Milligna (or Your Favourite Spike)
Encyclopedia
Milligna, also known as "The Milligna Show" was a radio comedy sketch show, written by Spike Milligan
, performed by John Bluthal
, Vilma Hollingbery
, and Milligan himself. Musical interludes were provided by Ray Ellington
and the Alan Clare
Quartet. Alan Clare also took speaking parts.
The show was broadcast on Radio 4
in 1972. Its name was based on Milligan's introduction in The Last Goon Show of All
as "Spike Milligna, the well-known typing error".
, and a Jewish Londoner. Vilma Hollingbery came on when the script required a female voice but otherwise remained in the background. Alan Clare tended to portray stupid teenagers and adults, using a weak Cockney voice which may have been his natural one.
Running ideas provided some continuity. For instance in one edition, Milligan repeatedly announced that he would do an impression of Charles Aznavour
singing "Yesterday, When I Was Young", only to be interrupted by Bluthal each time.
Milligan tended to repeat his favourite jokes. He would announce "Good evening to you all, except Mrs. Ada Shagnasty of Leeds". In The World of Beachcomber
he often used a similar line ending "except Maurice Ponk."
The show included spoof news items including, "Long-missing Van Gogh ear found in a British Rail sandwich
".
A longer sketch toward the end of the show might, as in one edition, have Milligan and Bluthal acting as door-to-door salesmen trying to persuade Vilma Hollingbery to upgrade her "dustbin image" by buying the "Midnight Thrill Dustbinette", along with sterilised and perfumed rubbish to put in it. The same edition included Milligan reciting a version of his story "The Singing Foot", originally published in the collection "The Bedside Milligan".
The producer was John Browell
who, as tradition then demanded, was subject to a certain amount of abuse. Milligan would read the closing credits, in the voice of a petty official, and pretend to be unable to read Browell's name.
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
, performed by John Bluthal
John Bluthal
John Bluthal is a Polish-born British film and television actor, mostly in comedy. He is best known for his work with Spike Milligan and for his roles in the television series Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width and The Vicar of Dibley.-Early life:Bluthal was born in Galicia, Poland, of Jewish...
, Vilma Hollingbery
Vilma Hollingbery
Vilma Hollingbery is a British actress, born on 21 July 1932. She has appeared in many TV programs and films since the 1960s, and is known for her appearances as Claudia Wren in Psychoville, and has also appeared in in A Touch of Frost, the 1980 film Babylon, Doctor Who and The Bill, in which she...
, and Milligan himself. Musical interludes were provided by Ray Ellington
Ray Ellington
Ray Ellington was a popular English singer, drummer and bandleader. He is best known for his appearances on The Goon Show from 1951 to 1960...
and the Alan Clare
Alan Clare
Alan Clare A self-taught pianist, he became a professional musician at the age of 15 and during the next few years became a familiar figure on the London jazz scene....
Quartet. Alan Clare also took speaking parts.
The show was broadcast on Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in 1972. Its name was based on Milligan's introduction in The Last Goon Show of All
The Last Goon Show of All
The Last Goon Show of All, broadcast on 5 October 1972, was a special edition of the famous BBC Radio show, The Goon Show, commissioned as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the BBC. It was simulcast on radio and television, and later released as an audio recording on long-playing...
as "Spike Milligna, the well-known typing error".
Format
The show progressed through a loosely linked collection of sketches, one-liners, puns and ethnic jokes. Bluthal provided multiple voices, including impressions of an African chieftain, Alan WhickerAlan Whicker
Alan Donald Whicker, CBE is a British journalist and broadcaster. His career has spanned over 50 years.-Background:Whicker was born to British parents in Cairo, Egypt...
, and a Jewish Londoner. Vilma Hollingbery came on when the script required a female voice but otherwise remained in the background. Alan Clare tended to portray stupid teenagers and adults, using a weak Cockney voice which may have been his natural one.
Running ideas provided some continuity. For instance in one edition, Milligan repeatedly announced that he would do an impression of Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
singing "Yesterday, When I Was Young", only to be interrupted by Bluthal each time.
Example:
- Milligan: Yesterday...when I was young....
- Bluthal : Stop! Stop! Stop in Israeli!
- Milligan: Are you Jewish?
- Bluthal : No, a tree fell on me!
Milligan tended to repeat his favourite jokes. He would announce "Good evening to you all, except Mrs. Ada Shagnasty of Leeds". In The World of Beachcomber
The World of Beachcomber
The World of Beachcomber was a surreal television comedy show produced by the BBC inspired by the Beachcomber column in the Daily Express newspaper....
he often used a similar line ending "except Maurice Ponk."
The show included spoof news items including, "Long-missing Van Gogh ear found in a British Rail sandwich
British Rail sandwich
In British humour, the phrase British Rail sandwich refers to sandwiches sold for consumption on passenger trains of the former British Rail...
".
A longer sketch toward the end of the show might, as in one edition, have Milligan and Bluthal acting as door-to-door salesmen trying to persuade Vilma Hollingbery to upgrade her "dustbin image" by buying the "Midnight Thrill Dustbinette", along with sterilised and perfumed rubbish to put in it. The same edition included Milligan reciting a version of his story "The Singing Foot", originally published in the collection "The Bedside Milligan".
The producer was John Browell
John Browell
John Logan Browell, was a radio producer who worked primarily in BBC Radio. He was best known for producing the final two series of "The Goon Show" and the special edition "The Last Goon Show of All". He also produced comedies with Spike Milligan, including "Milligna " in 1972.-References:...
who, as tradition then demanded, was subject to a certain amount of abuse. Milligan would read the closing credits, in the voice of a petty official, and pretend to be unable to read Browell's name.