This organic vindaloo. Person.
See the lads? Get double helpings.
If the wind drops or here. Heidi.
Hi and welcome to Green Pod. When expecting that now this
week my guest is the actor Geoffrey Holland Jeffrey has one
of those instantly recognizable faces from a career largely
carved out in sitcoms he's best known as Spike Dixon.
The rather third-rate Camp comic in one of the biggest shows of
the 80s the aforementioned ID. Hi!
He also starred as James 12 Trees in you rang m'lord and
settle in. Oh dr.
Beaching in in one he along with John Glover and who seek Him and
Christopher Timothy appeared of a dirk maggs produced show goon
again celebrating the Goon shows half century and Jeffrey Chief
to perform the Peter Sellers Parts in the show which was
drawing together elements from earlier goon show scripts and
what resulted was a very warm exuberant and fitting tribute to
the goons I spoke to Jeffrey about that and also other bits
Of his career and we kicked off with him, telling me about
something. He'd watched on the never betted
talking pictures TV. Well, the sellers on Sunday
afternoon in the small was showing up us.
It was on talking pictures TV. Hmm.
And every tree played in that mr.
Quill, the projectionists in the old Cinema, it was great.
You got a gray wig on a gray eyebrows, and mustache, and he
was doing old acting. Yes, you know, like you did.
So And it struck me. The character he was doing.
It was almost a forerunner to Clive.
Clive Dunn's. Corporal Jones and there?
Yeah, he was, he was doing that same sort of voice.
You know that shh. That's, that's a good point.
Yeah. Because and he was, he was
console that none and nicked. The idea of a gold men for Years
anyway since she was 17 in 70. Yeah.
Well he and some others would
have been what he'd been 32. When he made that film 1957?
Yeah, I mean 32, I mean, Clive done.
That's a good. That's a good sort of jumping
off point because I understand that you first got working with
Crofton Perry through the Dead zombie stage show I did indeed
yes, I was recruited into that through an audition.
I didn't want to go to, you know, it's wonderful.
One of the most wonderful things in life, you know, when you turn
a corner, you didn't even know there was a caller.
And they take to change my life. I didn't want to go to this
audition a little while. I was enjoying myself.
I was a chick Easter now. I'm doing the festival in 75.
Yeah and I got the call to go up to London to audition for
Crofton Perry. I'm Roger and Farmers staging.
It not work with him in rep. So he'd ask for because he knew
I could be quite useful to the show Grand.
I won't up. You know, I've got nothing
prepared. I was in a real foul mood.
Certainly nothing ready at also to offer them.
And when I got there I was Given a script to look at, although,
at least I could read something from this.
And and I found in the script, what I was thumbing through
either a song, which was a parody of.
Yes, we Have No Bananas sung by Walker a spiv.
So I got through the audition. I was getting on with it and do
and, you know, they were laughing and I was feeling
better about myself. You know, my self-esteem had
gone up considerably, then they're gone song bit.
Let's have a look. I found this in the script as if
I do it with the book in my hand, I said Of course not.
So I fixed the key with The Pianist and we sang this.
Yes, we Have No Bananas every day and they will roll it about
laughs Eli said, I'm not cocky and I said it today.
Wouldn't you be? I said you, you enjoyed that,
didn't you? And they said, yes, we did
actually, we should he did and I said, well, you wrote it, you
know, but they said yes, we we wrote it down in longhand.
Gave it to the typist, a typo, but we haven't seen it since
we've never heard it. So you know, that wasn't me
doing a first for them and I got the job.
Well, that's it. Simple as that.
I didn't want to go to that audition.
And I got a job that changed my life.
Absolutely. I first became aware of you, of
course, like I guess most people abide, by the way, I was looking
at your IMDb page and I noticed that your first, I think your
first speaking role on television was an episode of
Dixon of dock green. Whoa.
And I checked. It was actually, it was
broadcast about a week before I was born. 74.
Yeah yeah. But now I first became aware of
your thoughts through hi-dee-hi. Yes.
Of course. Which rather neatly began first
day of the 80s, didn't it? Yes, you would.
Yes. We recorded the pilot in October
79 and they broadcasted on New Year's Day 1980 the first day of
the 80s. Yeah, Bo did rather.
Well, I think and I want to talk I want to come back and talk
about that and hi-dee-hi specifically but Before I do.
And I, and by the way, the Jeff you don't mind me calling you,
Jeff. Do you please, everyone?
By the way, I do tend to go all over the place.
You know, the conversation will go off in all directions.
Okay, sir. So with you, okay, there's I
want to say eight words to you. All right?
And I, and I just want to hear your reaction.
Okay? Clears, throat strides for the
owe me with the NAFTA. Yeah.
Are you being served? Yeah, you're the hippie hair
cut. How that?
I'll be huge. Babying, so fan.
And that is probably that episode, which is, I think it's
called the old order changes. So that, that is, yeah, that is
my favorite. Are you being served episode of
all time and that scene with you?
And Frank Thornton is probably the best scene of that episode.
It's almost identical caftans have been through boy.
By the way, you say then, pant me man.
Yeah, very difficult to say that.
He's man love me, man. You call Stevie Baby.
Triage for the owe me with a knife.
Raya update here, what? A tight, clay single word stay
with it. Any still, it could be goodbyes
will complete. I didn't realize that was you
for the longest time. Really, so I'd what I'd see that
episode. I don't know when I first saw
that episode, but I taped them because they were repeated, when
I was growing up, and I didn't realize that was you for the
longest time, and then I must adjust must have just been that.
I was looking at the end credits and recognized your name.
Yeah, I know what you mean because to be, to be fair,
you've got the glasses, you've got the big afro wig the
glasses, my own golf is after time, okay?
Okay. Glasses.
Although, at the time I would have, as I say, I would have
known you a spike. Yeah, I'm Heidi.
Hi. But everyday, people's do people
ever talk to you about you about because you're enabling serve
twice with you? Yeah.
Well there was an example from twice as well.
Oh yeah. I'll be re watching some of
those recently. They do hold up despite the
slide, some of their time, kind of issues.
If you like that they do. Hold up.
Big issue was Michael Bates but blacking up as an Indian.
Yeah, it was, he was born in India.
He spoke bird over. He spoke Hindi, he spoke the
dials and dialects As he grew up with it, and if anybody was more
capable, it was him because quite, you know, there's all
this who are about it. There weren't many good Indian
actors around in the 70s when they were making that series,
you know, David Croft, it did employee.
What Indian actors were available that they, they just
weren't very good. They got the experience, but
they are like they have now, you know, you've got some wonderful
Indian actors now they're around.
But dude, if the time it is Wasn't the case, the big
Revelation for me having not seen.
It ain't half hot mum since I was a kid and as I say we
watching some reason relatively recently.
How good wins a Davis is in that role?
Oh yes absolutely fantastic. The timing his comedy timing is
second to none. Perfect but yeah, Heidi height
spike is right. I think Heidi Hi to a certain
degree is all about relationships.
Absolutely. Because you got, you've got
obviously Ted and Spike which to me is kind of like a married
couple. Yeah.
With with Spike being in the cast in the role of the
long-suffering wife I suppose you got Barry.
Devon of course which those will bury in particular is a real
favorite character of mine. His permanent hangdog
expression. Yeah.
You've got Geoffrey fairbrother and bladders and later Squadron
leaders and Squadron leader. Don't get God, I've done but but
let's be fair. I think, most people, I think
for most people, the fairbrother years.
The fair Jeffrey fairbrother. Yeah.
Is the stronger. It was wrong.
Ha bye. Mummy was.
Absolutely wonderful. Because he was really, really
was a fish out of water, but the most talented actor and he took
what lines? David Jimmy gave him and he made
them totally real. I made the character totally
believable and not the Debbie Griffey.
Didn't when he came in, he did had a bit, very big boots to
fill, but it was a complete reversal of the role diamonds.
Three years will always be remembered.
Is that the best that I think the favorite with all the
viewers? Yeah.
And of course it you had mr. Partridge.
And yes, Fred quickly. Fred.
That's right. Yeah.
Because they, they were always like a married couple in a way.
You smell. It also has a clean smell.
He said, it's by the way, because Felix bonus was famously
a warm-up man? Wasn't he?
Yes, he warned all David shows up so you write.
So he was going to ask you that. So he did the warm-up for hiding
high as well, did he? Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Did. He went back into double the
dad. Salamis Bill Pertwee helped her
with our jar, me but Felix was recruited in and stayed in.
Who are all David shows your Dad's Army, ain't our fault.
Hopefully, you know, I being served in hi-dee-hi, you
radicals locally, you know, they gave my part in it and what
about your relationship with the whole Shane?
How did that develop wonderful? It was just magic.
The first, I'll go to this all about the first day I ever met
him. They'd already cast me a spike
in hi-dee-hi back in 79 and they were writing it.
So the middle early summer months of 79, they were
struggling to find a Ted bovis. And they should be found pull on
Coronation Street. He saw him playing out for
Roberts, Boston, and he rang David up and said, we got
Coronation Street. Only said no.
So we'll have a look. I think we found ten bovis.
Anyway, they're called Paul Shane down to London because he
lives in Rotherham, they called him that to London to, to read a
couple of scenes with being with me and he was he was chatting
with you being Davey in the rehearsal room and I was called
in to meet him. And as I walked in walk into
this huge rehearsal room. M standing in the middle of the
floor looking totally lost lesson and I walk towards it
with my hand out said, hello, Paul.
Lovely to meet you my name's Jeff, are you doing and all out?
And he took my hand and he shook his head and he smiled.
And he and then he looked at me rather sideways, you know.
And I thought, what's the matter?
And he looked at me and he said, we met before we worked together
before, and I said, no, no, no. Because I would have remembered.
You know what he saw then was What happened for me to that was
the instant Chemistry Between Us.
Something went ping, something went click, you know, and I
think really it showed you all the work we did over the years.
You know, the relationship was very, very special.
We were very, very close porn. I very close.
So what is the first rule of Comedy?
Did you mail it? Did you nail it down?
It was always different. The first one will see you.
You must have reality. Come on Spike.
Must have reality, you know that was it.
Never never confuse your audience, was another one morals
for I could never get anything right?
Didn't they, the first episode didn't that?
Wasn't there a reference to Coronation Street?
Yes, because he'd been for audition was sitting on the
train on my own with me on my way, to my plans, and he said,
I've been for this audition, but this is television Company doing
a show about this monkey Street this monkey Street.
Apparently I did write for it. So he said, I think I've got it
and of course, later on the episode.
He receives a letter. Dear mr.
Boies. Sorry to inform you etcetera.
Etcetera. Got it.
And he was heartbroken. But, you know, and that yes, it
was a passing reference to Coronation Street didn't
actually named me, but we all knew what it was and you've been
incarnations, you haven't you? I did one episode.
Yes, I did. One episode where I did two
scenes with Craig Charles and I don't know hmrc.
The inspector I called on him to, you know, to check on his
taxes because he wasn't doing his tax.
Returns, are called argument has one more wonderful scene in the
play. This really, I wish they could
to you, to actually was a lovely character whose name is Clive,
drink water. And he was a tax inspector, and
he, he lived with his bomber. Who blew these?
Old mum? I'll say, two more.
Okay, right. I can't talk about how order is.
She was at all heard Donald Becker.
No Donnelly. CDs are all the absolute
pristine order. Everything was such a camp
character. It really fun to do Street had a
has a long history of of characters of that type.
Let's go seriously. It was a it was a great Charles
said to me afterwards he said you know what you just did.
He said you just done a perfect example of good old-fashioned
Connery as it used to be a comedy character and it was
upgrade it played it. Your company.
Yeah, really work but you know, they go, they didn't call me
back. So no respect.
Quickly, back to hi-dee-hi two episodes that I always think
about. I don't even, I don't think
that, I haven't, I should have watched, you know what?
I should have done, my research and re-watch them ahead of that
call. But ones that stick in my mind
is the what the episode with is the spot, the dumb competition
with Yvonne looking like she's sucking lemons.
So I mean, We'll say it, he couldn't get them.
I couldn't say it, shall I say, you couldn't say that Mabley to
pull the curtains to show it. Move the audience, just shouted.
The name that your bum to know. Now what Joe Maddon was on the
blower first thing this morning, don't worry, I covered it for
you. He's insisting we've got to do
the bum competition. What did you ever see that
program on teleco? Watch my line.
Occasionally, well, we used to do one called that's your boom.
Hello, campers hi-dee-hi Jeffrey.
Can't hear you, howdy, hi. Yes.
Well, now we have For Your Entertainment and Delight
competition with his being brought.
Brought back by popular request, it was very popular last year
although of course I wasn't here then this is my first season as
you all know God's sake get on with it but it was voted the
most popular competition ever ever once it called love.
It's a novel sort of thing. Yeah.
There was is it and here to tell you all about
it is your and the other episode, which is probably my
favorite that I could that I think of is the episode when Ted
gets offered this Mucky film. Oh yeah, yeah and favorites and
Peggy. Peggy kind of gets it, involves
herself. So it.
So he gets all these male campers to put to pay.
What does that acquitted tight? Like a quitter pop?
And they're going to show this film late at night in the
ballroom or something and Peggy turns up selling chalk.
Eyes has because she thinks it's a film about brain surgery or
something doctors. Yeah, and It's called it's
called it's a blue world, right? Yeah.
Yeah, but the big finish is conspire as found the film and
he knows it. What it?
What it is, these swaps it and at the end, you know, you said
the Police Inspector says, turn the projector on Console.
Let's see what's going on here and he turns the projector on
all you hear is do it. Did you do, did we?
Yeah, but to tend to say, well, here's another nice mess, I've
gotten you out of Stanley. And then of course, following
hi-dee-hi. You then went on pretty much
straight away I guess to you rang m'lord.
Yeah, the following year we did the pilot of You Rang.
Yeah. Now I did I enjoyed that but it
took me a while to get into it and I guess it's because it's
such a tonal shift. Yeah.
From Heidi high. And I remember very clearly
watching the first episode and having to sort of re-calibrate,
my expectations. I don't know because Because
Paul was playing a completely different character.
I mean he was he was on the on the make.
Yes. But he was still playing a
completely different character and you were this or rather
austere. Rather severe character not
given to levity snotty. Yeah.
This is probably the house.
Yeah. And and it took me a while I
mean I suppose Seuss. Character was similar in many
ways to Peggy. Yeah.
But the underdog Yeah, but it took it to take me a little
while to, I'll be honest too warm to the up, to the to warm
to the show. But I did into with time.
You're not alone in that, you know, because it was so very,
very different. Mmm, people used to see us doing
all the difficulties. We had a rehearsal when we were
rehearsing, the pilot episode AB support, I could call each other
Ted and Spike. Instead of James, you know,
better get used to that, but how long do they?
All for, how long did you know needle or years without really?
We only made 26 episodes but they were 50 minutes long, you
see. Mmm.
It was a 50-minute show very popular in Hungary very, very
much. So we had a big event in 2018
and we went over there. I drew it was actually my idea
because I met some a lot of hungarians before that the year
before, in fact, of the whole load of the come over to flute,
flown over from Budapest. To London to see me in my sun
Laurel, show in jermyn Street Theater, made the made the
effort to come and see my play clothes.
Only, we all met up following day, outside the bedroom house
in Hollywood, Parker's, where he, we shot the pilot and we've
been made a lot of really good friends and I did a radio
interview for the hungarians, which was translated by the back
into Hungarian by the actor, who dumped my voice of the show.
Did. That's what are we gonna do next
year? Which was 2018 coming up to
celebrate the 30th anniversary of the pilot episode, which we
made in 1988, and I suddenly, I think occurred to me.
I said, well, look, why don't we all come over to Budapest of
celebrating with you. They said leave it with us.
And, you know, they sorted it out, they funded it, they
crowdfunded the whole event. Actually, it was a make with
people shout money and me. Couldn't I didn't realize it was
so huge. And that the one thing that did
happen on that particular occasion.
We have 900 people in a huge room was part of university
complex, and I got the costume. I kept the costume of the end of
the series. I hope nobody's having this.
It's mine. Yeah, and I took it with me to
boot and I put it on because they asked me if I'd take a tray
of drinks up with Hungarian. Actors, who did the first half
of the show, telling their own Stories.
The hungarians who actually Quite well known in Hungary.
They don't go our voices and the lady was comparing the whole
thing, rang a bell. And so I think we need a drink,
don't you ring the bell? And I walked on from the side
with this tray of drinks dressed as James 12 trees and the noise
that crowd made, you wouldn't believe it actually.
I said, you know, because I got myself onto the front page of
the Sunday song the other week from saying this to a journalist
you know I could have been Elvis Presley.
Could have been one of the Beatles for the noise they made.
It was just extraordinary. And of course, he put this on
the front of the Sony. Sony said, you know, I'm Elvis
in Hungary. Okay.
You know what? I didn't say that but, you know,
and he was crazy, just took the roof off, they scream the pace
down and when I eventually did get managed to get them quietly,
say You Rang me, lady to the conver, you know, they I did
leave the stage of once I got into the wings.
I just burst into Is it was just totally overwhelming.
I didn't never felt so much love in one room.
It was just amazing and mad about the show they watching.
It's on every day over there television.
Where does this have bit? Like I suppose it's a bit like
the unaccountable popularity of of Norman, Wisdom in Albania.
Yeah, yeah, it's a dog thing, you know.
Yeah. Character was Mabel to char,
obvious really played by Barbara knew, you know, It has been
said, and I think it's probably true to say that the analogy is
that they, you know, they they recognized the two-tier social
structure in within the show, the unfairness of it all because
they spent decades under this, the Communist not, you know?
And when it was really, when they were released from it, you
know, they'd taken you around with all their hearts because
they see in the show. What will happen to them.
Yeah, you know. Wait.
Just amazing get emails from them all the time.
It's so lovely, really is good. I just want to quickly run
through because I want to talk to you because it's a comic
book, this is a podcast about the goons and we haven't even
mentioned the game yet, but I just, I liked it too.
When I have guests, like yourself on a like to run
through the old CV down just a couple of quick things.
I wanted to discuss that you've been involved with as well.
Kenny Everett television. Show The oh, yes.
That was fun. I did three of those, I think.
Yeah. And I'd see you, you would pop
Up and sketches and things. So, yeah.
And I'd be like that's Spike from Idaho and I don't know, I
don't know, I just wasn't expecting you to turn up working
with Kenny Everett for some reason, hold on the weekend
because I work with the rush habits shows, I do as well over
the right thing, but we never got Russ.
Have it in New Zealand. We never got those variety
shows. Kenny Everett was very popular.
Yeah. And he must have been fun to
work with or he was so very funny.
It really was very funny. Mom.
Yeah, you know? So eccentric, but you know,
really professional to be on the ball doing those half hours.
He, you know, he would never never off the book of the board.
Never took his eye off the ball. Fantastic and Jeff look at
didn't invite you on to criticize your your work but
what were you thinking about run for your wife?
What we thinking of appearing in that film?
Oh no real race. Chums up.
Head in that. See almost everybody.
So proud to be wanted to make this film.
I don't think it was probably the wisest decision in the world
because that's very strongly established piece of theater and
to make a film of it. It's it's it goes down a
different route completely but, you know, he did, he wanted to
do it and they got it done. But he asked all of his Chums,
if they'd be in it and, you know, the bus on the way to the
races is full of people, like Frank Thornton and Donald sinden
either. They just extras, they're not,
they don't speak for them. Pertwee.
And, you know, and I got a part a speaking part as a reporter.
So I actually got a, you know, a proper a proper Minnie Minnie,
Minnie fee for that killer chubs got over a bottle of pins and a
box of chocolates. You know it's a thank you but
Reve social but none of his Chums said no to that they all
appeared in it for it. Yeah it was actually the last
appearance of Richard briers ever made as well.
Hell yes. Yeah yeah the original Goldsmith
in. Most of the West End in not be a
wife in 82 and we were talking before we started recording, we
mentioned, we talked about Dirk, maggs and obviously dirt was
based on this show and we we talked for so long, but we
didn't have time to talk about a show a radio show that he was
involved with which I enjoyed inside Sasha.
Oh, yes. Yeah, that was funny written by
Stuart silver. Resubmitting and asks all the
chaps do it solo. I'm saying for years, I don't
even know if she's still writing but he wrote some weird.
Wonderful comedy for that. It was such fun to do, really
was very gain, very good show inspired.
I think that show and sound effects and the voices.
And when you consciously, because there's a few characters
on there that you perform, that we're quite goon ish and there
one character in particular said, sort of shades of major
blood milk. We're going to your conscious He
doing that. It was a mind.
My little, I marched lagoons. And if the character fitted I
used to use it without, you know, I hope clip you sent me
with to establish, whether it was Jeff McKibben and he was,
there's me in the background doing a blood knot shriek oh,
there he is. Is it nicely?
Get us onto the subject. At hand you'd have been about
four when the goons well the first series which was called
crazy, people was broadcast. So what's your history with with
the show itself? In terms of listening to, it was
never allowed to listen to the Goon show on the wireless
because my mom and dad didn't understand it.
They thought it was rubbish because they didn't understand
it off their wavelength all together and I didn't come to
the Goon show until after Peter died in 1980.
No. I came to the gun show quite by
accident by buying a little box set of cassettes, which were all
sellers at the beep. Yeah, under two of the cassettes
included with the were three. Goon shows all together.
The man, the man who never was. I can't remember what the others
were, but it's introduced me to the gun show as a show and I was
totally at literally instantly hooked because I've got all the
records, you know, but Bob knocks rock and roll call blues
and I'm walking backwards for Christmas.
I got all the singles back in the 60s when they, when they
came out. But other so I sort of knew what
the voices were like, but I don't never had for a gun show
until that after Peter's death. So, I came to the government
started to collect them avidly. And I've got every Guru show
ever ever published now on Big C, D.
Thanks to the BBC. But, you know, I just became a
total addict straight away. It's hard for you being in The
profession, and it's a comedy. And being the age you were to
have come so late to the actual goon show.
So you don't even see the will hear the last goon show of all
in the early 70s. I guess I've got that.
I've got that on video, you didn't say that when it was when
it was broadcast originally. Well, no I didn't I didn't know
because again it was not in my brief it wasn't part of my life
but I said assume picked it up and soon found it and I've got
it on video now and I should keep it forever.
Did you did you were you a fan of Peter Sellers films?
Oh, absolutely. All over was was I would have
been a great admirer of Peter Sellers.
I first heard him on the radio when he was doing things like
razor laugh with Ted Ray, you know, and all the funny voices
used to do. I'm right with Kenneth corner.
And he, you know, when he was very, very much aware of
preachers, I'll see you even had to listen to raise a laugh and
not the future. Oh, that's right.
No, but there are some of the hardest time with the beat was
in the oven. You know, they couldn't stop me
those things. Another good shows as long as
the evenings and it was something that they didn't care
about at all. Muzzin who's been a big admirer
of Peter Sellers comedy work, you know, the eccentric nests as
we say of all the characters that he could play in a week
vocal gymnastics that he used to trot out strawberry and a very
fine actor. Yes, indeed, not just a comic
actor, but an actor in general, I think he was at his best when
he was performing, you know, because the Peter Those, you
know, in real life was a little bit Bland and well, I've come to
the door unimpressive. Yeah.
You look at some of the Michael Parkinson interviews that he did
and he did several when somebody else is talking, he's listening
and you can see it almost goes into another dimension.
He's he's sort of stops and turns off when he sits up in a,
you know, he perks up and he starts doing funny voices.
No, that's that's the performer, that's the artist.
That's the cover Bella. You know, that at all the
brilliant performing work but the real Peter Sellers a little
bit of the blank side. I think what he needed.
He needed on chat shows he needed a crutch he needed
something. He could rely on material a bit
that he could rely on. Yes, it warm warm himself up if
you like and so that was why for that for a period in the 70s
icon Parkinson? He would he would enter wearing
the German army helmet and doing that bit from the Since the show
gift for the producers. Really?
Because it was tried and tested material, which you would get a
laugh. That's right.
That's exactly it. He even has a lien on things
like that as a crutch. Yeah.
Did you ever meet Spike professional?
I met Spike once but I caught him on a bad day.
Ah, I'm so stay I'll tell you exactly what happened when I was
at a charity lunch for a build children's charity, I think, was
at the Dorchester hotel in London and I was in the lobby
before the event actually started and I saw a spike
walking across the lobby and I thought, oh, there he is, there
Spike Milligan. I better go and show him a
better school and say, hello and shake his head.
And I might never get another chance because it was not, you
know, quite late early in his life and I think I did the wrong
thing. I've stepped in front of him and
stopped him Riley. He started back and looked at me
as if who is this with a stopover in my space, you know.
And I thought Maybe I'll go to on a bad day, but I think I've
learned, since from there, I could be listening to do work on
your show. 30, you know, if you stop spiking, got it, got in his
way through his rhythm, which I did what it was all for.
I just look shook his hand, he shook my hand blessed, and I was
just said, I just wanted to say, I'm an admirer.
I was tongue-tied because he you know, I could see he was in
shock and I stopped him. And I said, I just wanted to See
how much a big fan I am of yours and and I know I said something
rather stupid. I said, actually I played a
character called spike in a sit for a few years and he looked at
me and was a pause. And he said how very interesting
here. Oh, dear.
Anyway, I said, I just wanted to tell you how much a big fan of
yours. I am and particularly of the
Goon show, I love the Goon show and he You must be very old
loser here. I think I'd better go and I do I
just left him to it and he couldn't let you know.
I got stopped if I've gotten his way.
I think I'm ready for that and I just, oh good.
I'm glad our messy. Absolutely absolutely.
Did you ever meet Harry or Mike and Tina?
I knew. Hurry.
Socially more from charity. Do is again because he knew me
from Riding High, you know he called me Jeffrey.
Are we recording Harry? And I said I was I was in the
car listening to you just now? Didn't they do the Goon show
going to keep the gun shows in the car, you know, on cassette
and I used to measure Journeys in a midi gun shows it took to
get from A to B that's a five that's a five good show Journey
that what you know Harry was lovely.
He was such a nice man. Could you tell us where to
begin? Lighter lips?
Yes. Number 18, a Gallows lane 18, a
Gallows Lane. Thank you friend.
Is this a teenagers Lane it is. So then you get this.
What do you get a phone call in early 2001 from I'm getting
dirt. Yeah, to suggesting this
restaging of some older goon show scripts, that relates the
50th anniversary of the show. That's right.
We want to do get this tribute on for 2001 as a 50th
anniversary in and Jim were he told you said don't muck it up
except he didn't use the word Mock, and we did.
And we had a wonderful wonderful time because Dirk made me quite
well from inside. Saturated from.
The Russ Abbott shows again. We could we did a whole radio
series, awesome directed those. So he knew what I could do and
when I was more than more than happy, I couldn't believe my
luck actually that I was going to get into a good show and play
Old Peter Sellers voices which, you know, some better than
others. I have to be honest, you know,
you didn't get a really good blue bottle from me.
I think you've got a pretty good blood doc, that's a right blue
bottle. Such a To nail it, such a
distinctive voice and very, I mean, Prince Charles, does it
makes it pretty decent, festively doesn't lie.
I see that built piece of film where he's pretending to be a
little fella. And it's really, really cover is
really, really good. Blood blue bottle, this lovely.
Yeah, I want to say when I first heard what became, what was
going again? What it became known as goon
again. Yeah.
And it does take a few minutes. To acclimatize to it if you like
like, for example, I read listen to it ahead of my conversation
with Dirk and it took me a little while to forget if you
like that. It that it was that.
It wasn't you, 300. Yeah, guys doing it and just
enjoy it for what it was and it's extremely
well-put-together, a well-performed and it's funny I
needed to is brilliantly edited, you know?
So Beverly put together that warm up, you know, the musical,
the musical intro, where we all sing and all that was just
intended to be a warm-up for us and for the audience wasn't
intended to be part of the show but it went down so well, Dirk
was so pleased with it. He left it in as part of the
part of the show, where whole thing went off, you know,
brilliantly and got everyone off to a good start and then we went
into the show proper, you know, the half an hour talking and
Wonderful. Having real railing to some
lumps there. Yes.
To one of his dad's songs. Exactly.
Like, right exactly like it was wonderful.
It's open when this was suggested to you by deque, did
you have any doubts that you take time to think about it?
Statues arm off, I was absolutely thrilled with the
idea. I couldn't wait what?
A great thing to do to be able to do a good show and it was one
of the happiest evenings I've ever spent in a theater in my
life. Yeah Wilson Orchestra there you
know how big John Wilson's become now the promise. - yeah.
You know he was just on his way up then and he was a dirk said,
Angela Moore. We suggested him because he knew
that angel more, we knew John Wilson, that's right.
And he was absolutely brilliant and Dirk had to say, how many
bikes do we need? Has 17 piece Orchestra.
How many Mikes are we going to need?
And John said, oh no. Only for not what we thought it
through yet. What are self-balancing
Orchestra, we listen to each other and we don't overlap.
We don't overplay and he's absolutely right.
And he needed for Mike's one of which was on the drum kit but
the rest are on one of the brass one on the woodwind.
And you know it was just extraordinary that using the
original dots which it was a great story that they're telling
about how they got the music from The Archives and reprinted
it. Yeah it was it was a pretty poor
State, wasn't it? Oh yeah, editions.
So, what was your process for? How does sound slightly lovasz
here? But what was your process for?
Finding the characters or having the ball?
I knew the Wahlberg before I even started doing the voices
for years, just for the hell of it, you know just for fun.
So I was doing henrique wrong and blood nor computable
different fun for myself. All those years ago, blue, what
was a bit of a struggle? But it's what I'm sort of gave
the impression of a blue bottle. Blue Duck bottle.
Not come that line about David Beckham's was over funny coming
on that. Yeah, I'm Brian Lehrer person
who script editor the whole thing, they added that in one or
two little lines Beckham being upset.
He wasn't asked to play Blue Bottle be perfect.
John Glover was excellent as well.
Yes, you want to do jobs. Timing is fantastic.
Don't love his timing was amazing.
These are right in the middle of the sea, were we?
We forget about Eccles and in the middle of a scene, John
Glover, just chipped in and said, I'm still up here.
We'd forgotten that Reckless was because after the Persian and
what is it? Look out there far, we gotta
close this, how you in it, right?
And it might come down here. We'll go.
Why didn't you climb down? The rigging is not for me to
reason why he's for me. Me to do wonder what's the word
on mean? He's not for me to reason why it
is for me to do it. Well, he didn't say it, but he
done it. Pretty good little baby.
Love God, forgive each other. I've done a lot of radio with
John is great. Great pal.
And Andrew seekin. What was it?
That was, what was on it working with him.
So do you know what the end of the show?
I thought what's the matter with him is is a little bit low key
but at the end of the show in the dressing room, he wrapped
his arms around his wife and burst into tears, and I didn't
realize that Harry was so ill. Ill at that time, it was in the
days after that, he died. And, and he knew that.
And he'd been told, you know, by, as Dirk told you.
He said, he'd think of it as taking over the family business,
you know, when you've been asked to play, some have met she did
and he did it so well, he did, which was a tribute voice to his
dad, that he would choke choked him all the evening all the way
through it. He was, he was emotionally quite
restrained because of, but he got through it and it's love.
What he done does with Ned tribute to his dad looks lovely.
What sort of reaction digit. Did you get a lot of reaction
from people after the show went out?
Oh well, my favorite reaction was in the in the bar afterwards
when we all went and had a drink and there was a lot of celebs in
the audience, Barry Cryer being one of them, I'm Barry kriger
came up to be following it absolutely full of it.
So he just looked at me straight in the eye and he said that was
spot on. He said, spot on on.
So I mean that was my favorite reaction to the whole the whole
event. You know.
He's praise from Caesar indeed indeed.
Absolutely. And you can get you know High
Praise than that bro. Yeah would you have been up for
doing more of those? Oh I wanted to you know Dirk
struggled for years to try and get the show on the road to try
and get a version of it on the road as do it.
We could do a tour but he had to have the live music and because
that's a very expensive business.
Yeah. And Did we just didn't work out
and normal normal Farms of spikes manager, who sort of owns
the gun show, not in the way a bit was a bit obstructive.
So we were never able to take it out on the road.
But don't just said, let's just remember that wonderful night in
the theater at the playhouse and think how lucky we were to have
gotten done that. So, I just take that on board
and just wallow in that have got it.
We did it, and it's there to listen to, and when If we want
to, it's amazing. How because it's now 21 years
since since that occurred here but and I know this podcast has
been going now for just over a year and it's amazing.
How many people are out there who still have a real affection
for the Goon show and for and for particularly, for someone's
and Milligan. Let's be honest.
Let's be fair. But how many people of, you
know, younger younger Generations?
If you like recent guest was a young lady in her mid-20s, okay?
I've had, I've had a lot of guests who are in their 40s or
30s. Well, I figure if I could draw
an analogy there with hi-dee-hi bloody bus essential thing going
on because I'm getting fan mail from people that weren't born
when we were making Heidi high, and it is the same things
happening to the good show, he sees its Timeless timeless.
This comedy was still very very funny and it will always make
people laugh. And if you find it, you know,
young people coming to the Goon show.
I think it's a wonderful thing because I'm getting fan mail now
from kids, and we did a hi-dee-hi event a few months ago
and was a little girl, there was six years old.
She was there with her mum and my mum's, a huge fan, but among
wasn't born when we were making Heidi.
Hi, but should this little girl called Tia and she was a tiny
little thing. She knew shoot her mom says she
knows every word of every script of hi-dee-hi and she's up small
and that young. So, you know, that says a lot
about the quality of good, good comedy.
And it's the same with the good show.
You know, people are coming to it as a young people now picking
up and they it's just says, Lee says it all about the quality of
it, you know, and why not, let's keep it alive.
Well, that is I mean that's heartwarming that the show is
still, the hi-dee-hi is still. Well, it's still finding new
generations about the Goon show. The Goon show is doing the same
thing. Yeah.
Abso what we mentioned we're on Hardy earlier now you've been,
you've heard this one man show. Stan, Laurel show you, you still
doing that at the moment or well, I guess I'll go over it
later, on, in the year, October November to pick up on, but yes,
it's an ongoing thing for me as long as Still walking, still,
breathe and talk. This is something I wanted to do
for a long, long time. And I had to wait until I was
the right age. Yeah, I got the idea back in the
70s when Laurel and Hardy would being shown on TV, again, early
evening by the BBC, the by my love for that which we've been,
you know, since I was a very small boy watching them, a happy
morning. Picture shows my love for them
was rekindled at that time. And I thought, well it would be
Wonderful idea to do a one-man show about Stan, Laurel because
I knew all about his life and the story of his life and it was
a fascinating tale to tell, but I knew I had to wait because I
was only a man then he can't do a life story and you haven't
done a life, you know. So I literally waited over 40
years to get that show on and it all fell into place at exactly
the right time and he should and I've been doing it for 10 years
now and next year will be 10 years.
What is that does that story about Peter Sellers?
To Stan Laurel. Oh yeah in Hollywood.
Yes he Runnin called on him and I'm trying to think of remember
the details but essentially salad.
So Stan Laurel was quite old Elder elderly this point and I
guess his memory was a he was maybe you know not as sharp as
he had been and sellers was tactfully you know, talking
about the old films and Yeah, just of it.
And then I think, sellers couldn't remember the name of a
supporting actor who often appeared in the lower, one Hardy
films, okay? Not something James finless and
not him. But someone else who Charlie
Hall possibly, I can't remember myself who it was, but check the
sellers was trying to remember the name of of this.
This actor, that would regularly appear in the Laurel and Hardy
your shorts in the And they said to Stan Laurel, he said, who's
that guy who's that? Who's that actor?
That used to used to repair in your films?
Can't remember? Is they really funny rather
large? Fella and Stan Laurel sort of
thought from it anyway. Oh, do you mean Oliver Hardy?
I think he meant tiny Sanford kudos for what a big failure.
So, apart from that if you were doing a involved with a podcast
series bar me Dale. Yes.
Oh that's great fun. That is great fun.
We ever gonna get to play the vicar and Jude.
Don't know if she plays the Vicar's wife in it as well.
So we do some live shows of that a bit later in the year.
Okay. Yeah.
The but for not Center we doing recording in front of a live
audience like they used to do with radio shows, you don't.
Absolutely I'm saying, podcasts are the future and see any.
Any other plans, any any other work in the pipeline or we're
doing that? We're in the middle of the tour
which we were picking up again in.
Member called The Best of British TV, comedy, and Judy and
myself, and Sue Hodge from a lower low or in that, it's like
a chat show really Debbie HUD Roy.
Hobbs Widow, she's chairing it. And she is asking the questions
we've got me and Judi because Judas had an awful lot of TV
comedy and Roger course doing a musical stuff and everything.
And a lady called April Walker, who people won't know her her
name is Katie. Hi.
No, no, no, no, no. That was lured into Regan
playing April. Now this is a lady called called
A for Walker. Who is my age actually and she's
been in every sitcom you could ever imagine, you know, Fawlty
Towers and to to Ronnie issue that I work with.
And she got stories to tell really, it's all about the
people we worked with and telling stories about all the
comedy. We've been beating it.
Basically, that's what the shows about.
So we're doing a few more of those in september/october as
well. Oh great.
So that'll be fun. I'm Trying to just trying to his
name rings a bell and I'm just trying to bring up the April.
Yes. Right.
April Walker was in that episode of foggy.
Towers. That's right.
With the boyfriend, not married, buzzle tries to put them in
separate room, that's right. And if they end her, her
boyfriend is the chap from the fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
who always used to say great. Listen, Jeff.
I've taken up too much of your time.
It's been, it's been a joy. Thank you for meeting me.
So much for taking the time to speak to me today.
You want to because it is a tribute to this conversation.
Play Bud. Knocks entrance from goon again
because that was my favorite moment of the whole evening
doing blood, knocks entrance, I will do that.
I will, and I do I put clips and everything.
I will put that at the beginning.
Thanks again to Jeff. Thank you for listening.
Please rate review. Subscribe!
Go back and listen to all the old shows in the archive.
If you haven't heard them, please, spread the word
recommend to Two friends. Anyone who likes old British
comedy. This is the show for them.
Just a quick word about the Goon show preservation society, which
I haven't mentioned for some time.
Actually, please do join. If you haven't already become a
member, you get access to the mighty encyclopedia gonna kiss,
also, their quarterly newsletters.
There's also a brand new website due to be launched in the next
month. I think Duncan Gray has been
Putting together building a brand new fresh looking
state-of-the-art 21st century website for the dsps.
I've actually had a chance to have a look at some of it and
what's really good, what I've seen so far.
So I will keep you updated. On the progress of that, it
might even be up and running. By the time this show goes out,
so more information can be found.
If you follow the gunship preservation Society, Twitter
feed their, at the Asps. And, in the meantime, I will bid
you adieu and see you next week, with a brand new show, take care
of yourselves by