Mark Thomas

Comedian, satirist and writer Mark Thomas has been holding the establishment to account for over thirty years through television, radio, live shows and activism, using comedy to expose often outrageous political and corporate abuses of power and influence.

Mark joined Tyler on the pod this week to talk about The Goon Show and Spike Milligan in particular, whose rebellious nature and healthy distrust of authority helped inform his worldview. He talks of first meeting Milligan on the C4 show Saturday Zoo in 1993 where he almost did himself a mischief heaving several bags of books up some stairs for a bemused Spike to sign.

He also talks candidly about his dad (a huge Spike fan) with great affection - a strong-willed, larger-than-life patriarch who would often wind down after a long-day’s graft by dropping his trousers to watch comedy like Steptoe & Son on the telly. Mark inherited his love of the Goons from his dad and from the many family friends and local characters who were such an indelible part of his formative years. Goon jokes and catchphrases were staples of everyday conversation and in trying to nail down what it was that made the show so important Mark reveals how listening to the Goons helped him cope with periods of being away from home at a young age.

Alongside Goon-related chat Mark talks about:

Sneaking into arts venues as a schoolboy to watch contemporary performative dance; cracking up in Kerala; the Art of Devilment; meeting David Amess MP dressed as a giant bear; writing for Dave Allen; Nicholas Soames and his three-tier mahogany buffet with partially reeded slender balustrade upright supports; dancing to Donovan with Nellie Boswell from Bread

… And much more! Please follow the podcast on Twitter @ goonshowpod and rate and review on iTunes!