
Show Notes
This is the earliest Goon Show we've covered on the podcast so far - the second show of Series 4 and while not fully matured to the level of quality we've come to expect it is still a solid and amusing edition with both cast and audience on fine form.
It begins with a short sketch about Handsome Harry trying to save an heiress from drowning in order to glom a large reward but the story proper begins following Max's number.
London is gripped by terror as a madman is at large threatening to blow up notable landmarks. Seagoon is tasked with tracking him down and enlists help from the likes of Bloodnok, Eccles and Henry Crun - a bomb diviner. Bluebottle is easily confused by pins and we also meet William Gladstone... or is it Churchill?
Roger Stevenson joins Tyler and along the way they discuss Eva Bartok, Anna Neagle, Edwardian Dynamite genre fiction, Mrs Dale's Diary, the Robin Hood radio panto, James Finlayson, Ray's A Laugh, Hermione Gingold, Marilyn Monroe... and there's a couple of rounds of "Is It Spike Or is It Peter?" for good measure.
They also look at the lead up to Series 4 and the mysterious 'Fred Flange'.
More from Goon Pod
The Queen in America, Eurovision, Elvis, knitting a Spon, a Russian Love Song, Harry Rocking the Town! - it's all here this week! Plus: how much do we love Moriarty, a glaring goof and Watch That Tiger!
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Broadcast on Channel 4 on 2nd December 1985, The Last Laugh Before TV-am was Spike Milligan’s attempt to bring his particular vein of humour to a new generation... although very little about it suggested that Milligan had changed his approach since the early Q series.