Larry Stephens
@lsggbg.bsky.social
Writer for Goon Show & Tony Hancock. Commando Captain. Deaded in 1959 so posts channelled by my cousin.
HARRY: I'm Harry Secombe.
PETER: Secombe? How do you spell it?
HARRY: S. M. I. T. H.
PETER: Why do you spell it like that?
HARRY: I'm in disguise.
(Goon Show S4 E1, 2 Oct 1953. Script by Spike Milligan & Larry Stephens.)
PETER: Secombe? How do you spell it?
HARRY: S. M. I. T. H.
PETER: Why do you spell it like that?
HARRY: I'm in disguise.
(Goon Show S4 E1, 2 Oct 1953. Script by Spike Milligan & Larry Stephens.)
October 2, 2025 at 8:39 AM
HARRY: I'm Harry Secombe.
PETER: Secombe? How do you spell it?
HARRY: S. M. I. T. H.
PETER: Why do you spell it like that?
HARRY: I'm in disguise.
(Goon Show S4 E1, 2 Oct 1953. Script by Spike Milligan & Larry Stephens.)
PETER: Secombe? How do you spell it?
HARRY: S. M. I. T. H.
PETER: Why do you spell it like that?
HARRY: I'm in disguise.
(Goon Show S4 E1, 2 Oct 1953. Script by Spike Milligan & Larry Stephens.)
Reposted by Larry Stephens
I'm genuinely thrilled to discover that an episode of The Army Game written by my Larry Stephens @lsggbg.bsky.social with Maurice Wiltshire has been uploaded to ITVX as part of the 70th birthday celebrations
September 23, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I'm genuinely thrilled to discover that an episode of The Army Game written by my Larry Stephens @lsggbg.bsky.social with Maurice Wiltshire has been uploaded to ITVX as part of the 70th birthday celebrations
NED: A house!
BLOODNOK: It's a mirage.
NED: Nonsense... Let's go in. Eccles - search the house for food... Oh! It's vanished. You were right - a mirage.
BLOODNOK: I told you.
ECCLES: AHHHHH!
FX: CRASH OF BODY
BLOODNOK: What happened?
ECCLES: I was upstairs.
(Vintage Goons, 22 Sep 1958)
BLOODNOK: It's a mirage.
NED: Nonsense... Let's go in. Eccles - search the house for food... Oh! It's vanished. You were right - a mirage.
BLOODNOK: I told you.
ECCLES: AHHHHH!
FX: CRASH OF BODY
BLOODNOK: What happened?
ECCLES: I was upstairs.
(Vintage Goons, 22 Sep 1958)
September 22, 2025 at 8:09 AM
NED: A house!
BLOODNOK: It's a mirage.
NED: Nonsense... Let's go in. Eccles - search the house for food... Oh! It's vanished. You were right - a mirage.
BLOODNOK: I told you.
ECCLES: AHHHHH!
FX: CRASH OF BODY
BLOODNOK: What happened?
ECCLES: I was upstairs.
(Vintage Goons, 22 Sep 1958)
BLOODNOK: It's a mirage.
NED: Nonsense... Let's go in. Eccles - search the house for food... Oh! It's vanished. You were right - a mirage.
BLOODNOK: I told you.
ECCLES: AHHHHH!
FX: CRASH OF BODY
BLOODNOK: What happened?
ECCLES: I was upstairs.
(Vintage Goons, 22 Sep 1958)
GLENDENNING: Determined to be the first man to fly, Pureheart climbed to the top of a tower & flapping his feathered wings, jumped off.
TIM: That day a new word was introduced to the language of science.
PUREHEART: Yes - crutches.
(Crazy People S1 E17, 20 Sep 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
TIM: That day a new word was introduced to the language of science.
PUREHEART: Yes - crutches.
(Crazy People S1 E17, 20 Sep 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
September 20, 2025 at 8:37 AM
GLENDENNING: Determined to be the first man to fly, Pureheart climbed to the top of a tower & flapping his feathered wings, jumped off.
TIM: That day a new word was introduced to the language of science.
PUREHEART: Yes - crutches.
(Crazy People S1 E17, 20 Sep 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
TIM: That day a new word was introduced to the language of science.
PUREHEART: Yes - crutches.
(Crazy People S1 E17, 20 Sep 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
Reposted by Larry Stephens
Tony Hancock married Cicely Romanis on 18 Sep 1950. Here's a photo of him on the day with his Best Man, Larry Stephens.
September 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Tony Hancock married Cicely Romanis on 18 Sep 1950. Here's a photo of him on the day with his Best Man, Larry Stephens.
Tony Hancock married Cicely Romanis on 18 Sep 1950. Here's a photo of him on the day with his Best Man, Larry Stephens.
September 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Tony Hancock married Cicely Romanis on 18 Sep 1950. Here's a photo of him on the day with his Best Man, Larry Stephens.
MILLIGAN: I cut my finger opening a tin of beans.
SELLERS: You must use a tin opener in future.
(Crazy People S1 E16, 13 Sep 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
SELLERS: You must use a tin opener in future.
(Crazy People S1 E16, 13 Sep 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
September 13, 2025 at 6:37 AM
MILLIGAN: I cut my finger opening a tin of beans.
SELLERS: You must use a tin opener in future.
(Crazy People S1 E16, 13 Sep 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
SELLERS: You must use a tin opener in future.
(Crazy People S1 E16, 13 Sep 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
ECCLES: Hulloo there! Everybody! Look at me!
NED: I say, Eccles - 1st class! How did you get ashore?
ECCLES: I walked across this log!
NED: You fool! That's an alligator!
ECCLES: Oh! I wondered why my leg kept getting shorter!
(Crazy People S1 E15, 6 Sep 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
NED: I say, Eccles - 1st class! How did you get ashore?
ECCLES: I walked across this log!
NED: You fool! That's an alligator!
ECCLES: Oh! I wondered why my leg kept getting shorter!
(Crazy People S1 E15, 6 Sep 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
September 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
ECCLES: Hulloo there! Everybody! Look at me!
NED: I say, Eccles - 1st class! How did you get ashore?
ECCLES: I walked across this log!
NED: You fool! That's an alligator!
ECCLES: Oh! I wondered why my leg kept getting shorter!
(Crazy People S1 E15, 6 Sep 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
NED: I say, Eccles - 1st class! How did you get ashore?
ECCLES: I walked across this log!
NED: You fool! That's an alligator!
ECCLES: Oh! I wondered why my leg kept getting shorter!
(Crazy People S1 E15, 6 Sep 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
Reposted by Larry Stephens
Arena: The Peter Sellers Story
"The first of three films presenting a portrait of one of the world's greatest comic actors, tracing his life from childhood to a successful post-war career with the Goons and more."
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
"The first of three films presenting a portrait of one of the world's greatest comic actors, tracing his life from childhood to a successful post-war career with the Goons and more."
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
September 3, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Arena: The Peter Sellers Story
"The first of three films presenting a portrait of one of the world's greatest comic actors, tracing his life from childhood to a successful post-war career with the Goons and more."
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
"The first of three films presenting a portrait of one of the world's greatest comic actors, tracing his life from childhood to a successful post-war career with the Goons and more."
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
WAITRESS: Are you from HQ?
JONES: Yes.
W: Identify yourself.
J: Z076B.
W: Right. What do you want?
J: Is it safe to talk here?
W: Yes. What do you want?
J: Are you sure?
W: Quite sure.
J: Right... Beans on toast.
(Crazy People S1 E14, 30 Aug 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens and Grafton.)
JONES: Yes.
W: Identify yourself.
J: Z076B.
W: Right. What do you want?
J: Is it safe to talk here?
W: Yes. What do you want?
J: Are you sure?
W: Quite sure.
J: Right... Beans on toast.
(Crazy People S1 E14, 30 Aug 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens and Grafton.)
August 30, 2025 at 6:52 AM
WAITRESS: Are you from HQ?
JONES: Yes.
W: Identify yourself.
J: Z076B.
W: Right. What do you want?
J: Is it safe to talk here?
W: Yes. What do you want?
J: Are you sure?
W: Quite sure.
J: Right... Beans on toast.
(Crazy People S1 E14, 30 Aug 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens and Grafton.)
JONES: Yes.
W: Identify yourself.
J: Z076B.
W: Right. What do you want?
J: Is it safe to talk here?
W: Yes. What do you want?
J: Are you sure?
W: Quite sure.
J: Right... Beans on toast.
(Crazy People S1 E14, 30 Aug 1951. Script by Milligan, Stephens and Grafton.)
Reposted by Larry Stephens
GSPS magazine no. 190 is out now, folks! If you're not a member yet, why not join today?
goonshow.org/gsps/join/
goonshow.org/gsps/join/
August 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
GSPS magazine no. 190 is out now, folks! If you're not a member yet, why not join today?
goonshow.org/gsps/join/
goonshow.org/gsps/join/
NOSDROVIAN: Are you Dr Jones, the eminent brain specialist?
JONES: Yes - but business is bad in England.
NOSDROVIAN: No work?
JONES: No brains.
(Crazy People S1 E13, 23 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
JONES: Yes - but business is bad in England.
NOSDROVIAN: No work?
JONES: No brains.
(Crazy People S1 E13, 23 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
August 23, 2025 at 6:36 AM
NOSDROVIAN: Are you Dr Jones, the eminent brain specialist?
JONES: Yes - but business is bad in England.
NOSDROVIAN: No work?
JONES: No brains.
(Crazy People S1 E13, 23 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
JONES: Yes - but business is bad in England.
NOSDROVIAN: No work?
JONES: No brains.
(Crazy People S1 E13, 23 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
Reposted by Larry Stephens
We are absolutely delighted that Hancock's first TV sketch series, The Tony Hancock Show, broadcast live on AR-TV in 1956 and never repeated, is going to be seen again thanks to Rewind TV. Written by Eric Sykes and Larry Stephens, cast includes June Whitfield, Clive Dunn and Dick Emery
August 19, 2025 at 6:05 PM
We are absolutely delighted that Hancock's first TV sketch series, The Tony Hancock Show, broadcast live on AR-TV in 1956 and never repeated, is going to be seen again thanks to Rewind TV. Written by Eric Sykes and Larry Stephens, cast includes June Whitfield, Clive Dunn and Dick Emery
Reposted by Larry Stephens
Like that episode, it's by Milligan's regular co-writer Larry Stephens. I think we underrate Stephens' importance to the Goons, because we know Milligan's personality and can see it all over the show. But episodes like this show he was well capable of carrying the style and humour solo. #GoonForARun
August 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Like that episode, it's by Milligan's regular co-writer Larry Stephens. I think we underrate Stephens' importance to the Goons, because we know Milligan's personality and can see it all over the show. But episodes like this show he was well capable of carrying the style and humour solo. #GoonForARun
PORRIDGE: How long have we been marching, Spalding?
SPALDING: Six hours, sir. And I think the horses are tired.
PORRIDGE: What makes you say that?
SPALDING: They're wearing pyjamas, sir.
(Crazy People S1 E12, 16 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
SPALDING: Six hours, sir. And I think the horses are tired.
PORRIDGE: What makes you say that?
SPALDING: They're wearing pyjamas, sir.
(Crazy People S1 E12, 16 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
August 16, 2025 at 6:30 AM
PORRIDGE: How long have we been marching, Spalding?
SPALDING: Six hours, sir. And I think the horses are tired.
PORRIDGE: What makes you say that?
SPALDING: They're wearing pyjamas, sir.
(Crazy People S1 E12, 16 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
SPALDING: Six hours, sir. And I think the horses are tired.
PORRIDGE: What makes you say that?
SPALDING: They're wearing pyjamas, sir.
(Crazy People S1 E12, 16 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
To whoever has sent me a Chat: I'm afraid I'm unable to read it without going through age verification which is something I shan't be doing
August 16, 2025 at 6:28 AM
To whoever has sent me a Chat: I'm afraid I'm unable to read it without going through age verification which is something I shan't be doing
Reposted by Larry Stephens
The Goon Show Preservation Society will be at the @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social Festival of Film & TV Roadshow in Hebden Bridge on 13th October. Have a good day out and come say hello to us, all in one.
goonshow.org/2025/08/13/t...
goonshow.org/2025/08/13/t...
Come see us with TPTV in Hebden Bridge
In June this year, an episode of The Footage Detectives on Talking Pictures TV was a Goon Show Special which featured our own Mark Cousins and some rare bits of Goon Madness film featuring Harry Se…
goonshow.org
August 14, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The Goon Show Preservation Society will be at the @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social Festival of Film & TV Roadshow in Hebden Bridge on 13th October. Have a good day out and come say hello to us, all in one.
goonshow.org/2025/08/13/t...
goonshow.org/2025/08/13/t...
BENTINE: Who do you think is going to find the money for such a hare-brained, fly-by-night, utterly idiotic scheme?
SELLERS: Who? The British government of course!
(Crazy People S1 E11, 9 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
SELLERS: Who? The British government of course!
(Crazy People S1 E11, 9 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
August 9, 2025 at 6:28 AM
BENTINE: Who do you think is going to find the money for such a hare-brained, fly-by-night, utterly idiotic scheme?
SELLERS: Who? The British government of course!
(Crazy People S1 E11, 9 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
SELLERS: Who? The British government of course!
(Crazy People S1 E11, 9 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton.)
JONES: For a week now I've been seeing black spots in front of my eyes.
HERSCHEL: Have you seen a psychiatrist?
JONES: No - only black spots.
(Crazy People S1 E10, 2 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
HERSCHEL: Have you seen a psychiatrist?
JONES: No - only black spots.
(Crazy People S1 E10, 2 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
August 2, 2025 at 8:11 AM
JONES: For a week now I've been seeing black spots in front of my eyes.
HERSCHEL: Have you seen a psychiatrist?
JONES: No - only black spots.
(Crazy People S1 E10, 2 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
HERSCHEL: Have you seen a psychiatrist?
JONES: No - only black spots.
(Crazy People S1 E10, 2 Aug 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens & Jimmy Grafton.)
NED: I transferred to the Cavalry & began training. 6 weeks of trotting, cantering & jumping. Arriving back from a 30-mile cross-country gallop we heard the news we'd been waiting for.
SPIKE: Men, tomorrow... We're being issued with horses!
(Crazy People 23 Jul 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
SPIKE: Men, tomorrow... We're being issued with horses!
(Crazy People 23 Jul 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
July 23, 2025 at 7:21 AM
NED: I transferred to the Cavalry & began training. 6 weeks of trotting, cantering & jumping. Arriving back from a 30-mile cross-country gallop we heard the news we'd been waiting for.
SPIKE: Men, tomorrow... We're being issued with horses!
(Crazy People 23 Jul 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
SPIKE: Men, tomorrow... We're being issued with horses!
(Crazy People 23 Jul 1951 by Milligan, Stephens & Grafton)
JONES: My family are huntin', shootin' and fishin' people.
HERSCHEL: Landed gentry?
JONES: No. Poachers.
(Crazy People S1 E8, 16 Jul 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
HERSCHEL: Landed gentry?
JONES: No. Poachers.
(Crazy People S1 E8, 16 Jul 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
July 16, 2025 at 7:24 AM
JONES: My family are huntin', shootin' and fishin' people.
HERSCHEL: Landed gentry?
JONES: No. Poachers.
(Crazy People S1 E8, 16 Jul 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
HERSCHEL: Landed gentry?
JONES: No. Poachers.
(Crazy People S1 E8, 16 Jul 1951. Script by Spike Milligan, Larry Stephens and Jimmy Grafton)
I'd like to wish you all a bostin #BlackCountryDay! Here, have a photo of some pork scratchings to help you celebrate!
July 14, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I'd like to wish you all a bostin #BlackCountryDay! Here, have a photo of some pork scratchings to help you celebrate!
Reposted by Larry Stephens
Here's my review of the Larry Stephens biography. 😀 @thegsps.bsky.social
It’s All In The Mind by Julie Warren
It’s All In The Mind: the Life & Legacy of Larry Stephens by Julie Warren As a fan of the highly esteemed Goon Show, I was delighted to see that a biography of Larry Stephens – a name I o…
stephenpalmersf.wordpress.com
June 16, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Here's my review of the Larry Stephens biography. 😀 @thegsps.bsky.social
Reposted by Larry Stephens
Being part of the whole Unbound saga has not been fun; one consolation has been the support of the many other authors involved.
And so, in that spirit, we've put together a list of some of the great books that now need publishers and agents. Please do share!
open.substack.com/pub/therebou...
And so, in that spirit, we've put together a list of some of the great books that now need publishers and agents. Please do share!
open.substack.com/pub/therebou...
June 10, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Being part of the whole Unbound saga has not been fun; one consolation has been the support of the many other authors involved.
And so, in that spirit, we've put together a list of some of the great books that now need publishers and agents. Please do share!
open.substack.com/pub/therebou...
And so, in that spirit, we've put together a list of some of the great books that now need publishers and agents. Please do share!
open.substack.com/pub/therebou...
Reposted by Larry Stephens
Incredibly honoured to be performing 'Goon Show' material written for Peter Sellers by the legendary Galton & Simpson as part of @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social on 8th June. I'll be the first actor to perform this material since their original broadcast in 1954!
www.comedy.co.uk/radio/fyi/83...
www.comedy.co.uk/radio/fyi/83...
Goon Show scripts for Peter Sellers found by University of York - British Comedy Guide
Previously lost Goon Show material for Peter Sellers has been uncovered in the personal archive of comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, held at the University of York.
www.comedy.co.uk
June 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Incredibly honoured to be performing 'Goon Show' material written for Peter Sellers by the legendary Galton & Simpson as part of @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social on 8th June. I'll be the first actor to perform this material since their original broadcast in 1954!
www.comedy.co.uk/radio/fyi/83...
www.comedy.co.uk/radio/fyi/83...