Spike Milligan receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards (The British Comedy Awards, 1994)

British Comedy Awards, 04/12/1994.
Not my copyright, just sharing found ephemera.

[@davegregory4291]

Never has an award been so richly deserved, thank you sir for everything.

[@joandar1]

About bloody time someone said this. John, Australia.

[@willallan6830]

you all probably dont care at all but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot the password. I appreciate any assistance you can offer me!

[@lorenzokarter4100]

@Will Allan Instablaster :)

[@ShineNoelA]

I read Spike Milligan's 'war' books at our school library in 1979 and used to descend into a heaving mass of tears and snot trying to stifle the laughter. I was eventually asked to leave. His subversive wit chimed so well with those who love 'schoolboy' humour. l saw him at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, Sunday June 14 1998 (still have the ticket stub) He mesmerised his audience with his wit and personal charisma. He was a master of the absurd - equally profound and profane. Through his gift he has lightened many a burden.

[@evilspeak5702]

Even in his old age, with just four words, he had a room full of the best comedians in the business in uncontrollable hysterics. Unplanned and unscripted, this epitomised the raw comedic genius of Spike. God bless you Sir.

[@redsquirrel1086]

Bless him. He was as mad as a box of frogs but we all miss him.

[@signwriter1]

The frogs would laugh

[@francisamiller7493]

I could feel the love and admiration in the room for Spike.

[@markt1387]

Loved Spike. This sick world could do with his comedy now.

[@colincharlton9339]

I remember this when it first aired..I was in a Chinese restaurant..we all Roared with laughter. Tears of laughter..only spike can get away with that.. brilliant..god bless you spike milligan ..never forgotten

[@ASChambers]

This has to be the greatest moment in TV comedy history. Apparently, when he got back to his seat, he is supposed to have said, “Well, there goes the bloody knighthood…”

[@johntaylor6345]

Typical Spike. I know Prince Charles found Spikes comment very funny because Prince Charles and Spike were friends. Prince Charles has a good sense of humour. He would listen to the goons and copy the voices.

[@neilperry2241]

How amazing

[@markblackman2542]

whenever I feel down , I always play this clip , & omg what a lift it gives me , hearing so many people laughing together is the best medicine ever , RIP Great Man !!

[@ppotter]

I'm glad it's been of use to you.

[@theresetorpey9791]

@@ppotter 4

[@ppotter]

@@theresetorpey9791 2

[@NPA1001]

The greatest acceptance speech in history

[@mashtali1]

"oh that little grovelling bastard..."... love that

[@johntaylor6345]

Loved this man. Bloody funny. Total genius. A one off. Miss him. Rest in peace Spike. Loved everything you did.

[@peteabrh-fairest9463]

The one and only unsurpassed comical genius of our current century, that can only be the Great Sir Spike Milligan. Respect to you Sir, and thank you for giving me such great pleasure over the past numerous decades 🙏

[@maestromecanico597]

When he says, "I did it all on my own," no one can rightly argue that point.

[@dutchy506]

Eric Sykes might as he co-wrote numerous Goon Show scripts when Spike was struggling with his mental health. But yes, outside of that, the path he forged for comedy was his own!

[@andrewbutcher3429]

Saw him live a genius and was lucky enough to have met him. A humble lovely man RIP

[@BM-pl5wv]

He was so bloody brilliant and quick witted! What a legend :-)

[@timmo491]

His poems are simply brilliant.

[@rowdyyates4273]

Spikes humour was in keeping with what made this country great, he saw humour in just about everything, NOT what one call a racist just seeing humour in different people and cultures, he was a natural and down to earth and a true comic genius---and indeed he did his way all byhimself-----HE was one of us ---well missed by many and that says it all!!

[@cristinavelasco9818]

SPIKE'S LONG TIME MERIT...LONG TIME DESERVED.🥰👍‼️ GOD BLESS THIS MAN🥀🌿🥀‼️🥰

[@richardscally694]

I'm not going to thank Anyone!! Brilliant.

[@billybabu]

There is a very fine line between Madness and genius and THIS beautiful man had Feet in BOTH camps. Blessings from Wolverhampton England to such a gifted all rounder Miss you Sir Spike.

[@stephenreeds3672]

Milligan was Not mad. Shell shock got to him. The guy was incomparable. Watch the Q series.

[@Boogleye]

He will never be replaced RIP Spike ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mickkennedy1344]

They refused him a British passport -- he got an Irish passport instead, we loved Spike, mad genius

[@mrjagriff]

He wouldn’t pledge allegiance to the queen and country , so in fact it was his decision . I’m not sure anyone has too ,in today’s world anyway , it certainly doesn’t mean anything now anyway

[@twilightatireland]

@@mrjagriff It wasn't his decision. He was born in 'British India' and was refused British citizenship under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962. He then became an Irish citizen as his father, Leo Milligan, who also served in the British (Indian) army, had been born in County Sligo, northwest Ireland.

[@redsquirrel1086]

Yes, he hated Britain so much that he fought for them in WW2 and asked to be buried there..

[@mariemurphy2852]

@@redsquirrel1086 as did many an Irish man ,

[@redsquirrel1086]

@@mariemurphy2852 You are absolutely right.

[@jeanmyers1787]

True genius RIP Spike

[@derekpowell1762]

What a man truly a legend the goons were fantastic

[@martinbrunning4532]

There is probably very few people who could get away with calling a member off the royal family ‘ a little grovelling bastard’ on live TV and Spike was one of them. Glad he wrote so much, life is somehow not as funny without him.

[@DamnedDave]

But jesters have always had free reign to say what they like in England

[@johnkuipers7829]

Rubbish. He was a nutter.

[@jonnysupreme]

@@DamnedDave not for much too longer it seems 😢

[@DamnedDave]

@@jonnysupreme i hope you are wrong

[@VambeefcoHorzey]

@@jonnysupreme Nonsense.

[@RISKTAKER11000]

Never to be duplicated again The best Spike Mulligan

[@jacquelinefox2632]

Spike the rebel. Lost but not forgotten.. Xxxxxxxx

[@SkyeMpuremagic]

Lost to this world This time and place ....but the soul lives on

[@jonnysupreme]

Pissed out his tree and still commanded the entire room! Utter fuxking genius!

[@RugbyandBeaver]

Spike. Legend.

[@philevans6935]

Listen to applause he gets and well deserved too

[@happyfeet4506]

The perfect comedian the man the myth the legend that was spike milligan. Timed to absolute perfection. Now that's comedy at its finest. RIP Spike God bless you sir 🙏

[@davebrokenshire1086]

The best loved, most revered individual in the entire theatre.

[@peterglover5611]

A brilliant talent greatly missed

[@bopmathews]

The funniest show I ever went to see was Spike Milligan many many years ago. I laughed from start to finish and he truly is a legend.

[@chrismaplethorpe6781]

Only one man could get away with that comment. And to reduce the audience to hysterics topped it off. Jonathan Ross did right giving up when he did. Nobody could outshine the legend that is spike Milligan

[@spudpud-T67]

I think of Robin Williams as the only other as nutty as Spike.

[@chrismaplethorpe6781]

Forgot about the late great robin Williams. Must admit have suffered mental health problems myself on and off over the years although not to the extent of spike and robin and have still been able to amuse people with my comedy. So must be something in been nuts

[@davidzplace2011]

@@spudpud-T67 imagine if they had met, guess now they have

[@vjab1108]

GENIUS.

[@talesfromtinpanalley-thedo6198]

Watch and weep with laughter and love!

[@fredferd965]

God Bless the British People! This is one last hug from a nation to a crazy Irishman that was dear to their hearts. And what a man - the Irish Shakespeare of Comedy himself!!!! I stumbled across his name long after he passed on - lord, what I have missed! Brilliant!

[@ppotter]

At least he was prolific to the end - he made many, many interview appearances into the 90s, and luckily a load of his work still exists, so there's so much you can enjoy!

[@johnbaxter5766]

Met him at a book signing and he was unhappy. Made him laugh. My claim to fame. Made Spike Milligan laugh

[@ppotter]

How did you make him laugh?

[@mooglancashire424]

@@ppotterhe left.

[@dixonpinfold2582]

Then tell us what it was, will you please?

[@nigels9500]

Comedy genius !!

[@doctorcrichton]

LEGEND and GENIUS and total original! !

[@drewcampbellVO]

A true legend of comedy

[@abw48]

As a kid in Glasgow, born 1948, I used to LOVE the Goons Show every Sunday, after Church, which cheered me up after such an awful morning listening too a wee fella up high talking shite.

[@MrAMYJACK]

The difference for me is that most actors are just that actors, than there is Spike 1 in a Million.

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Yes, a true individual and an extremely funny comedian, I'm so glad that I grew up with the memory if him and a lot of that genre which sadly is today nothing close, there are no real characters any more...

[@benneden2580]

Absolute legend

[@fredfungalspore]

Quick Witt is the highest form of intelligence. I cry in laughter at his passing.

[@richardsharpe2966]

They is only one word for Spike genius

[@garymccarthy7756]

When we were not afraid to laugh without offending others.!!!! As a young boy I was so blessed to have the likes of Spike the Goons, Tommy Cooper, Eric and Earn etc. Many happy memories. Can still hear my dear old Mum and Dad laughing now. God bless Spike. Thankyou.

[@williamdavies391]

Spike Milligan on the other hand was a genius , true comedy god .

[@janmikolajczyk5587]

Never see the like again truly brilliant

[@MrAMYJACK]

The speed of thought amazing and like others here in Australia the Goon Show was on ABC Radio

[@pippaknuckle]

Such a brave life.

[@TupmaniaTurning]

Thanks for posting that - in fits of laughter watching it! A comedy genius who has never been surpassed.

[@ppotter]

I'm pleased!

[@terrygoldsmith335]

Why is it now after all these years and I now reduced to tears 😢 of sadness. I don’t know why. I always loved this man’s humour, through countless tv shows and books, but it’s only now I’m crying for him. God bless this man who’s love of comedy kept people laughing & smiley through his own pain and suffering 😢 RIP to a true comedic genius the like of which todays through away celebs will never live up to. I’m literally crying now and I don’t know why!?

[@davidbull7210]

Surprised they included the blackmail clip. Things were very PC by 1994

[@Ridersonthestorm8899]

Kind of but nothing like nowadays.NO WAY would that be shown now.

[@MLaak86]

"Everybody's gotta be somewhere" - somehow something about Eccles, and Goon humour in general, remains startlingly deep and insightful

[@lufc4lifeful]

The greatest ever

[@masonringbinder684]

The one and only.

[@mackspowah3281]

A true legend of comedy regardless of the global region

[@Scalachi123]

It is magic when Spike laughs

[@nickprohoroff3720]

Master and Commander. Lord Spike of Milligan.

[@SkyeMpuremagic]

Surprised no one else has given this a thumbs up yet 😅🤣🤣🤣

[@JamesMilliganJr]

This is fantastic!

[@jhas888]

At 6min.30sec ... spontaneous magnificence

[@19Graywulf]

There were so many comic geniuses 'born' of those times, Sellers, Cooper, Hancock, the Python team, but one stands above all, Spike, the one genius stsnding with a foot in madnes a foot in genius, and pulled it off with aplomb.

[@nirmalsuki]

The best comedian in the world, ever.

[@gardgardner4912]

Without Spike there is no British comedy...

[@garsm2290]

Indeed, Brexit Britain is a humorless place. Spike Milligan an Irish immigrant ....

[@thegreenknight2658]

@@garsm2290 Oh sod off. His mother was English, his father Irish and he was born in India. Britain voted to leave the EU, deal with it!

[@garsm2290]

@@thegreenknight2658 You need to get a sense of humour. Typical cross-eyed Brexiteer.

[@thegreenknight2658]

@@garsm2290 I've got a sense of humour thanks. You weren't making a joke, you were making a political statement that just happened to be factually incorrect.

[@garsm2290]

@@thegreenknight2658 You show no evidence of having a sense of humour, just the dull bad-tempered churlishness that characterises Brexit cult members. Check out Spike Milligan the immigrant ... or maybe take a holiday in France or buy some Farage toilet paper! Lighten up!

[@jonatday]

He may have had his very dark times, But I can assure you he is still helping people through thier own dark times, he lived his life to help others more than himself by doing that perhaps, we can only hope for more like him........a legend

[@davidlyons3678]

A one and only.

[@aldershot5100]

Charlie boy would have loved that

[@ianjeffery6744]

BRILLIANT! AWESOME! May he entertain the Angels in Heaven in this fashion......

[@cedricsharpe4235]

A comic genius giant

[@jimmybob3756]

"I don't thank anyone I did it myself, oh and Prince Charles....grovelling bastard"....rip Sir Spike, comedy is just not as funny anymore. ❤

[@blaggercoyote]

Of course Charlie loves the Goons. He grew up with them as did I.

[@richardgonet6449]

@@blaggercoyote j

[@KevinLJ-Photography]

I have never seen this full version before, but have watched Spike's acceptance many, many times and always cry with laughter, This is the funniest video on youtube!

[@ppotter]

Glad you enjoy it.

[@philipmason3218]

Its fantastic isn't it, RIP sir

[@emmcatherine1460]

So deserved as a national treasure in my opinion.

[@marcusp905]

What a legend 👏

[@ianbermingham9047]

He just proved how Irish he was 🤗👌👍

[@alexday5892]

He says that about the next in line to the thrown and the whole hall is wetting themselves. It shows he probably had a good relationship with Charles but was at an age where he knew that humour was all that mattered. I believe he asked that his headstone be inscribed with the words ‘See, I told you I was ill ‘ Gone but never forgotten Thank you Spike

[@dode5064]

Genius

[@davidatownsend8334]

"Little grovelling bastard" - one of the greatest lines in British Television!

[@andysayers5158]

my only wish would have been Prince Charles being there, knowing him he would have laughed like the rest of us, Spike never held back that's what made him who he was, if that makes sense !

[@garyrasberryjr.552]

@@andysayers5158 Even funnier was that Spike sent HM (then HRH) a telegram the next day that said "I suppose a knighthood is out of the question?" . I believe Charles sent a reply of "Keep groveling" ... Spike eventually got his knighthood.

[@MarkRobertCuthbert]

"" BRILLIANT "".

[@noelmajers6369]

Calling Prince Charles a "grovelling bastard" - even then that was very risky but bloody hilarious (and he brought the house down). Genius....

[@RayNDeere]

Risky, but Charles was a Goons fan (and even mentioned the word Goon in his investure speech as Prince of Wales - a nod towards Welshman Harry Seacombe) and actually came back with the perfect retort when Spike sent him a telegram asking "I suppose a Knighthood is out of the question?" Charles responded "Keep groveling" (Spike later earned an honorary KBE)

[@noelmajers6369]

RayNDeere Nice response - Spike was probably still the only man who could have got away with saying something like that to Charle's face. Great comedian....

[@argieav]

How is it 'risky'? I hate the royals as an institution, its just part of an ideology of privilege for privilege's sake, but even I wouldn't say that they would threaten anyone with anything for calling them grovelling bastards. Especially if it is said in jest.

[@jessiejames7492]

they were good friends.

[@liammalcolm]

It wasn’t risky, Charlie would have fallen down laughing.

[@chrismaplethorpe6781]

Jonathan Ross did right handing over the letter how can anyone top Spike the legend

[@jacquikalich3873]

That was brilliant! Total, absolute loony, but funny as hell. Can you imagine if he, and Robin Williams had got together!! I read his books at age 12, the war ones, and my mother came to ask what I was laughing about!! "The Company cook, he was doing things with sausages". I was helpless. I wrote to him once, and he wrote back, very kindly. Strange how many genius comedians have depression and mental issues. I guess not so strange, really.

[@steeltrap3800]

It's funny to think that Milligan was probably the only person who could pull off the "little grovelling bastard" comment and everyone can't help laughing at the seeming inappropriateness of it and wishing they'd have the gall to say it in his position. If you think about it, wasn't inappropriate coming from him. That sort of irreverent, non-PC and 'shocking' humour was what made him famous. I imaging Charles himself, who really was a devoted fan (there's some funny home videos of Charles doing Goon show voices, and he did them very well), was falling about laughing when he saw it. I particularly loved the "not going to thank anyone because I did it all on my own". Given he wrote ~95% of The Goon Show material himself (which is itself amazing), not entirely untrue. Far and away the most loved comic of that post-war period, and truly a comedic genius (a term too often used) of any time.

[@SuttonOnSea-in-00]

I did hear a tale that Spike sent a letter to Prince Charles saying "I suppose a knighthood's out of the question." I don't know how true it is but it's something Spike would do.

[@LoudValves]

thanks for explaining it all for us thickies... you grovelling little bastard...

[@timheathfield8700]

@@LoudValves well said !!

[@farje1]

@@LoudValves Hear hear

[@therealianwest]

@@SuttonOnSea-in-00 that's true, he did send one and Charles confirmed it

[@northernninjarunner5506]

RIP Spike

[@rowancrew2934]

'Grovelling Bastard' a line that will go down in infamy, comedic genius simply that.

[@alhawaritalbi6371]

on his own... that's​ true.

[@daytona1212]

Brilliant man.

[@FoMoCo123]

Could you imagine the global meltdown if this were to happen in these sensitive times.

[@niemiecthestandup]

Nothing would happen at all. Literally nothing. This was incredibly funny, please don’t try to use it in the tedious old argument that “our day” was edgy and tough and this day somehow isn’t.

[@frantrictantric]

That black mail sketch would go down a treat haha.

[@kitbrown3895]

@@niemiecthestandup Exactly

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

@@niemiecthestandup a few sensitive folk would have mild coronaries, where most of us would take it for its face value, which is Spike's humour encapsulated perfectly. Comedy will turn a corner sometime in the future, so that a new wave will be there to evolve and the next generation will say "Did you all REALLY accept the minority as ONE generic opinion? Thank goodness you got over yourselves"

[@poortuber]

And that ladies and gentleman is what its all about, his generation would be appalled and sickened by the state of the world today. You could say what was on your mind without offending the world and his dog, I wish I had been born into that generation. R.I.P Spike, you were the best.

[@ama8541]

Sir Spike Milligan you're a genius! I wonder if the King was laughing when he saw this all those years ago.

[@johnking5174]

6:38 - Oh how I would love to have been in the production gallery at this point, I can imagine the director and producer dying with laughter, trying to get all the shots of the celebs in fits of laughter here.

[@charlielondon722]

Now. That's FUNNY ❤️🐻😃thank U spike

[@benglasspool2166]

A good chunk of these comedians will be denouncing him today.

[@BlastastiC]

Just cut through the faux-solemnity like a razor, absolutely brilliant.

[@jessiejames7492]

i watched an interview with spike and i was doubled up laughing. mind you , it was an interview. he was talking about his father, his time in india etc etc.. hilarious

[@NeilJR]

I’m walking backwards for Christmas, Across the Irish Sea, I fell in love with a mountain, But she was too tall for me.

[@johnrider5701]

He was the godfather of modern British comedy a true genius...