The Starlings

In 1954 the Goons produced a special show without an audience which is considered by many to be an absolute classic, but by others as a rather muted curio. The Starlings preceded the start of the fifth series of the Goon Show by a month and in some ways showcased the direction the show was to take. A satire based on actual attempts by local councils across the country to rid their public buildings and spaces of starlings, it was presented as a radio play but lacked some of the wilder excesses that Goons fans would come to expect. On the podcast this week is Jeremy Phillips, host of the Cinema Limbo podcast, who joined Tyler to discuss The Starlings. As well as asking if the show works without an audience (no spoilers), we look at some of the slight departures from character continuity and examine the ‘controversial’ scenes that had BBC executives at the time fanning their armpits with fury. Also: Ray Ellington on an errand of mercy, Seagoon vs Pureheart, Happy Holidays featuring Peter Sellers… and we almost come to blows over whether it was Secombe or Bentine who was touring with Sellers in late 1954. Please follow Jeremy @cinema_limbo and Goon Pod @goonshowpod on the appropriately named Twitter