Goon but not forgotten

Tributes to a comic genius

"It is hard to see Spike's parting as anything other than the end of a great era of British comedy. I shall miss his irreverent and hysterical presence and can only say that the world really will be the poorer for his departure."
Prince Charles

"If there is a definition of genius it is that whatever province you are in, you leave it different. He left comedy different and it was never the same after him."
Stephen Fry

"The godfather of alternative comedy. He was a great man. A crazy, wonderful genius."
Eddie Izzard

"Spike broke down a lot of barriers with The Goon Shows. I felt anything could happen in that half hour. Spike was a good satirist. He had a very, very clear awareness of the absurdity of human life."
Michael Palin

"[His death] sounds like attention-seeking behaviour to me."
Paul Whitehouse

"A natural talent. You cannot define such humour or genius."
Michael Parkinson

"A comic genius. An icon. A legend. There will never be another Spike. He broke the mould. Spike blazed the trail. People like Eddie Izzard and Paul Merton have taken the beacon and run with it."
Nicholas Parsons

"He was probably the father figure of British comedy in the latter part of the last century."
Terry Wogan

"I couldn't believe it was a success. I had never been anything but a trumpet player."
Spike Milligan on The Goons

"I don't mind dying. I just dont want to be there when it happens"
Spike Milligan

Spike Milligan dies