Perspectives: Sergeant On Spike
- TV documentary
- ITV1
- 2012
- 1 episode
Broadcaster John Sergeant delves into the influence of Spike Milligan both on himself, and on the whole nation. Features John Sergeant, Eddie Izzard, Michael Palin, Esther Rantzen, Noel Fielding and more.
Press clippings
Are the Goons still funny in 2012? I wouldn't have thought so, but it was a question John Sergeant seemed determined to answer in the affirmative in Sergeant on Spike (ITV1), even if it meant forcing a class of primary schoolchildren to sit through half an hour of them. Sergeant's verdict - that they were all laughing their heads off by the end - didn't quite chime with the puzzled looks on my TV - but heigh-ho. Sergeant, out and about in a tweed bucket hat, was amusing in his own right, walking backwards in Marylebone station (with Spike's I'm Walking Backwards for Christmas playing in his head) to the visible concern of commuters. Much of the programme was about Spike Milligan's zany genius, but also how difficult he could be. Did Spike's own children find him funny? There was no word from them.
Phil Hogan, The Observer, 15th April 2012Sergeant on Spike, ITV1, review
Christopher Howse reviews Sergeant on Spike, the latest instalment of ITV1's Perspectives arts strand in which John Sergeant explores the influence of Spike Milligan on his life.
Christopher Howse, The Telegraph, 9th April 2012Perspectives: Sergeant on Spike, ITV1
Shallow documentary on the late Goon leaves grave stones unturned.
Ash Smyth, The Arts Desk, 9th April 2012The life and career of Spike Milligan has been incredibly well-documented over the years. We know about the scars left by war, the misanthropy, the depression and the freaky and original humour. It's hard to argue that this John Sergeant-helmed doc adds very much to the world's sum of Milligan-knowledge but it's watchable enough all the same. Sergeant, in news that won't be particularly surprising to Strictly fans, began his career as a comedian. He's always been in awe of Milligan and here, he visits a few of Spike's old haunts and chats to the likes of Michael Palin, Noel Fielding and Esther Rantzen. Finally, he plays The Goon Show to a classroom of modern kids to see if Milligan's comedy stylings still cut the mustard. And cheeringly, it seems that they do.
Phil Harrison, Time Out, 8th April 2012Spike Milligan accused Monty Python of plagiarism
Michael Palin has revealed Spike Milligan once accused Monty Python of "plagiarism".
The Sun, 6th April 2012