Spike Milligan
Born 1918 · Age 107
Irish-born comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and actor; co-creator and main writer of The Goon Show; influential pioneer of surreal British comedy and author of numerous books and war memoirs.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Ahmednagar, British India
Terence Alan Milligan born to Irish father Leo Alphonso Milligan and English mother Florence Mary Winifred Kettleband.
Early childhood in Poona and Rangoon
Spent early childhood in Poona (India) and later in Rangoon (British Burma); early schooling took place there.
Discovered and began to play jazz and instruments
After leaving school he worked as a clerk at Woolwich Arsenal, played cornet, discovered jazz and played in bands (guitar, trumpet, double bass).
Joined Young Communist League (anti-fascist activism)
Joined the Young Communist League to oppose rising support for Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists near his home.
Attended Brownhill Road School and St Saviour's School
On settling in south-east London Milligan attended Brownhill Road School (later Catford Boys) and St Saviours School on Lewisham High Road.
Relocated from India/Burma to England
Milligan and family moved to England (Brockley, south east London) and he began schooling in London.
Called up / joined Royal Artillery
Drafted/called up to the British Army; served with Royal Artillery (56th Heavy Regiment) during the Second World War.
Military service formalised (years of service 1940–1945)
Recorded years of service in many sources as 1940–1945; served as signaller and gunner; later promoted to lance bombardier.
Performed as troop entertainer (Bill Hall Trio)
While in the army he performed in military concert parties and played guitar with The Bill Hall Trio entertaining troops in Italy.
Wounded at Battle of Monte Cassino
Wounded in action in the Italian theatre at Monte Cassino; suffered a mortar wound to right leg and shell shock; hospitalised.
Demobilised and remained in Italy briefly
After demobilisation Milligan remained in Italy for a short period playing with the Bill Hall Trio before returning to Britain.
Television debut with The Bill Hall Trio
Made his television debut (Variety) with the Bill Hall Trio (BFI records the date 25 January 1947).
First radio writing success (Derek Roy's show / Hip Hip Hoo Roy)
Broke into radio as a writer for comedian Derek Roy's show and Hip Hip Hoo Roy (writing and performing roles).
Goon Show rises to national stardom
Milligan established as primary author and key performer (characters Eccles, Minnie Bannister, Count Moriarty etc.).
First broadcast of The Goon Show (Crazy People)
The Goon Show (initially titled Crazy People) first broadcast on BBC Home Service; Milligan co-created, main writer and later leading performer.
Mental breakdown and hospitalization
Late 1952 Milligan suffered a serious mental breakdown; attempted to gain access to Peter Sellers' flat with a knife and was hospitalised and sedated.
Married June (Marchinie) Marlow
Milligan married June Marlow; Peter Sellers was best man; the marriage produced three children (Laura, Seán, Síle).
Co-founded Associated London Scripts (ALS) with Eric Sykes
Entered a business collaboration with Eric Sykes setting up Associated London Scripts and an office in Shepherd's Bush (date approximate in some sources).
Television: The Idiot Weekly, A Show Called Fred, Son of Fred
Translated Goons humour to TV with several ITV shows directed by Richard Lester and featuring Milligan and Sellers.
Won Society of Film and Television Arts award for writing
Recognised for his television writing work in the mid-1950s (award for writing noted by BFI/screenonline).
Published Silly Verse for Kids
Published comical verse collection aimed at children (one of his best-known poetry books).
Short film Portrait of a Goon by Ken Russell
Ken Russell made a short film (35mm) about and with Milligan entitled Portrait of a Goon.
The Goon Show end of regular run (approx)
The Goon Show ran through the 1950s; sources mark early 1960 as the end of the series' original BBC run.
TV special: Spike Milligan: A Series of Unrelated Incidents
Wrote and starred in a 1961 one-off television special and co-wrote episodes for Sykes and a....
Married Patricia Ridgeway
Milligan married Patricia Ridgeway in June 1962 (George Martin was best man); they had daughter Jane (born 1966).
Full stage debut of The Bedsitting Room at Mermaid Theatre
Expanded Bedsitting Room premiered as a full play at the Mermaid Theatre; later transferred to West End and filmed.
Premiere of one-act The Bedsitting Room
Co-wrote The Bedsitting Room with John Antrobus; one-act premiered at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.
The Telegoons puppet series (TV) aired
Fifteen-minute puppet adaptations of Goon Show scripts produced in 1963–64 with voices by Milligan, Sellers and Secombe.
Oblomov preview; Milligan's successful improvisational turn
First preview of the (serious-to-start) play Oblomov; Milligan ad-libbed and turned the production into an improvisational comedy.
Oblomov (renamed Son of Oblomov) transferred to West End
After transformation into an improvisational success the play moved to the Comedy Theatre in the West End and ran for 559 performances.
Royal attendance at Oblomov (Queen Elizabeth II)
Queen Elizabeth and family attended a performance of Son of Oblomov; Milligan famously ad-libbed and caused a 45-minute overrun.
BP 'Bat-Goons' adverts and other ad work
Appeared in BP television commercials (satirical 'Bat-Goons' campaign) and did other commercial work in late 1960s.
Television: Q5 commissioned by BBC
Q5, the first of the Q series, premiered in 1969 — a surreal sketch show widely credited as a major influence on Monty Python.
Album contribution: No One's Gonna Change Our World (includes 'On the Ning Nang Nong')
Milligan included 'On the Ning Nang Nong' on the 1969 charity album to aid the World Wildlife Fund.
Bedsitting Room film released (directed by Richard Lester)
Richard Lester directed a film version of The Bedsitting Room, released in 1969.
Published Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall (War memoir vol. 1)
Began his seven-volume autobiographical war memoirs with this first volume covering the years of his war service.
Appeared in popular Benson & Hedges ad; donated fee
Appeared with Peter Sellers in a Benson & Hedges cigarette advertisement; he asked his fee be paid to ASH and when refused gave it to charity.
Published 'Rommel?' and arrested for shooting trespasser
Published part of his war memoir series (Rommel?); same year he was arrested for shooting a trespasser with an air rifle and received a conditional discharge.
TV: Q6 series aired
After a hiatus the BBC commissioned Q6 (1975) continuing Milligan's innovative Q series format.
Published Monty: His Part in My Victory (war memoir)
Another volume in his series of wartime memoirs.
Published Mussolini: His Part in My Downfall; Patricia died
Published a memoir volume; his second wife Patricia Ridgeway died of breast cancer (marriage 1962–1978).
Film appearance: Monty Python's Life of Brian (small role)
Appeared in a cameo role in Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979).
TV: Q9 aired
Q9 (1980) was part of the continuing Q series sequels and experimental television sketch work.
TV: There's a Lot of It About aired
Q-series follow-up 'There's a Lot of It About' broadcast in 1982 — effectively Q10 in all but name.
Married Shelagh Sinclair
Milligan married Shelagh Sinclair (who was 25 years his junior); they remained married until his death in 2002.
Composed 'Grand Waltz for Brisbane Water'
Composed and orchestrated a Grand Waltz for Brisbane Water and gifted it to the local symphony orchestra in Gosford.
Wrote his own (humorous) obituary draft
Known to have written his own obituary in 1990, repeatedly saying he 'wrote the Goon Show and died'.
Awarded CBE (honorary)
Awarded an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to entertainment (honorary due to Irish citizenship).
Received British Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
Received a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards; famously interrupted a message from Prince Charles on live TV with cheeky comment.
Narrator for Wolves, Witches and Giants
Narrated the ITV animated series Wolves, Witches and Giants (1995–1998).
'On the Ning Nang Nong' voted UK's favourite comic poem
One of his nonsense poems was voted the UK's favourite comic poem in a 1998 nationwide poll.
Voted 'funniest person of the last 1,000 years' (BBC poll)
In a BBC poll (August 1999) Milligan was voted the 'funniest person of the last 1,000 years'.
Awarded Honorary KBE
Made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in recognition of his contribution to entertainment.
Died (kidney failure) at Rye, East Sussex
Spike Milligan died at his home near Rye; funeral held 8 March and coffin draped in the Irish flag; buried at St Thomas' Winchelsea.
Funeral and burial
Funeral at St Thomas Church, Winchelsea; coffin draped with Irish flag; headstone later included Gaelic epitaph 'Dúirt mé leat go mé breoite' ('I told you I was ill').
Documentary 'I Told You I Was Ill' (children collaborated posthumously)
Four of his children collaborated on a multi-platform documentary about Milligan's life and legacy (2005).
Identified as author of 'world's funniest joke' (Laughlab project result)
Researcher Richard Wiseman identified a Spike Milligan one-liner as the world's funniest joke in Laughlab findings (posthumous recognition).
Sale of Milligan's personal effects at auction
In October 2008 Shelagh Milligan auctioned an array of Spike's personal effects (books, memorabilia, piano) — a posthumous estate event.
Spike Milligan statue unveiled in Finchley (Avenue House)
A bronze likeness/statue by John Somerville was unveiled in Avenue House, Finchley, commemorating Milligan; attended by showbiz figures.
Key Achievement Ages
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