Spike: A Documentary

This 1996 BBC Omnibus documentary about Spike Milligan includes considerable footage of and interviews with the great comedian himself, as well as earlier archival film, audio and photos, contributions from colleagues such as Harry Secombe, Norma Farnes, Eric Sykes and Dennis Main Wilson, plus interviews with his children Laura, Jane, Sile and Sean. This is arguably the best doco on Spike recorded and broadcast before his death.

[@robynconway1286]

Saw Mr Millican on stage on the Gold Coast mid 80s. He had come to Australia to visit his Mum in Woy Woy. Extremely funny. What a unique and talented life. My Mum gave me a book of his when I was very young. The Goons Show I heard on our radio and saw on our first TV regularly. I think my dear Mum was grateful that he openly shared his mental illness of Bipolar Disorder as she suffered also with severe symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. One has to be courageous and faithful to survive it's shifting, frightening, destructive powers on one's own life and the lives of those you love. 😰⛈💔....🖤🙏🏻

[@paddypup1836]

How do you get rid of your mistakes? Haunting sentiment there and very easy to relate to .

[@enoz.j3506]

Yes,that line hit home.

[@TheSpikehere]

"I was covered in dote marks". Brilliant!

[@captainavinit]

An absolute hero, without whom I doubt my own struggle with mental illness would have got this far.

[@segmentfloyd428]

“Stop that, do you want all your children to be thin” keep watching this over and over, and over and over, so funny 😂

[@cpa2788]

I only need to think it, and I immediately dissolve into chuckles.

[@janeelstree4984]

Not so funny when you where a child born of ignorant parents - many there were in that era in. Britain.

[@jimdemetri8168]

It's so sad that the funniest people are hurting inside.

[@garylawless3608]

I have been a Milligan fan since I read his book ‘Puckoon’ many years ago. Since then, I have acquired most of his books, and almost all of the available ’Goon Show’ episodes. His humour is subjective, and a lot of people just don’t get it, but if you do, you are hooked forever. Spike’s very last joke is written on his headstone, and it says, ‘I told you I was ill’.

[@stephenrice4554]

Puckoon was my downfall , I've been inflicted by Milligan ever since . Caw said the crow .

[@stormboy1517]

wow.

[@grwuk]

This clearly shows the link between genius and mental health. A very talented man indeed.

[@johnhanson5943]

He was way ahead of his time. Brilliant. I love his humour and his writing / poetry. A true anti-establishment man. The best. On his grave stone reads, ‘I told you I was ill’. RIP Spike.

[@johncastle8254]

I love spike not just for his humour ,but because of his views on life .A Truly amazing person .

[@aussieoffroader1974]

Never ever has there been a genius like Spike before or since. RIP legend

[@Fattoofit-z1z]

Agreed. Brilliant man RIP

[@Sol-Cutta]

A great comic yes but one of many..

[@Sol-Cutta]

After watching this.... I'll take that back.

[@Sol-Cutta]

And agree with u all.

[@34hedgehog]

Best Milligan film I've seen. Fantastic seeing all the people that I'd read about in his memoirs.

[@bardotbardo3633]

"STOP THAT! Do you want all your children to be thin!" 🤔🙁😂😂😂😂😂

[@synthonaplinth5980]

"How do you open the door?" " You turn the knob on your side!" "I haven't got a nob on my side!" I'm dying......

[@edwardmulholland7912]

Thanks for putting this up. I saw it at the time it was shown. Spike was/is great - and not forgotten

[@andrewgilmore7669]

I've been a Goons fan for years, but never seen this. Thank you!

[@Elagabalus65]

My pleasure

[@bigpete111100]

RIP virtually everybody who took part in this documentary

[@Ainennke]

8:45 is absolutely one of my favourite moments ever captured on film. It makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it, and not much does.

[@steeleye2112]

Same😅😅😅

[@philippacrowe8499]

I was watching this and some Goon skits last night and had to stop as was keeping others awake laughing soo hard and guffawing, snorting 😂🤣

[@markwalsh2992]

Silence when you speak to an officer! 😂

[@denisemccormick9386]

I didn't know anyone thought like I did until I heard Spike and the Goon Show. We lived in a border state with Canada. Thank you CBC! His love, talent, imagination - and his tremendous courage moves me. But most of all - Thank you for the best laughs ever, Mr. Milligan Love and Light

[@jamesbruno7767]

“Silence when you are speaking to an officer!!” Sounds like my principal in middle school

[@mamaboocee]

Is it any surprise that this man inspired a young Robin Williams?

[@tangibleblockofwisdom6386]

The man still makes my heart smile, also bloody ken on rostrum camera in perpetuity

[@fleece1969]

Anyone have the clip of Spike on Parkinson telling the story of Jack Hobbs who shit himself and got on the train thinking he'd bought new trousers and it was a pink cardigan? Never forget Spike with tears of laughter. Would love to see it again.

[@That_Random_Bloke]

Thank you for this comment. Out of curiosity I’ve searched for it and saw your clip. Hilarious!

[@dismith73]

Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan KBE 16 April 1918 - 27 February 2002

[@davekeith576]

Thank you will watch this again .A very nice man Spike .

[@steeltrap3800]

Surely one of the top few genuine comic geniuses of the last 100 years.

[@DariaRock1]

I want to know more!! Please tell! Freddie Mercury had a big sense of humour. I need it now. Thank you. ... Daria.

[@davidroberts3280]

The only comic genius of the last 100 years.........

[@sniffy6999999]

Damn interesting.Thanks for this. Ps,Just out of curiosity I looked up Dennis Norden when he appeared and was glad to see he's still going. (94)

[@bardotbardo3633]

Colly Wolly : We almost ran him over when Dennis just walked out in front of our car as we were driving along Oxford Street. He stopped waved & apologised. 😊😊

[@pix046]

Denis now gone. 96.

[@milesjury49]

"... yet in time, I found them gentler than the khaki people... they smiled in their poverty" - Spike Milligan as a child in 1920s India... "God save the king, but God help the rest of us" - Spike Milligan as a young man in 1930s Britain...

[@melaniemackenzie3490]

Gone are the days of such brilliance.

[@RUBYMUNRO]

Imagine, 3 people didn't like this?? its brilliant, thanks so much.

[@mrphudd]

3 low IQ morons...

[@DavidShantzwildoutwest]

Darwin Awards pre-nominees

[@DavidShantzwildoutwest]

Bed-wetters suffering from Tourettes

[@janeelstree4984]

@@DavidShantzwildoutwest no, just suffering from misery. He was beaten by his mother often.

[@KimSenior]

Who’s watching in 2021 as a respite from 2020/2021?

[@enoz.j3506]

2024,a great doc.

[@ErgonBill]

I hope the world never forgets Spike.

[@virginiwoolf]

What a comedian, what a human being! Love him.

[@bardotbardo3633]

Only spike can do a show Dancing in a Dustbin 😂😂😂

[@geoffmcintosh3190]

A

[@_Ben4810]

The late & very great Norma Farnes ❤❤❤ RIP Norm....

[@charliemansonUK]

I've adored Spike Milligan all my life...but never really got into the Goons... Peace Charlie 🇬🇧

[@commentainment6811]

It took me a little while to get into the Goon Show and the entire cast of characters - but it was well worth the time. P.S. There are plenty of Goon Shows on KZbin - perhaps you might give them one more chance.

[@wor53lg50]

Britain wont ever be seeing the likes of him again, not with the new woke anti humour gen, give it another 50 years and when you cant smile because your face will crack, thell be pulling the footage of such people to learn how laughter is done and made again...

[@FreeTVEngland]

Reeves and Mortimer talking about Spike Milligan is like Dan Brown talking about Charles Dickens.

[@robertrussell2724]

Beautiful. Love light and peace

[@Josie5100]

FANTASTIC,lovely man!

[@Ampex196]

0.39.00 mins. the late great Dennis Main Wilson to whom British comedy owes a huge debt.

[@markwalsh2992]

Leap into the dustbin and dance!!!

[@richardricks9789]

Miss you, Spike

[@TheJopor]

thanks MrAgm65 for posting . I love Spike ! in this video ...it's like speaking live to Spike in a Mobile phone ,big , yeah a Nokia !

[@leereadman9940]

love spike he is amazing but what a price to pay tfs

[@Sol-Cutta]

Mental how the brain attacks itself for some people

[@witchwaynow7572]

As a fellow spike. I feel a connection with this man. And all other spikes, not that there are that many of us.

[@soulsoup159]

my world makes nonsense now

[@BritishComedyUK69]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@KimSenior]

Sadly missed.

[@davidatkinson2167]

I told you I was ill.

[@philipbonner6486]

Yes Spike Milligan did amit he had mental illness but he hardly talked about.

[@lizzieatherfold2293]

The best thing my dad ever did was to listen to the Goon Show and name the cat Yingtongiddleifo

[@gavinreid8351]

Interesting to see the film of Holden road. I lived on that road at that time. As mentioned , the garden went down to Dollis brook. Spike claimed a section of it was his. He shot a child with an air rifle for being there.( May 1974 the same year his wife ran over, and killed a pedestrian walking on the pavement.) He also wrote a letter to the school I attended falsely accusing me of setting fire to his daughter's wendy house and of urinating into bottles and throwing the bottles into his swimming pool. Until this day I did not know he actually meant a children's paddling pool. My mother was furious about the letter , not with me, but with the school. I had to see the headmaster , but my mother said the school only got involved because Spike was famous.He was known by local children as a sad fruitcake. We didn't see him television until a few years later. After the accusations I read all his books but I did not laugh. I just saw the silly mask over the sadness.

[@alastairdalgleish7844]

gavin Reid sad but that’s the bi polar personality .Im sorry you had the experience with Spike ,I’ve heard other stories of his bad behaviour so youre not alone.Shame!

[@janeelstree4984]

His & many other people's ways of coping with late 30/45 war-years dysfunctional parenting.

[@jnuttso1]

Well must say i enjoyed watching that so for that i just watched i must say well i must say i enjoyed that i just watched ding ding my stop :-)

[@Sol-Cutta]

John cleese u silly man ...that's Ur subjective view ..some people don't have writer's block n don't need to be manic to write. If it makes u like that maybe u should have took Ur brains hints.

[@enoz.j3506]

Fantastic ,really enjoyed this.

[@Sol-Cutta]

Spike was pissed at the very end.. Death had robbed him of death.

[@stevebrindle1724]

I lived for 20yrs in India, from 30 to 50yrs of age and fell in love with the country and its people learning to read write and speak Hindi along the way. I recognise Spikes affection for India.I found that most Indians held no grudge against individual Brits for the despicable imperialism they suffered under, recognising it was the work of our despicable ruling class and once they knew I hated the UK ruling class down to my core, they generously took me in offered me invaluable friendships that I savour to this day. "Jai Hind!"

[@jmichael4002]

What a ridiculous comment. I may not have lived in India for that long but I have lived and worked alongside people from India, Pakistan and even Afghanistan. The vast majority of them have huge respect for Britain and the Empire and have a very balanced perspective about the pros and cons of “imperialism”. No matter what the downside of imperialism, none of them “hate” the U.K. ruling classes and they would laugh at your comments. Most of them rightfully despise the insidious socialism that has caused so much misery in Asia with the inherent greed and jealously it breeds. I have even met WW2 veterans from India and Pakistan who were proud to have served the British Empire; they were Spike’s contemporaries.

[@rikkinadir7979]

@@jmichael4002 Hello, Tory boy. So Socialism was responsible for the landed gentry invading India and stealing their property and resources? Delusional to the point of infinity. You need help...

[@Reprodestruxion]

@@jmichael4002oh kerala suffers so much~~~~ sarcasm

[@JamesTaylor-yh9rl]

why was he called spike

[@witchwaynow7572]

Why are you called James? Also my name is spike. You got a problem with spikes??

[@Mandrake1976]

I thought it was because he was tall and thin like a rail-spike.

[@DAVEEPAUL]

Disliking his first name, he began to call himself "Spike" after hearing the band Spike Jones and his City Slickers on Radio Luxembourg

[@Miss_Toots]

His brother sounds like Harry Hill

[@brianphillips1374]

At 14:12, who is Denis "Nordern"? Does this mean he is not related to Terry Southern?

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

Wish he would've written more books, his true comedic genius. His stand up, sketch shows were pathetically unfunny, simply awful comedy, unless you're British I guess.

[@jughead390]

Give your head a shake

[@DAVEEPAUL]

You are a great cure for depression .. .. Every time somebody feels down, they can rest assured, they aren't you

[@angiecuteass]

Didn't realise he lived to the ripe old age of 83! Grew up with him in the 70's. Great documentary, thanks :-)

[@Nyxiality]

I swear that some people just go around disliking videos!