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The Seagoon Memoirs

Chronicling a 21st century idiot's obsession with a 1950s radio comedy masterpiece.

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A digital
time capsule

Welcome, dear reader - pull up a bollard.

On 28 May 1951, four young men took to the airwaves on the BBC's Home Service to launch their unique brand of comedy on an unsuspecting world.


In the mid-1990s, an even younger idiot was introduced to recordings of their broadcasts - and there began a strange obsession crossing decades and generations.

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The Seagoon Memoirs is an attempt to channel this obsession into something creative, chronicle the show's history, development and legacy, and in some small way contribute to preserving this masterpiece of British radio comedy.

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Listen to me waffle on about the Goons on the excellent Goon Pod here. Alternatively, listen to more interesting people on other episodes of Goon Pod, including Jane Milligan, Al Murray, Dirk Maggs, and the cast of 'Spike!', the new Milligan/Goon-themed play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.

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March in Goonland

Orme Court update - Michael Bentine - Griff Rhys Jones on Goon Pod - Hancock's Half Hour - Spike Down Under - Angela Morley - An Album...

The Golden-Voiced Goon

On this day in 1955, mayhem came to Morecambe... Harry Secombe headlined a show at Morecambe's Winter Gardens, billed as "The...

Baffling the journalists

We’re rapidly approaching the 71st anniversary of the first Crazy People broadcast, on 28 May 1951. As the Goons and producer Dennis Main...

May the 4th be with you

The franchise mash-up we all want to see. Long, long ago, on a radio show far, far away... Starring: HARRY SECOMBE as NEDDIE SKYWALKER...

Problematic synopses

As the Goon Show’s popularity increased, the Radio Times decided to publish episode synopses and character/cast lists along with each...

A mound of batter puddings

A few days ago I wrote of the Terror of Bexhill-on-Sea: 'The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler'. You'll remember the predicament that Neddie...

A variety summer

The life of a comedian in the 1950s was a tough one. For our intrepid Goon Show stars, the Sunday night recording of each episode was a...

Richard Attenborough

On this day in 2014, the great actor Richard Attenborough died. Brother of Sir David, he was born in 1923 and starred in films such as...

Naming episodes

Warning: This is a nerd-rant. File this under ‘I don’t wish to know that’. A few days ago I wrote of Roger Wilmut’s Goonography. I’m...

Two honorary Goons

I was alerted by this tweet from the Goon Show Preservation Society (GSPS) of the passing earlier this year of two honorary Goons. Marcel...

Ominous rumblings

The year is 1951. Four young men, all former members of the armed services, are drinking in The Grafton Arms, near Victoria Station in...

The Highly Esteemed Goon Show

Hello, and welcome to a rather ridiculous and ambitious project. My name’s Nick, and I’m a Goonaholic. During lockdown I rediscovered...

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