Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes

British Comedy Awards 1992

[@MrGabb61]

And neither of them had to say f**k to get a laugh. Two of Britains greatest comedians.

[@julesviolin]

My sentiments exactly Graham. Absolute geniuses and mostly family entertainment. Grew up with my parents absolutely howling at those 2

[@impsire]

because it was 1992. Times change. I‘m 5 months away from 60 myself so spare me the sermonizing. Love ‘em both btw.

[@jakegodfrey4320]

Notice how Eric immediately plays along and goes for the gag. Comic geniuses. Between them they wrote some of the funniest shows of the twentieth century.

[@tommcconville677]

Indeed they were, yes, both Spike Milligan were truly stellar comedic performers, and even impresarios in their own right. Absolutely they were 2 of the greatest performers ever in the annals of British comedy, and I would extend that to American and international comedians as well.

[@tommcconville677]

And Eric, I ommited him, my error.

[@somebloke4027]

Lovely to see those two together. Eric was such a likeable, humble man. He deserves more credit than he got for his work - including writing the Goon shows when Spike couldn’t cope. Miss them both.

[@keithdavidson9102]

I had the extraordinary pleasure of interviewing Eric Sykes about 20 years ago. I had a 10 minute slot to talk about his love of Laurel and Hardy and their comedies. He was fascinating and gave me a generous 35 minutes before Norma Farnes had to quite literally drag him away to a book signing. R.I.P. Eric and Spike; we shall never see your like again. Thanks for all the first-class entertainment.

[@stuartjack4095]

It was Eric who determined the difference between Laurel and Chaplin. Chaplin was an ordinary man trying to be funny. Laurel was a funny man trying to be ordinary.

[@tortysoft]

My meeting with Eric was far shorter - but deeply cherished.

[@fred_2021]

A long time ago, in a railway station far, far away - on the crowded platform of King's Cross Station, London, actually - I picked up a paperback at a book stand. It was a book of poems by Spike. I began reading a random page. Immediately, I had to put it down. There was I, in uncontrollable fits of laughter, hastily weaving toward the exit, half expecting to be met by health and safety officers. Thanks to Spike, for unforgettable mirth.

[@RedcoatsReturn]

Two gems of English entertainment Spike and Eric!

[@gregtees9995]

Spike's Irish.

[@trtr6938]

@@gregtees9995 born in India part of the British empire at the time .of Irish decent

[@rainbow2710]

I’d love to be that old and still have that spirit! Amazing people!

[@sharongill9837]

Can you imagine being out on a drinking session with spike milligan.priceless😂😂😂😂

[@hislatestflame7861]

It would be.. he was a teetotaller 😉

[@securityrobot]

He would prefer Cannabis.

[@telemachus53]

It's wonderful when comedians root for each other.

[@essexpeter6116]

Absolute magic. The genuine affection of those talented gentlemen is so touching.

[@peterowen9183]

What's so beautiful is how they both drop straight into it, bouncing lines off each other, unrehearsed, that instinctive comic timing and how to get a laugh with every line. No swearing, no offensiveness, just years of shared experience in how to make an audience laugh.

[@paulmunt6258]

The Genius that was Eric Sykes, being presented an award by his great friend Spike. When Spike was having problems with his nerves,Eric used to write the Goon show for him. National Treasures sadly missed. Sleep well two of our very finest comic writers and performers.

[@trevorlambert2526]

They had a falling out about that. Eric wrote a script which the Goons rejected, I believe because Spike felt threatened. Eric refused to rewrite it or any further scripts. Peter Sellers bumped into Eric later and said it was actually one of the best scripts he'd read but Eric would not change his mind. Fortunately, the friendship was rekindled if not the professional relationship.

[@hughvane]

Well spoked sir. Sykes saved Milligan (in his manic depressive bouts) to an extent we will never know.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

Eric was the one brought in to teach Spike how to write.

[@TheSeafordian]

I was once a delivery driver and had a package for Spike Milligan. On the back it said if undelivered please return to Eric Sykes. I found the address and knocked on the door to be met by his lady housekeeper. I asked her to sign for it and an unmistakable voice came from inside the house, "Who is it?. She replied that it was a delivery man, to which he responded, "Well tell him to fuck off" I felt honoured.

[@1960dave1960]

Nice one…..🤭

[@takineti]

2 guys that could seriously have me in tears!

[@billyonions6024]

Throw in Ken Dodd as well and you would be maimed with laughter.

[@local56]

No one today comes close to Spike Milligans genius and brilliance. But look at the time he came from, the quality from this era is never to be repeated. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@clavdig]

I have just read Norma Farnes book on Spike whilst on holiday. Incredibly moving, funny, and enlightening. I can heartily recommend it.

[@tortysoft]

Wonderful. I had not seen this before. Lovely. I met Eric once. He was exactly as you see him there, chatting in the staff lunch queue at Lenton Lane studios Nottingham. I would have loved to meet Spike - on a good day. I'd have been crushed if I chose the wrong one ! :-) Goon, but never forgotten !

[@ysgol3]

Thanks so much, it's so lovely to see this again, especially Eric's wonderful ad lib 'I'm in the middle of a play here....this is Elsinore..'.

[@jonathanmurphy6520]

Two giants of British comedy

[@7554EdwardG]

What a lovely moment, laced with great spontaneous humour. Two legends - thank for the upload.

[@keithrich8373]

Why can't we bottle this moment and preserve it forever.Gifted people like this aren't made anymore and the world is a sadder place for it

[@MarkRichShootingthebreeze]

Too true. 👍

[@geoffcaptaincpaige1167]

Norma Farnes, she and Spike had a very close relationship. Nice to hear Eric thank her too.

[@WWAWHTR]

Love these two.

[@ASChambers]

Two absolute legends. Also weird watching the audience and thinking to myself, “Dead… Dead… Dead… Dead…” It was like a Dad’s Army end credits of classic comedians of that period.

[@tortysoft]

Sadly true.

[@billymcmonagle949]

Two of my comedy heroes wonderful men and brilliantly funny

[@MrPoupard]

The moment when Eric hears applause when there shouldn't be, looks left and it dawns on him that it's Spike on stage!

[@paulb6716]

He was also extremely deaf and nearly blind so maybe took a while to spot Spike.

[@johnworfolk3400]

Their like will never be seen again.

[@mustafabeer1791]

What are you doing out at this time of night? Genius!

[@DuckReach432]

Miss 'em both. And other great British comedians like Dick Emery, Kenny Everett, Rik Mayall etc. Growing up in Australia in the 70s and 80s, they were a treasured presence on TV and radio.

[@samthehikingman9484]

Such funny men.... I'm washing the dishes and burst out laughing... 🤣 Screens all wet... 💦😜

[@peterfarkas6833]

Brilliant two comedy greats

[@LiveArtPresents]

Bloody brilliant! what incredible ad-libbing. ... and excellent camera-work, as usual!

[@daveh9753]

We will never see their like again.

[@ketrin-fz8be]

It's a little-known fact that Eric actually wrote some of the Goon Show episodes. We don't know exactly which ones, though, because Spike and Eric shared writing credits (like Lennon and McCartney did later), and Eric could imitate Spike's writing style perfectly. Not many could!

[@sodthong]

Spike was comedy Gold ..

[@chap666ish]

Sykes was comedy gold also

[@midlander_74]

This video footage was - 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award writers guild of Great Britain .... Spike Milligan died in 2002 Eric Sykes died in 2012 R.I.P Legends of comedy.

[@peterkeane7767]

Back when Comedy Giants walked among us!

[@kerrysewell1574]

Too true wish they could all come back

[@tonyhancock4258]

Imagine Peter sellers joining in! 💥

[@Mark-qw4tu]

comedians of today need to watch these two in action to see what it takes to be a comic genius

[@robertwright7937]

By God I miss them.

[@AdjustableSquelch]

How did I not know this existed? Brilliant!

[@jacquikalich3873]

Ah, Spike. What a genius, a wild, woolly, nutter, with a wicked sense of humour! I heard Eric Sykes was a very kind man. He had a gentle sort of humour. Loved them both, for different reasons. Thank you, gents.

[@tortysoft]

Yes, Eric was just as you see him - when I saw him.

[@kernowman2768]

So many faces in the audience also passed away 😥

[@That_Random_Bloke]

2:22 Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier from Dr Who) sat at the table in the background

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

So this was 2 years before Spike got his own award, along with calling Charlie Saxe-Coburg Gotha a GLB.

[@bellowsmain6762]

46 dislikes ....how ?

[@bikerbisht110]

Eric's face when Spike walks on ... irreplaceable .. PMSL

[@gavinreid8937]

They all said the same thing afterwards." I accepted the award graciously for what it was, but I keep the toilet door open with the awful looking thing."😂

[@lauramillard832]

An old friend was doing joiner work for Spike at his home. His housekeeper said Spike was having a bad day and would only communicate whilst lying on the floor. So, my friend lay on the floor with Spike, took tea and chatted. My friend said Spike was just endearing and lovely.

[@sdgfsdfsdf1820]

Great

[@gedmason6387]

2 funny funny men

[@johntosh0061]

Eric Sykes what a nice bloke.

[@johntosh0061]

@James Henderson Fair enough. I stand corrected. He seemed ok and was a funny man.

[@TheTmny876able]

les and Brucie, Eric and Spike in the same room you know what i mean lol.

[@TheTmny876able]

and Des !

[@frankdunne-gp6oy]

When they uk excelled in humour

[@ange9663]

Back when comedians were funny, 2 comedy giants just superb ."Put it in the curry" x

[@marcy3127]

I laugh just looking at Spikes face

[@christopherstead4466]

tHE LAST OF THE GREATS today's comedians are a million miles away from such talents RIP.

[@absoluteacw]

Watch that puddle! Brilliant.

[@darrenowen3338]

Did you fix the matron? Yes, but not in the way you wanted me to.........

[@BarryCroucher]

renard801 has said it all. Its a cliche but They really dont make them like this anymore ! God bless them both.

[@georgesmirthwaite7921]

BarryCroucher M in mm

[@generalstrange2666]

Great post totally bonkers!!!!!!!!

[@aubreyaub]

Spike was ill? Why didn't the silly bugger tell us!

[@markkelly8288]

aubreyaub how unfunny and un fucking original

[@acocks3123]

No time it was not planned. 😁

[@kevinbennett7615]

@@markkelly8288 This is a little late, but Spike's headstone says "I told you I was ill". Hence the comment by aubreyaub

[@markkelly8288]

@@kevinbennett7615 and you're telling me why???? I already knew that and said it as it WAS unfunny and WAS unoriginal. You absolute gobshite

[@kevinbennett7615]

@@markkelly8288 So nice of you to reply.

[@davidthompson6834]

Was that les Dawson?

[@jacquelinefox2632]

I totally believed Eric and Hattie were brother and sister. Xxxxxxxx

[@nowster]

Identical twins, too!

[@leewilliams9560]

Hilarious

[@MrChriss000]

'He should live that long'. Ha Ha Ha Ha ,

[@jacquelinefox2632]

And the plank. Google it.🥰 Xxxxx

[@1960dave1960]

😊😅😂

[@stevesut2566]

What...a welease Woger chap...dad must own the network

[@synthonaplinth5980]

He should be bald, with a hunter's cap on. Heheheheheheh

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Better pull yer socks up, Eric....

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

The "Witchmond Theatre"?

[@aubreyaub]

Wuverly, Hey!

[@sdgfsdfsdf1820]

I know we someone who spoke like that and used to say , friwvorwus (frivolous) all the time.like to hear this man say a sentence with words that come out like that.

[@peterdavies2960]

Spike died in the early 2000s ending in 2 and Eric died in the early 2010s ending in 2. Weird, innit?! 🤨

[@stevesut2566]

Welease Wodger is a Python line as in "release Roger"......this bloke can't say his RRRRRRs

[@stevesut2566]

That's Mel McLaughlin with Bruce Forsyth...dirty bugger...Chris Gayle will be jealous

[@nigelwilliams9307]

Ross now has a daughter that is the butt of many jokes. Karma for Ross?

[@TheBerzerker666]

Eric brilliant,spike fukwit

[@dizzywilliams3557]

fukwit

[@antonysmith4288]

Get

[@blackdragonkempo1647]

Ewic.......haha

[@jitendrashah6352]

Saw Kenneth Williams on stage, but Goons.. Just brilliant.. Fallen in the water and Ying Tong song... That's a nice moustache you got Madame.... Got it from my mother you know... Laugh till belly ached

[@johnhassan9085]

How did Ross ever get any work? his speech impediment is debilitating and distracting every thing he says is funny because he cannot talk

[@MsMesem]

Must be that stupid thing called 'personality', he must have one.

[@grindlessenior]

he hides it well.

[@offrampt]

Eric was appearing in The Romans in Britain.

[@petervandort7531]

Two of the funniest men in comedy. They don't make them like these two any more. The world lost two comedy giants. RIP Gents.

[@minicle426]

Well you can't get the wood you know.

[@frankmclaughlin1757]

Very true, modern comedians are nondescript & with few exceptions (Peter Kay, Lee Mack) totally unrecognisable & most importantly, just not funny!

[@chaosnexxus9255]

​@@minicle426 Poor, poor Jim Tigernuts....

[@mreckes9967]

The greatest moment of live tv ever, two of the funniest blokes that ever lived.

[@ysgol3]

Brilliant comment, spot on!

[@theguvnor2081]

Fantastic. Two legends together. Its sad that these two arent around any more. Gone are the days when a British comic could just walk in stage to make people smile.

[@robertcaffrey6097]

Two of the absolute kings of comedy, no surprise they were great friends. I imagine an evening in their company was very entertaining.

[@NPA1001]

“The audience have no idea what you’re about to do.” “And neither have I” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@frankthomas4253]

two of the genious of comedy, rest in peace gents thanks for the laughs, the memories and all that went with it!!!

[@essexpeter6116]

Touching

[@harwoods11]

Totally

[@cognitivedissonance4413]

Indeed

[@arguspanoptes9510]

3:29 And the late great Les Dawson in the audience at the Comedy Awards. 3 great people and funny men

[@markandresen1]

I was wondering how on Earth the cast got back into the play after that.

[@zappasmoustache23]

‘What you doing out at this time of night?’ 😂 neither of them missed the opportunity for a gag.

[@joerourke4452]

Weren't we so lucky to be young and alive to their brilliant wit and madness in the best possible way. Slan leat, you wonderful people.

[@vickistott-fisher5703]

Can you imagine the fun going on up there ! All those awesome hilarious British comedians together ...... 🤪🤣😂

[@Jake-d8d]

Just listen to the roars of laughter. In any audience, that is an achievement. In an audience made up of fellow comics? Spike and Eric were comedy royalty.

[@MLB9000]

“I’ve already done it if you must know”

[@MrRayzerman]

2 of the greatest comics of all time

[@nichallam174]

Two geniuses Love Eric Sykes one of the great "quiet subversives" Milligan was just Milligan both sadly missed.

[@BritishComedyUK69]

Two comedy gods on one screen x

[@BritishComedyUK69]

+Comedy Superstars spike was a genius x

[@Eccleswaslegendary]

Its street value is £12.10 😂

[@mareisland6425]

Why in the world would they choose an MC with a lisp?

[@thepeoplespal5]

Lol at your ignorance of our Johnathan Ross who has built a long career on his famous lisp.

[@1aberbeeg]

Like so many greats of comedy, sadly missed, never forgotten, bless you all for the laughs, and tears.

[@owenmcquilty3623]

Two of the best ever comedian ever god bless them

[@batterseabill7288]

The 16th of April 2018 will be the centennial anniversary of the birth of Mr. Spike Milligan (India). On that day, get on your Bike. ......National Spike on a Bike Day...... Help Raise money for Mental Health Charities by cycling in Memory of Spike. Finchley-Camden-Shepherds Bush Green. but to name one route idea. Couples on Tandem Bikes welcome. Fancy dress a must.

[@davidneary5772]

Beautiful

[@underwaterbubbles]

2 of my favourite comedians.