursday 8 January, advising that special were summarised by Audience Research on Wednesday 14 January. they should talk if the series was to be extended beyond the end of March. ‘This The Goons were ‘considered an excellent and very versatile team whose timing third series has never really had a chance to settle down, and I certainly have is particularly good’ and the only criticism of them was that they were ‘too not had the opportunity of putting my theories into practice’ he wrote, noting noisy’. Some listeners had admitted that they did not usually tune in for the that there had been problems on the first five shows with him being new as Goons but did so because the edition had been announced as a pantomime and producer, Wally Stott coming in as conductor, lost read-throughs because the the reception to the festive edition had been generally very good with ‘a retired studio was needed for Home at Eight and Harry’s commitments to Educating teacher’ commenting ‘they were so obviously sincere in their efforts to please’. Archie. While the orchestra had now settled down, his problem had been that Spike and Larry had not been on speaking terms: ‘Spike was already showing The Goon Show moved to the King’s Theatre at Hammersmith for the recording signs of mental strain and Larry was proudly boasting that he was drinking on Sunday 18 January, with recordings still at 9.30pm; in addition to Dick more than four bottles of rum a week’. Following the loss of Spike, scripts Emery, this week the cast were also joined by Wallace Greenslade who again became ‘scissors and paste’ jobs. The producer had seen Spike who had patched deputised for Andrew Timothy at short notice. The following week, Max up his quarrel with Larry and was hoping to be back at the end of January, and continued his tour with the Four Aces Dance Band at the Chiswick Empire, Larry promised to be ‘his old sober self’. With the disputes which Peter Sellers while on Tuesday 20 Peter was contracted for Ray’s a Laugh through to the end of March. Despite Peter Eton’s concerns, on Thursday 22 January, the Home Dick joined the cast to record on Sunday 1 March; this script saw the second Service confirmed their requirement for another six shows, while Harry was part of a Western focusing on Crun at Dead Man’s Gulch which had begun a also offered a contract for the next series of Educating Archie which would couple of weeks earlier. start recording on Sunday 17 May; Harry was also announced as being one of the stars of George and Alfred Black’s summer show The Show of Shows at the While Max played at the Leicester Palace on Monday 2, the BBC learnt that Blackpool Opera House. Harry Secombe had been offered a chance to host thirteen variety programmes on the commercial rival Radio Luxembourg from April to June; the Corporation Spike Milligan’s Illness was addressed in the Both Sides of the Microphone noted that Harry was under an exclusivity contract which would prevent him section of the Radio Times on Friday 23 January. ‘We are glad to learn that taking up this offer until Tuesday 5 May. On Tuesday 3, concerned Variety Spike is now making a good recovery and hopes to rejoin the show at the end Booking Manager Patrick Newman noted that the BBC would not want Harry of next month,’ noted the publication, reiterating that Dick and Graham would ‘to run parallel on Commercial Radio at any time when he is in one, let alone continue to alternate as Spike’s deputy. His ‘enforced illness’ had been lightened two, of our major shows.’ There was a worry that Harry might exhaust himself by a cutting from a national newspaper which inadvertently paid tribute to the with this workload… Goons in a Court Report: ‘He was sent to an approved school at Bristol five years ago for three years, but goon conduct got him out in twenty-one months.’ Peter was present at the Trocadero Restaurant in London to celebrate twenty- five years of the Windmill Theatre, as screened by BBC TV on Wednesday 4 The amended credits at the end of the show recorded on Sunday 25 January February. On Friday 6, the cast of The Goon Show were offered contracts for suggested that the script had been written solely by Larry; Graham was back for another six editions to be recorded from 29 March to 3 May. Ray was now this show as Bloodnok’s batman Captain Scrongleshot. The same day, Michael appearing at the Locarno Ballroom in Leeds for an extended booking, with Bentine was contracted for his first post-Goon BBC series, featuring onCome Max squeezing in an appearance on Variety Matinee on the Home Service on to Charlee! with Charlie Chester for producer Leslie Bridgmont from the end Saturday 7. On Sunday 8 February, the Light Programme relocated The Goon of February. Max appeared at the Middlesbrough Empire the following week, Show to the afternoon slot of 2.15pm in place of America in Song, leaving the while in London there was concern about a venue for the extended run of The 10am slot to a new run of Surprise Party from Paris; the Goons’ ratings shot Goon Show with Aeolian 1 being the only option available for Sunday 22 up to almost seven million. Actor Valentine Dyall – then rebuilding his acting February. In fact, The Goon Show returned to the Aeolian that weekend when career after the end of his famous radio chiller Appointment with Fear – was the guest artiste in the recording at 9.30pm back at King’s that evening. Having down to 4pm and retaining its audience of around six million. That evening’s worked with Spike on the earlier series Bumblethorpe, Valentine featured recording at King’s saw a reworking of The Story of Civilization from the sixth prominently in The Tragedy of Oxley Towers which occupied the last two thirds edition of Crazy People. of the programme, generally the standard format of the scripts at this point. The same day, Harry also recorded the final show in the current run ofEducating Max appeared at the Hackney Empire the following week, and was also Archie. heard alongside Ray and Graham on Tuesday’s edition of Forces All-Star Bill produced by Dennis Main Wilson. Meanwhile, an issue with the Handsome Spike had returned home, but was still in mental pain and felt more isolated than Harry sketch of the eleventh show had arisen; a scripted line of dialogue for ever. June was shaken by her husband’s breakdown, and also felt isolated – with Peter had referred to an address on ‘Charlton Street’, but Peter had changed this her parents in Australia – and upset that her husband was driven by his writing on broadcast… and now the BBC feared that if this was a real address an action rather than being focused on family life with her and Laura. To inspire Spike’s could be taken against them. Also on Tuesday 17 February, the BBC agreed to writing, Peter Eton gave him the works of the sixteenth-century French satirist cover the costs of Harry travelling back to London from Swansea for Sunday François Rabelais to read. Both Spike and Larry asked Peter if there was any recordings through to mid-March. The next day, Peter was offered a contract for chance of repeats of The Goon Show on the Home Service as with the previous thirteen editions of Ray’s a Laugh through to the end of June. run. The Goon Show was reviewed in the On the Air section of The Stage on Thursday 12 February, with the critic noting that the show’s ‘inspired lunacy On Thursday 19, Spike was contracted to appear in four editions of The Goon […] amid the realms of complete fantasy, has also found approbation among the Show from Sunday 1 March. The series returned to the Aeolian for recording higher-browed commentators’. The series was ‘an acquired taste, demanding on Sunday 22 with a show which introduced a new character for Harry, Lord more attention than many listeners would accord their loudspeakers’ but was Hanjunk, a nephew of Crun’s. felt to be ‘unrivalled on the air’. Originally booked for four shows, Dick Emery was contracted for the Peter and Graham were in the cast for recording of Jimmy Grafton’s Sing a recording of Sunday 1 March although he would not ultimately take part in the Song of London produced by Dennis Main Wilson on Saturday 14; this aired on programme. Spike returned to the series with this show which was performed the Light the following Wednesday. The next day, The Goon Show repeat on the back at King’s. The next day, Peter Eton wrote to Harry at the Empire Theatre in Light moved back to its new regular slot of 1.45pm, forcing Educating Archie Swansea, noting that Harry had been late for rehearsals on Sunday, not arriving until 4.40pm. The producer had said nothing at the time, but now felt that Harry audience with The Goon Show, indicating that this could take place at King’s could have arrived earlier. Going on leave for the next two weeks and leaving so that they could use Wally Stott’s band… and so avoid Harry having to dash the recordings in the charge of producer Charles Chilton who was ‘struggling between studios. with the monumental difficulties in this fantastically, ridiculously, crazy show’, Peter asked Harry if he could arrive at 3.30pm. With the coronation of Queen Peter’s agent Denis Selinger wrote to the BBC on Tuesday 10 March indicating Elizabeth II set for Tuesday 2 June, on Tuesday 3 June the Home Service that for ‘health reasons’ his client would like a holiday prior to his Southsea approved the notion of a 40-minute special of The Goon Show to air during season and asked if Peter could be released from his contract on the last three Coronation Week at 7pm on Wednesday 3. At the same time, Larry Stephens editions of Ray’s a Laugh. Patrick Newman responded the next day, saying that was pursuing an increase in writing fees for the extended series with the BBC, the BBC were wary that although Peter had been contracted to them for two indicating that he had the backing of Peter Eton. years, he was exhausting himself with late-night cabaret. The same day, Peter wrote to Patrick asking for his first holiday in three years, pleading to go to Peter Sellers featured in Worker’s Playtime from Maidstone on Tuesday 3 and the South of France for a fortnight from Monday 4 May: ‘My nerves are tuned was also booked up for the thirteen-week season of Show Time at the Southsea up like an XK120 and I feel that if I do not get a holiday soon I shall have a South Parade Pier from Thursday 25 June. Charles Chilton supervised the nervous breakdown.’ recording on Sunday 8, and although it was initially planned that he would be credited on the show, the revised closing credits named Peter Eton as Wary of the fragile nature of Spike’s health, on Wednesday 11 March the Variety the producer. Wallace Greenslade again deputised for Andrew Timothy as Department pondered if Peter Eton could get one pre-recorded edition of The announcer. Despite Spike’s return, Peter continued to perform Moriarty in the Goon Show‘in the can’ in case the writers became ‘unavailable’. That weekend, opening Handsome Harry sequences, while Harry made his last appearance as Harry concluded his run in Puss in Boots and attended the Sunday recording the ‘Splenders’ character of Carstairs and Major Bloodnok came up against the at King’s which was supervised by Charles Chilton; by now, Spike had taken Mardi. over Harry’s Carstairs character. Back from leave, on Monday 16, Peter Eton asked his superiors if the June special should be written about the Coronation On Monday 9 March, Roy Speer noted that it was desirable to make six more itself, while Max began a week at the Hulme Hippodrome. The following day, editions of Educating Archie, recording one on Sunday 5 April and two on the recording of The Goon Show was discussed with reference to transferring Sunday 12 April. The second of the two shows on Sunday 12 would share the it to King’s to accommodate Dennis Main Wilson’s variety show The Pleasure Boat. However, the show was then assigned back to Aeolian 1 – much to the character also appeared, but now claimed that he was a bluebottle.The week of irritation of Peter Eton who indicated that his team had only just settled in at Monday 23 found Harry with the Educating Archie cast at the Glasgow Empire King’s and would now be uprooted for the last four shows. ‘It does seem a great and Max at the Chatham Empire. That week, Peter recorded an appearance pity to disturb it, when after all the script, cast, engineering and studio trouble, for Ted and Kitty’s Easter Outing (a Ray’s a Laugh special) for broadcast on the programme has at last found a haven of rest,’ he wrote. Meanwhile, George Monday 6 April. By now, he had withdrawn his request for a holiday during Inns – the producer of Ray’s a Laugh – indicated that he was prepared to release May… because he had been offered a chance to appear at the Palladium. Patrick Peter from his series, knowing that if he refused the performer would simply get Newman wrote to Denis Selinger about this on Wednesday 25, explaining that a doctor’s certificate which would prevent him working. the BBC was well aware of how Peter found himself so tired that he needed a vacation from BBC contract work, but was apparently free for work at the Scottish Home Service did not take the nineteenth show of the run on Tuesday Palladium… 17 March, airing the Celtic party Welcome to Spring in its place. The next day, Peter Eton was informed that the special should be ‘a normal type of show As it transpired, the Sunday recording of The Goon Show was not broadcast with 2 extra sketches, one of which may well contain a slight Coronation skit as planned. During Tuesday 24 March, Queen Mary died and the output of – but please be careful of the material’. The last editions of the series were the Home Service was devoted to sombre orchestral music for the evening. commissioned on Friday 20, with the BBC informing Larry that the writing fee This now placed the series in advance of transmission, and on Friday 27 Peter would not be increased because of his late delivery, but that the situation could Eton planned ahead, confirming that the performance on Sunday 12April be reviewed in the autumn. would be at 8.30pm back at the Aeolian. Although the previous show had not aired, the next one was recorded at King’s as usual on Sunday 29 – albeit with Peter appeared at the Nuffield Centre on Friday 20 while Ray’s run in Leeds no fixed transmission date. This script was somewhat rushed, drawing upon concluded that weekend. The Sunday recording saw the main narrative of sketches from early editions of the previous series and substituting Pureheart the week spoofing Ewen Montagu’s memoirThe Man Who Never Was which with Crun in a tale about the Suez Canal. Earlier that day, the scheduled repeat recounted the wartime disinformation scheme Operation Mincemeat and had of The Goon Show had again been pre-empted by the funeral of Queen Mary been serialised during February 1953 in the Sunday Express. Spike and Larry’s which was carried on all stations. On Monday 30, Harry took part in the Home version now named Harry’s main character as Lord Hairy Seagoon, with the Service’s Merry-Go-Round from Cardiff and was also offered a contract for ‘Hairy Seagoon’ alias sticking in place of ‘Harry Secombe’. Peter’s Splutmuscle six more editions of Educating Archie to be recorded at the Paris from Sunday 17 May. Max spent the week playing at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and the Chiswick Empire. The Home Service broadcast for Tuesday 14 April set a the resumed Tuesday night broadcast of The Goon Show was scheduled five new record at over four million listeners, subsequently reducing to just over two minutes later than usual to make way for a Party Political Broadcast by Anthony million for the rest of the run. Eden, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; this show was not taken by the Midlands Home Service which aired Midlands Miscellany. The next day, Peter Recording on The Goon Show resumed on Sunday 19 April at the earlier time was ‘Guest of the Week’ on the Light Programme’s Woman’s Hour. of 8.30pm at Aeolian 1 with a script which again relied heavily on reusing material from the start of the previous series, substituting Crun for Pureheart. On Tuesday 2 April, the cast of The Goon Show were informed that the period Harry spent the following week at the Finsbury Empire while on Wednesday of national mourning meant that they were now a show in hand – as such, the 22, Peter recorded the Home Service’s Top Flight at RAF Bircham Newton for problematic recording scheduled for Sunday 12 April was being cancelled, but broadcast on Tuesday 28. From Thursday 23, the cast was offered contracts to they would be paid anyway. Spike was also offered a contract to appear in six record the special edition of The Goon Show at the Playhouse Theatre from 5pm more editions through to the start of May. on Monday 1 June.

The name ‘Bluebottle’ was again used for the boy quartermain who maintained Harry and Myra Secombe’s second child, Andrew, was born on Sunday 26 the ship’s log in the final section of the show recorded at King’s on Sunday 5 April, the same day that the Goons recorded Handsome Harry’s involvement April. On the Moss Empire circuit, Harry was on stage at Sunderland while Max with the investigation into ‘subversive activities’ in American information spent the next week at Edinburgh. On Tuesday, the Midlands Home Service agencies in Europe initiated by Senator McCarthy, and also Lord Hairy again opted out of Tuesday’s broadcast in favour of the play Maguire, and the Seagoon’s assault on Mount Everest inspired by the latest attempt by a British following day Larry opened negotiations over a fee for the Coronation special, expedition to climb the world’s highest peak. assuring the BBC: ‘Now that Mr Milligan is well again, the scripts will be on time.’ Peter appeared with his wife Anne and Graham Stark on BBC TV’s Music- Hall on Saturday 2 May, with the final recording forThe Goon Show at the With the recording for Sunday 12 cancelled, the cast had a weekend off, after Aeolian the following night. Harry appeared that week at the Metropolitan which the Ray Ellington Quartet opened for several weeks at the Plaza in Theatre on the Edgware Road and – to the BBC’s annoyance – had to cancel Manchester while Peter’s ‘Disk Toppers’ impersonation act spent the week at an appearance on the Light Programme’s Show Band Show on Thursday 7 at short notice because of work on a new film project in which he was reunited Max was unable to make the weekday recording on Monday 1 June he would with Michael Bentine who also co-wrote the screenplay. Forces’ Sweetheart was not be able to take part in the broadcast. There was also no possibility of pre- shot at Nettlefold Studios for director Maclean Rogers and Edwin J Fancey’s recording his number to insert during transmission because of the cost of hiring company. Graham Stark also featured in a tale of mistaken identity when singer the orchestra. As such, Max was engaged at the Portsmouth Royal on Monday Judy James was pursued by three suitors – including Harry as Private Llewellyn 1 at the same time as Graham Stark joined Peter, Harry, Spike and the Ray and Michael as Flight-Lieutenant John Robinson – all using the name ‘John Ellington Quartet for the 40-minute special at the Playhouse Theatre. The show Robinson’. meandered from fake news coverage with lampoons of Winston Churchill and senior BBC figures through to a narrative in which Crun and his nephew Lord The Goon Show finished its Home Service run (disrupted at 9.41pm by a Hairy Seagoon mounted an expedition to Africa to ensure that a remote tribe did transmitter fault for Northern Ireland listeners) on Tuesday 5 to be replaced by not miss out on the celebrations because of a breakdown with their radio. This the return of In All Directions, a non-audience comedy featuring Peter Ustinov broadcast was not aired by the Welsh Home Service which scheduled Llwybr y and Peter Jones; when the Light Programme repeats concluded on Sunday 10, Mynydd instead. On Friday 5 June, Larry Stephens wrote to the BBC to inform the slot was effectively taken by Educating Archie. The following week, Peter them that he and Spike would not take on a month’s work offered on Star Sellers opened for a fortnight at the Palladium while Max Geldray’s tour took Bill: ‘Mr Milligan has to take a holiday out of London for health reasons.’ On him to the Plymouth Palace and then the Liverpool Pavilion. Wednesday 10, Peter Eton wrote to Spike to explain that the Light Programme had allowed him to commission further scripts for The Goon Show in advance: Wary of the issues which had plagued the last run of The Goon Show, CF ‘The position is that from now onwards, any script or part of a script which you Meehan suggested to Peter Eton on Friday 15 May that before work began on would like to write for the new series will be paid for immediately you send it in. the next series in the autumn they should commission six scripts to have written Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to receive the first script from you in advance with payment on delivery. in a few days’ time, and from then onward, if I receive a script every 10 days I should be in a delirium of delight.’ Harry Secombe started recording the new series of Educating Archie at the Paris on Sunday 17 May and spent the next week at the Chiswick Empire. The SERIES 3 and Coronation Special week after, Max was at the Candie Gardens in Guernsey. Peter Eton wrote to A recorded programme featuring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan him on Friday 29 concerning the Coronation Week special, noting that because [1-4, 17-25], Dick Emery [7, 9, 11, 13, 15], Carole Carr [7], Graham Stark [10, 12, 14, 16, Special] with guest artist Valentine Dyall [14] and the voice of Ray Repeat: Sunday 16 November 1952, 4.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. Ellington with the Ray Ellington Quartet, and Max Geldray [except Special]. Sketches: The Goons eavesdrop on Peter Eton and his secretary, Miss The Orchestra was conducted by Wally Stott Flangebox; Fred of the Islands sees Fred Bogg and Eccles joining Major Script was written by Spike Milligan [1-6, 8-25], Larry Stephens [1-6, 8-25] Bloodnok to fish for pearls in the South Seas;Week-end Commentary offers and Jimmy Grafton (as ‘Thomas Alcock & William Bull’) [7], edited by Jimmy news and interviews from around Britain including international soccer, a shin- Grafton [1-6, 8-24]. kicking contest and an interview with ornithologist Professor Crun. Announcer: Andrew Timothy [1-17,19-24], Wallace Greenslade [18, 25] Music: Max Geldray plays Liza (All the Clouds’ll Roll Away) (George The programme was produced by Peter Eton [Charles Chilton supervised the Gershwin); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Cry Baby Boogie (Hughie Prince/ recordings for 18-19, uncredited] Dick Rogers/Don Osborne)

Programme research and booklet notes by Andrew Pixley SHOW 3/2: The Egg of the Great Auk Recording: Sunday 16 November 1952, 9.30pm, Aeolian I. SOX 82948. Notes: The programme titles given to this series – where available – are First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 18 November 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: as written on the BBC Archive copies after production and are often 1.8 million. AI: 64. grammatically challenging! The shows generally consisted of two or three Repeat: Sunday 23 November 1952, 4.30pm, 4.7 million [Light Programme]. different sketches separated by musical items. Sketch titles announced on-air Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe undergoes plastic surgery from Rissoldo are presented in italics based on the available scripts, and it should be noted Sellers to hide from the police who want to arrest him for stealing rubber bands that spellings of character names varied from script to script. from the BBC; Adapted from the Classics: The Egg of the Great Auk in which ornithologist Henry Crun hires Major Bloodnok to set off on a quest to find a Great Auk. Music: Max Geldray plays Embraceable You (George Gershwin); The Ray SHOW 3/1: Fred of the Islands Ellington Quartet play Stop, Relax, Think (Ellington) Recording: Sunday 9 November 1952, 9.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 17297. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 11 November 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: SHOW 3/3: I Was a Male Fan Dancer 1.8 million. AI: 51. Recording: Sunday 23 November 1952, 9.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 18332. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 25 November 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: SHOW 3/5: The Expedition for Toothpaste 2.9 million. AI: 60. Recording: Sunday 7 December 1952, 9.30pm, Piccadilly I. SLO 18848. Repeat: Sunday 30 November 1952, 4.30pm, 5.1 million [Light Programme]. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 9 December 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe receives a visit from Inspector Delysius million. AI: 67. Sellers of Scotland Yard when he gets mixed up with Moriarty’s contraband; Repeat: Sunday 14 December 1952, 4.30pm, 5.1 million [Light Programme]. Survey of Britain: I was a male fan-dancer recounts the attempts to get a male Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe is informed by Moriarty that if he can dancer past the local watch committee; Adapted from the Classics: Goon with marry before his rich Aunt Henrietta dies, he will inherit a million pounds; the Wind sees Eccles as one of the characters in a spoof of Gone with the Wind. Commander Burke investigates reports of toothpaste below the Sahara Desert; Music: Max Geldray plays When I Take My Sugar To Tea (Sammy Fain); The sportsmen Henry Crun, Sam Secombe and Eccles embark on the annual Ray Ellington Quartet play Bim Bam Baby (Sammy Mysels). Canadian Moose hunting season. Music: Max Geldray plays Lady is a Tramp (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart); SHOW 3/4: The Saga of HMS Aldgate The Ray Ellington Quartet play Got a Brand New Suit (Howard Deitz/Arthur Recording: Sunday 30 November 1952, 9.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 18613. Schwartz) and My Very Good Friend, the Milkman (Johnny Burke/Harold First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 2 December 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 Spina). million. AI: 61. Repeat: Sunday 7 December 1952, 4.30pm, 5.5 million [Light Programme]. SHOW 3/6: The Archers Sketches: Moriarty phones Harry Secombe and tells him to deliver forged pound Recording: Sunday 14 December 1952, 9.30pm, Piccadilly I. SLO 19414. notes to the Peter Sellers Old Folks Home; Adapted from the Classics: The Saga First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 16 December 1952, 9.30pm. Ratings: of HMS Aldgate by William McGoonigle recounts how Henry Crun and Eccles 2.2 million. AI: 66. became lighthouse keepers in 1881; reports from the previous month cover the Repeat: Sunday 21 December 1952, 4.30pm, 5.1 million [Light Programme]. Motor Show, the Brewers’ Exhibition at Olympia, the arrival of an Indian Yogi Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe is directed by Moriarty to fly to Algiers at an airport, and an interview with boxer ‘Kid’ Eccles. on the Peter Sellers Private Plane Service to collect contraband cigarettes; The Music: Max Geldray plays Pennies from Heaven (Arthur Johnston); The Ray Archers changes style significantly when the script is taken over by writers Ellington Quartet play Takes Two To Tango (Al Hoffman/Dick Manning). more used to crafting American PI drama, horror tales and BBC comedy; March of Science: The Hydrogen Bomb sees the government employing Henry Begongegroin Crun to work on the deadly atomic device. Wales]. Ratings: 1.8 million. Music: Max Geldray plays Slow Train Blues (Bob Anthony); The Ray Ellington Repeat: Sunday 4 January 1953, 10am, 2.2 million [Light Programme]. Quartet play Five Guys Named Moe (Jerry Bresler/Larry Wynn). Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe sees Secombe summoned to meet Giuseppe at the British Museum as part of a plan to steal some gold ornaments; SHOW 3/7: The Goons Pantomime No 2: Robin Hood The Archers changes style significantly when the script is taken over by writers Recording: Sunday 21 December 1952, 9.15pm, The Paris Cinema. SLO 19526. more used to crafting American PI drama, horror tales and BBC comedy (from First Home Service Broadcast: Friday 26 December 1952, 9.30pm [except Show 3/6); The March of Science: The Search for Santa Claus offers a scientific Wales and Scotland]. Ratings: 1.1 million. AI: 61. investigation of folklore chaired by Major Cosmo Bloodnok who sets off to find Repeat: Sunday 28 December 1952, 10am, 2.2 million [Light Programme]. Santa’s summer residence in Greenland with Professor Crun. Sketches: The Goons tell the true story of Robin Hood – The Bandit of Music: Max Geldray plays Oh, Lady Be Good! (George Gershwin/Ira Sherwood Forest; in the twelfth century, Andrew Timothy is held up on the Gershwin); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Blues in Advance (Nell Drummond). coach from Doncaster to Nottingham by Robin Hood and his merry men… including Major Bloodnok, Will Eccles, Handsome Harry Secombe and SHOW 3/9: The Navy, Army and Air Force Flowerdew. Timothy joins the band as they prepare to attack the Sheriff during Recording: Sunday 4 January 1953, 9.30pm, Piccadilly I. SLO 20338. an archery contest. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 6 January 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.9 Music: Max Geldray plays Bubble Bubble Bubble (Pink Champagne) (George million. AI: 66. Forrest/Robert Wright); The Goons sing The Robbers’ Chorus (Jimmy Repeat: Sunday 11 January 1953, 10am, 2.6 million [Light Programme]. Grafton/Frederic Norton); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Woe! is Me (James Sketches: Harry is told by Giuseppe to steal the painting Napoleon on the Cliffs Cavanaugh/Dick Sanford/Bob Emmerich) and I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead of St Helena from the National Gallery for Peter de Sellers; the Navy, Army and (You Rascal You) (Sam Theard); The Cast sing Life is so Peculiar (Johnny Air Force work together on a combined services exercise on the remote northern Burke/Jimmy van Heusen). coastline; March of Science: The Third Coelacanth recounts Mr Crun’s quest to catch a rare third specimen of Coelacanth. SHOW 3/8 Music: Max Geldray plays That Old Black Magic (Harry Arnold); The Ray Recording: Sunday 28 December 1952, 9.30pm, Piccadilly I. SLO 19783. Ellington Quartet play Bone Dry (Bernard Zee/Libby Zee/Walt Barrows). First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 30 December 1952, 9.30pm [except SHOW 3/10: The British Way of Life Recording: Sunday 11 January 1953, 9.30pm, Piccadilly I. SLO 20695. SHOW 3/12: Flint of the Flying Squad First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 13 January 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 Recording: Sunday 25 January 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 20948. million. AI: 67. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 27 January 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.6 Repeat: Sunday 18 January 1953, 10am, 2.6 million [Light Programme]. million. AI: 66. Sketches: Moriarty tells Harry to help a safe cracker called Slim Jim escape Repeat: Sunday 1 February 1953, 10am, 2.6 million [Light Programme]. from prison using equipment from Flash Sellers; The British Way sees the Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe is told by Moriarty to dope a greyhound Goons give vent to their patriotic feeling on politics, women, bravery and at Goondon Stadium and visits chief vet Dr Flamline Sellers who thinks Harry marriage for the year 1953; March of Science: The H77 relates the story of Mr is a dog; to beat Flint of the Flying Squad in the National Radio Awards, The Crun, the designer of the new crescent-winged jet bomber. Goon Show brings in Bert Pigsfoot to introduce new catchphrases; cashing in Music: Max Geldray plays Glow-Worm (Johnny Mercer); The Ray Ellington on recent cinema trends, Captain Scrongleshot takes part in an adventure with Quartet play Lady of Spain (Tolchard Evans/Erell Reaves). pirates, smugglers and Dick Barton. Music: Max Geldray plays Everything I Have Is Yours (Burton Lane/Harold SHOW 3/11: Survey of Britain Adamson); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Boum! (Charles Trenet). Recording: Sunday 18 January 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 20948. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 20 January 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.9 SHOW 3/13: Seaside Resorts in Winter million. AI: 64. Recording: Sunday 1 February 1953, 8.15pm, Aeolian I. SOX 86757. Repeat: Sunday 25 January 1953, 10am, 2.9 million [Light Programme]. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 3 February 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 Sketches: Handsome Harry Secombe is in Battersea Dogs’ Home and has to be million. AI: 66. sent to psychiatrist Dr Sellers to determine if he is a canine or not; Survey of Repeat: Sunday 8 February 1953, 2.15pm, 6.9 million [Light Programme]. Britain looks into the claims of poor conditions and shortages; the Goons form Sketches: Moriarty phones Secombe and directs him to burgle a large coffee a committee to investigate morality and send dynamic crime-buster Mr Crun to factory owned by Sellers; the Goons report on holiday resorts such as Shellboar- clean up the lawlessness of Dead Man’s Gulch. on-Sea and Little Diddeyknow during winter months in Week-end Commentary; Music: Max Geldray plays You’re Driving Me Crazy (Walter Donaldson); The Two-Gun Crun stars in Part Two of The Scourge of Dead Man’s Gulch as the Ray Ellington Quartet play Little Girl (Madeline Hyde/Francis Henry). Kellys and M’Gurks arrive in town. Music: Max Geldray plays My Blue Heaven (Walter Donaldson); The Ray story of the SS Goonited States, Henry Crun’s liner which aims to break that Ellington Quartet play I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much) (Mack Gordon/ Atlantic crossing record. Harry Warren). Music: Max Geldray plays Adios, Muchachos (Julio Cesar Sanders); The Ray Ellington Quartet play One Mint Julep (Rudy Toombs). SHOW 3/14: The Tragedy of Oxley Towers Recording: Sunday 8 February 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 22493. SHOW 3/16: The Search for the Bearded Vulture (CD 3, Track 11 extract) First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 10 February 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 1.8 Recording: Sunday 22 February 1953, 9.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 22973. million. AI: 64. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 24 February 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.6 Repeat: Sunday 15 February 1953, 1.45pm, 6.2 million [Light Programme]. million. Sketches: Moriarty phones Handsome Harry Secombe to take a message to his Repeat: Sunday 1 March 1953, 1.45pm, 6.2 million [Light Programme]. secret service contact Antonio Sellers; the Goons Arts Theatre Group presents Sketches: Moriarty tells Handsome Harry Secombe to buy a special expanding a melodrama in two acts – The Tragedy of Oxley Towers narrated by William ladder from builders merchant Clanger Sellers so that he can burgle the home M’Goonagle in which Harry Fudgeknuckle inherits the estate of Oxley Towers of Sir Whachett Crump; The Search for the Bearded Vulture in which Lord at Halloween from his rather unnerving uncle. Hanjunk the Second and his Uncle Crun set off to Java following a British Music: Max Geldray plays Tea for Two (Vincent Youmans); The Ray Ellington Ornithological Society sighting of the rare bearded vulture. Quartet play All for the Love of Lil (Larry Wynn/Jerry Bresler). Music: Max Geldray plays All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm (Walter Jurmann/Gus Kahn/Bronisław Kaper); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Shine (Cecil Mack/ SHOW 3/15: The Story of Civilization Lew Brown/Ford Dabney). Recording: Sunday 15 February 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 22860. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 17 February 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 SHOW 3/17: Mystery of the Monkey’s Paw (CD 3, Track 14) million. AI: 66. Recording: Sunday 1 March 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 23540. Repeat: Sunday 22 February 1953, 1.45pm, 5.5 million [Light Programme]. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 3 March 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.6 Sketches: Moriarty tells Handsome Harry Secombe to join the Irish Guards million. AI: 66. Officers so that he can steal jewels and furs at Lady Cronglebaum’s ball; ‘The Repeat: Sunday 8 March 1953, 1.45pm, 5.8 million [Light Programme]. Story of Civilization’ (from Show 1/6); The Race for the Blue Riband tells the Sketches: The Monkey’s Paw in which Moriarty has forged French currency which he needs Harry to take to France by yacht from Dover; The Quest for Sketches: Blood and Sand in which Moriarty gives bullfighter Harry Secombe Brigadier Winchmold recounts the expedition of 1940 in which Mr Crun and his a chance to marry millionairess Senora Juanita Dolores Carmenchita Don nephew Lord Hanjunk search for the missing Brigadier Fernos Winchmold in Esprano; Socks in which a child’s embarrassing question prompts a recollection M’Gaga territory at the heart of the Brazilian jungle. of the crisis at the Gobi Desert sock mines of 1872 and how this was resolved Music: Max Geldray plays For Me And My Gal (George W Meyer/Edgar by the brilliant engineer, Mr Crun. Leslie/E Ray Goetz); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Fats Music: Max Geldray plays Side by Side (Harry Woods); The Ray Ellington Waller/Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf) and It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie (Billy Mayhew). Quartet play Lullaby of Broadway (Harry Warren/ Al Dubin).

SHOW 3/18: Mystery of the Cow on the Hill SHOW 3/20: The Man Who Never Was Recording: Sunday 8 March 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 24224. Recording: Sunday 22 March 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 24764. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 10 March 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.2 Scheduled Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 24 March 1953, 9.30pm. [replaced million. AI: 67. by orchestral music] Repeat: Sunday 15 March 1953, 1.45pm, 5.8 million [Light Programme]. Scheduled Repeat: Sunday 29 March 1953, 1.45pm [Light Programme; replaced Sketches: The Mystery of the Cow on the Hill in which Moriarty asks Secombe by Funeral of Queen Mary] to sell the stolen Picasso ‘Cow Grazing on Hill’ at Beaumont Sellers’ pawn First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 31 March 1953, 9.35pm [except shop; The Siege of Khartoum in which Mr Crun leads a relief force to aid Major Midlands]. Ratings: 2.2 million. Bloodnok and his men against the Mardi in Sudan of the 1800s. Repeat: Sunday 5 April 1953, 1.45pm, 6.6 million [Light Programme]. Music: Max Geldray plays You’re Driving Me Crazy (Walter Donaldson); The Sketches: Moriarty phones Harry and has him report to the British Embassy to Ray Ellington Quartet play A Beautiful Waste of Time (Vic Mizzy/Mann Curtis). act as a bodyguard for Marshalls Goonces while he is visiting London; The Man Who Never Was tells the best kept secret of the war as Lord Hairy Seagoon, SHOW 3/19: Where Do Socks Come From? Major Bloodnok and Mr Crum work on a plan to fool the Germans with fake Recording: Sunday 15 March 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 24432. plans as part of Operation Baldock in April 1944. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 17 March 1953, 9.30pm [except Music: Max Geldray plays Lady is a Tramp (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart); Scotland]. Ratings: 1.8 million. AI: 66. The Ray Ellington Quartet play My Mother’s Eyes (Abel Baer/Wolfe Gilbert) Repeat: Sunday 22 March 1953, 1.45pm, 6.6 million [Light Programme]. and Hurry On Down (Nellie Lutcher). Engvick); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Lady of Spain (Tolchard Evans/Erell SHOW 3/21: The Building of the Suez Canal Reaves). Recording: Sunday 29 March 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 25520. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 7 April 1953, 9.30pm [except SHOW 3/23: Conquest of Space Midlands]. Ratings: 2.6 million. AI: 64. Recording: Sunday 19 April 1953, 8.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 26517. Repeat: Sunday 12 April 1953, 1.45pm, 5.8 million [Light Programme]. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 21 April 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.9 Sketches: Moriarty directs Handsome Harry Secombe to take control of a million. AI: 67. French vineyard through marriage (from Show 2/5); The Building of the Suez Repeat: Sunday 26 April 1953, 1.45pm, 5.8 million [Light Programme]. Canal relates how at the turn of the century Mr Crun came up with the solution Sketches: Moriarty telephones Handsome Harry Secombe to tell him to join the of a canal for Far East Shipping (from Show 2/1). Beefeaters in a plan to steal the crown jewels; the first edition ofConquest of Music: Max Geldray plays Old Man River (Jerome Kern); The Ray Ellington Space covers Mr Crun’s space mission to photograph the Earth and prove that Quartet play That’s My Desire (Helmy Kresa/Carroll Loveday) and You Are My it is flat (from Show 2/5); Goons’ military historian Major Bloodnok recalls the Lucky Star (Nacio Herb Brown/Arthur Freed). exploits of his ancestor Angus McBloodnok with Bonnie Prince Charlie (from Show 2/2). SHOW 3/22: The De Goonlies Music: Max Geldray plays Ruby (Heinz Eric Roemheld/Mitchell Parish); The Recording: Sunday 5 April 1953, 9.30pm, The King’s Theatre. SLO 25873. Ray Ellington Quartet play Little Red Monkey (Stephen Gale/Jack Jordan). First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 14 April 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 4.4 million. AI: 64. SHOW 3/24: The Ascent of Mount Everest Repeat: Sunday 19 April 1953, 1.45pm, 5.8 million [Light Programme]. Recording: Sunday 26 April 1953, 8.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 26797. Sketches: Moriarty tells Handsome Harry Secombe to insure his house against First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 28 April 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.6 fire for £10,000 with the Personal Insurance Company;Great British Families million. AI: 67. and their Accomplishments – Number One: The De Goonlies takes a look at Repeat: Sunday 3 May 1953, 1.45pm, 6.2 million [Light Programme]. the history of Britain’s most noble family since 906AD through to Lord Bazil’s Sketches: When the Americans arrive to investigate the BBC, Moriarty tells expedition to find the source of the Nile with the help of Mr Crun. Seagoon to get a job on the committee of Senator McCarthy; The Ascent of Music: Max Geldray plays Make It Soon (Maurice Pon/Henri Salvador/William Mount Everest recounts Lord Hairy Seagoon’s expedition to fulfil Mr Henry Crun’s offer of a million pounds for anyone who sings Rule Britannia on the top Kahn/Bronisław Kaper); The Ray Ellington Quartet play Pretend (Lew Douglas/ of Mount Everest. Cliff Parman/Frank Lavere) and In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town (Ira Schuster/ Music: Max Geldray plays Slow Train Blues (Bob Anthony); The Ray Ellington Jack Little/ Joe Young). Quartet play Don’t Blame Me (Jimmy McHugh/Dorothy Fields) and I Can’t Give You Anything but Love (Jimmy McHugh). SPECIAL: Special Coronation Edition Recording: Monday 1 June 1953, 5.15pm, The Playhouse Theatre. SLO 29390. SHOW 3/25: The Story of Plymouth Ho & the Armada Home Service Broadcast: Wednesday 3 June 1953, 7pm [except Wales]. Recording: Sunday 3 May 1953, 8.30pm, Aeolian I. SLO 27952. Ratings: 2.2 million. AI: 66. First Home Service Broadcast: Tuesday 5 May 1953, 9.30pm. Ratings: 2.6 BBC Audio Synopsis: In a special BBC record of the previous day’s coronation million. AI: 68. celebrations, coverage is given of the royal procession in London with radio Repeat: Sunday 10 May 1953, 1.45pm, 5.5 million [Light Programme]. link-ups across the world plus contributions from a progressive prison and Sketches: Moriarty telephones Harry Secombe to complain that he is too loud elderly BBC executives before Crun and Eccles set off for Africa with a portable on the phone and has him move further away… until Secombe ends up in the radio to ensure that the N’Gaga tribe do not miss the royal broadcast. Sahara; The Story of Plymouth Ho and the Armada sees William McGoonagle Music: The Ray Ellington Quartet play Woe! is Me (James recount Admiral Bloodnok’s sighting of the fleet and the attempts of Bogg and Cavanaugh/Dick Sanford/Bob Emmerich) and I’ll Be Glad When Colonel Timothy to locate Crun to light the warning beacons. You’re Dead (You Rascal You) (Sam Theard), Jitterbug Waltz Music: Max Geldray plays All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm (Walter Jurmann/Gus (Fats Waller), and Hot Toddy (Ralph Flanagan/Herb Hendler).