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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.

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.

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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Changes afoot

‘Tales of Old Dartmoor’, the 21st episode of the Goon Show’s sixth series, was also Peter Eton’s last as producer – at least for now....

My Wildest Dream

The same week as the third episode of the Goon Show’s sixth series aired (see ‘The Last Emperor’), producer Peter Eton roped in Harry...

The Toothpaste Expedition

Episode 20 of the fourth series was broadcast on 12 February 1954. ‘The Toothpaste Expedition’ was a reworking of a sketch from the fifth...

The Producers

Two influential producers of Goon Shows – Pat Dixon and Charles Chilton – share a birthday. Chilton was born on this day in 1917. He was...

The first broadcast

On this day exactly 70 years ago, the first Goon Show was broadcast on the BBC’s Home Service radio station. That week’s issue of the...

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