Spike Milligan
Comedian · Writer
Spike Milligan was an Irish comedian, writer, actor, and poet best known as the co-creator and principal writer of The Goon Show. His surreal and experimental comedy had a major influence on later British comedians and programs, including Monty Python. [2]
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Career and work
Milligan became best known as the principal writer and one of the performers on The Goon Show, the BBC radio comedy series that ran through the 1950s. His surreal writing and characters helped establish the program’s distinctive style and had a lasting influence on British comedy. [2]
Beyond The Goon Show, Milligan wrote extensively for radio, television, stage, and print. He published poetry, comic writing, and a series of bestselling autobiographical books about his experiences during the Second World War, beginning with Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall. [2]
What has been publicly discussed
“I’m a manic depressive. There’s nothing you can do about it… You must make the best of it.”
— Spike Milligan [3]
