The Idiot Weekly

Background

Transcriptions of The Goon Show were broadcast on Australian radio from late 1955. When Spike Milligan visited his parents in Woy Woy in 1958, the Australian Broadcasting Commission signed him for a series of radio comedy broadcasts. They hoped for a local equivalent of The Goon Show with an Australian slant to it, but without Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe.

Format and characters

The format was very similar to The Goon Show, with Milligan recycling or adapting scripts and jokes for the new show. The show contained typical Goonish humour and some of Milligan's Goon Show characters, notably Eccles, made regular appearances. However it was distinctly Australian with plots translated to Australian locations and frequent references to topical events and Australian political figures of the time.

The closing credits were "a radio reading of The Idiot Weekly" with the actors credited as "Headlines by.." or "Cartoons by..." and the producer credited as a sub-editor.

Running gags

Many episodes include references to the perceived poor state of the ABC, usually by the announcer. For example, "This is the Australian Broadcasting Commission and it's going bald" or "This is the ABC, and the roof leaks". These are similar to The Goon Show's references to the BBC, e.g. "This is the BBC Home Service." (Coin dropped into charity tin) "Thank you."

Most episodes include references to Woy Woy.

Episode guide

1st Series

1. 1–1 June 3, 1958 2. 1–2 June 10, 1958 3. 1–3 June 17, 1958 4. 1–4 June 24, 1958 5. 1–5 July 1, 1958 6. 1–6 July 8, 1958 7. 1–7 July 15, 1958 8. 1–8 July 22, 1958 9. 1–9 July 29, 1958 10. 1–10 August 5, 1958 11. 1–11 August 12, 1958 The All Australian Leather Rocket 12. 1–12 August 19, 1958

The cast was Spike Milligan, John Bluthal, Bobby Limb, Michael Eisdell and Ray Barrett with music by Jim Gussey and the ABC Dance Orchestra. The producer was Max Greaves.

2nd Series

13. 2–1 June 30, 1959 Son of Andrea 14. 2–2 July 7, 1959 15. 2–3 July 14, 1959 16. 2–4 July 21, 1959 17. 2–5 July 28, 1959 18. 2–6 August 4, 1959 19. 2–7 August 11, 1959 20. 2–8 August 18, 1959 21. 2–9 August 25, 1959 22. 2–10 September 1, 1959 23. 2–11 September 8, 1959 The French Connection 24. 2–12 September 15, 1959 25. 2–13 September 22, 1959 The Australian Flag

Broadcast dates unknown: The Prime Minister's Trousers, The First Australian into Outer Woy Woy

The cast was Spike Milligan, Bobby Limb, John Bluthal, Peter Carver, Michael Eisdell, announcer Graham Connolly with music by Johnny Bamford (vibraphone), Bruce Findlay (vocals), Jim Gussey and the ABC Dance Orchestra. The producer was John McCloud.

3rd Series

26. 2–1 August 28, 1962 27. 2–2 September 4, 1962 28. 2–3 September 11, 1962 29. 2–4 September 18, 1962 30. 2–5 September 25, 1962 31. 2–6 October 2, 1962 32. 2–7 October 9, 1962 33. 2–8 October 16, 1962 34. 2–9 October 23, 1962 35. 2–10 October 30, 1962 36. 2–11 November 6, 1962 37. 2–12 November 13, 1962 38. 2–13 November 20, 1962

Broadcast dates unknown: The Ashes, The King's Bridge Saga, The American Cup, The World's Greatest Adventure, The Spon Plague, King's Cross - The East Berlin of Australia, The Great Christmas Pudding, The Flying Dustman of the Outback.

The cast was Spike Milligan, John Ewart, Ric Hutton, Paul Westerman, Al Thomas, Michael Eisdell, announcer Peter Young with music by Patricia Ridgeway (vocals), Dudley Stapleton (piano), Jim Gussey and the ABC Dance Orchestra. The producer was John McCloud.

Recordings

Sadly the ABC did not keep all the episodes but a few recordings do survive. Some episodes were recorded off air onto acetate and are held in the archives of The Goon Show Preservation Society and in private collections.

Known surviving recordings are:
Season 1 - Program from 8 July 1958 (partial), The All Australian Leather Rocket (complete).
Season 2 - Son of Andrea (complete), The First Australian into Outer Woy Woy (with audience warm up), The Prime Minister's Trousers (complete with audience warm up), The French Connection (rehearsal), The Australian Flag (complete)
Season 3 - The Ashes (off air recording without music), The King's Bridge Saga (off air recording without music), The American Cup (complete), The World's Greatest Adventure, The Spon Plague, King's Cross - The East Berlin of Australia (without music), The Great Christmas Pudding, The Flying Dustman of the Outback (off air recording without music).

Adaptations and audio releases

Two episodes from Series 3, The Ashes and The Flying Dustman of the Outback, were released on Parlophone LP (PMEO 9376) in 1962.

Six episodes were remade by the BBC as The Omar Khayyam Show.