What a lovely man, the world is a sadder place without him.

After his air rifle prank, when he was "bound over" by the magistrate, "to keep the peace for 12 months," the reporters were waiting outside the court. The Press asked him, "What happened, Spike?" He said "The Judge said that I can't do it again for a year!"

Spike was a beautiful genius but also a simple soul. A man crushed by the idocy of mankind.

Say what you want about Spike but at least he is honest about being mad unlike the rest of the world that pretends to be sane.

Spike was one of the best philosophers I have heard.

Spike was a beautiful human. He chose not to conform and took the path of eccentricity which blessed us with wonderful memories. No doubt he was emotionally scarred from his war days. I so enjoyed this interview - especially Spikes view of the western world and obsession with materialism. Miss him loads. Dimbleby does a good job here - Spike was notoriously a difficult interviewee and he opened up so much here.

I've never seen Spike so serious. A fascinating example of his shrewd side. Deeply intelligent and ahead of his time when criticizing smokers. I empathise with his feelings towards people and society.

"When you look back on your life..." "I look sideways on my life. I've got a bad neck."

What a gentle man .

A totally honest man.If you want to see his grave it's in Winchelsea near Rye. God rest you Spike.

This whole interview was beautiful. Spike was so laid back and candid and very endearing. The guy is brilliant. I love his heart. The interviewer was spot on. The whole thing was such a joy to watch.

Spike Milligan, not a brilliant academic mind, but rather a genius intellect, a complicated " by the worlds' hypocrisy" man, but with huge empathy, compassion, and a heart bigger than most, all of this I learnt in one weekend with him, Sellers and Seecombe, who was a great friend of my Father, Harold Lake,and mother, Maureen Adair. A beautiful mind of note. He told me ' Martin my lad, don't ever enter show biz, we're all mad, don't know who we are, and are mostly queer".

Spike milligan a lovely human being i really do like his humour

Spike is lucky ,he doesn't live in the real world ,only his ,God bless

He behaved well in that one. A total legend. And a very authentic person.

I still miss Spike , he was part of my life since childhood, I only listened to the goons once , as i was young, then along came the telegoons , especially for me. I wrote to Spike in late 70s & got such a lovely reply , it made a great impression on me.. I believe I shall get to sit n chat with him one day in the great beyond & laugh & laugh & laugh. what a gift .

In his outrageous humour Mr M was already a long-standing hero of mine since my youth in the 50s but after this he moved up even further. What a thoroughly 'nice' man! Mad? Wish I was that mad! Wish that I'd known him. Wish that I could have thanked him for installing my own zany sense of humour. (Controlled Idiocy?) Spike did an ace job and it's still in good work order. "Milligan..His part in my maturing as a teenager!" Aided and Abetted by Sellers, Neddy Seagoon and Ben...Ben whom? Ben Teeeen, of course.

Is this the most interesting man ever? I think so.

My dad was spikes best friend in India when he was 10. Both born in India . My dad 1924

I’ve never actually heard him talking seriously like this before, but even 40 years after this interview his observations are still wonderfully accurate, poignant and relevant in 2017. I genuinely think he demonstrates some of the best traits in humanity while highlighting some of the worst.No fu##ing wonder he was depressed!!

Amazing. I have never seen Spike serious before. He's an extraordinary child.

My first time watching this interview. At the end i had tears in my eyes for such a Wonderful person telling their truth, warts and all.

A wonderful man full of integrity, plagued by self-awareness and fighting a battle to make sense of a world which does not.

A rigid David Dimbleby on Aptamil. Epic Spike! , a legend. RIP.

The amount of honest response in some of these older interviews is astonishing. Hugely ahead of his time, full of witt with his dark corners like every great comedian. He freed people's minds from convention.

What a great laid back interview. Pure genius. Very deep and sadly missed

ive never seen him so serious, i liked it when he laughed about Eccles.

Not been a Spike fan before but slowly being converted by this candid relaxed interview. His silly sense of humour through manic expressions of life and it’s ways in society attracts you to him. He is comical in his own world displaying to all his thoughts ,giggles of life. Not ever to be taken seriously! Not an idiot!! Breakdowns in his life have made him wiser!!! Thanks Spike for your imput in life and your ‘madness’ and comedy wisdom.

Even more so today - this interview is magical.

I think he was more of an example of what normal is.... he was authentic. Something that is greatly lacking in alot of people. He knew himself. How many know themselves? I feel an affinity with him. The man sitting across from him to me represents what's expected of people, expected to be straight laced, suited and booted following a narrative with out question. Spike's eyes, very expressive, deep but guarded and full of humour at times, a man full to the brim of ever changing emotions within, swirling about. He was very human and showed his many sides, that's a rare gift to the world. We all have many sides to us but are scared to let them show because of what society will say..... I'm glad for the likes of Spike Milligan he gives me courage to be my authentic self and to challenge my own narrative and that of society's. I agree its a beautiful thing when the wind changes.... such simplicity.

Mr milligan a very nice man with his head screwed on the correct way God bless him.This World is short of people like spike miss him and all his exentricities was a very talented man for his era.

Great man. Loved him. He was so right that we had a society of idiots. In 2022 we see the climax of this. The British Isles, including Ireland, are today on their last legs due to years of idiocy - especially in the career political/establishment classes.

WHAT AN AMAZING INTERVIEW. THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANY MORE. INCREDIBLY HONEST AND PENETRATING. HOW FASCINATING TO SEE THE 'REAL' SPIKE, OR RATHER, THE SIDE OF HIM THAT HE RARELY REVEALED. AN ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS JEWEL....PRICELESS.

Love this, there is something comforting in the imperfection it relates to us all and in some way I would not want is any other way. Thanks Mr Milligan for your honesty.

I would loved to have seen Peter Sellers interviewed in this format

He revered innocence. Gotta love that.

Wonderfully frank and honest interview. “It wasn’t me, it was her” typical spike retort, so why did she turn it around? You rose above all the grovelling, greedy, b@stards in life, you were a genius Spike! Thank you for putting the first Irishman in space and for filling my life with laughter.

How wonderful to hear Spike be serious in an interview for a change. At least as serious as he gets.

I was brought up on Q series. 8 years old to around 15. I just thought that sense of humour was normal. "Put it in the curry!" Genius, and a big hero of mine.

Dimbleby is a BBC clone who is accepted by the establishment as a "standard interviewer" In actual fact the whole Dimbleby Family were bred into being BBC/Establishment figures. When people like the Dimblebys come up against someone like Mr. Milligan, they are completely out of their depth. In my humble opinion Spike and the legion of comedians that he inspired, soar high above the intelligence level of the Average.

Spike Milligan was an extremely complex person later in life and turned more to writing, poetry and music to escape from the world around him, especially when attacks of deep depression were upon him. Although he was the main stay of the Goon Shows it was a terrible strain upon him, both physically and mentally.

This is gold. A sadly missed genius

Wow! What a great interview. They don’t make TV like this anymore but then we don’t have stars like Spike just reality celebrities.

Spike touches the Dimbleby nail on the head when he takes the skit turning his head to the side. Brilliant Spike. Thank you Spike 🌹

Jeezis - all the people ripped Spike to shreds in this. Must have been torturous for him, and he was clearly in a depression here to start with.

John Lennon ,spike Milligan ,Vincent Van Gogh ,three of my absolute heroes ,beautiful souls .

We all miss him so much.

I found this an insightful interview that would sadly never happen today. I loved the openness, honesty and at times shear vulnerability. Astounding compared to the inane TV interviews of today - which sadly I have been part of. Shame on me.

I so relate to this man.

Nobody could interview Milligan. He made all interviewers look banal and trite and pointless. And it wasn't because he was constantly hilarious. He had a sort of quiet charisma that radiated happiness and sadness in equal measure, as though they were the same thing, and then his occasional shafts of wit were more like light than words.

A candid and revealing interview with Milligan which deserved to be much longer. He was a deep man, perhaps too deep. I do miss the days when he and Peter Cook were alive and entertaining us.

I said the world was mad The world said I was mad Goddamnit, they outvoted me! Spike, the only sane one.

I never tire of watching Spike Milligan…national treasure !

I read the comments below and disagree with the criticisms. Dimbleby was the first man I've ever seen that was able to appreciate the man Milligan, and probe seriously for his heart. His questioning was tough. Spike interpreted 'evasion' correctly as 'moral cowardice,' but answered with brutal honesty. To me Mr Milligan came across as beautifully flawed and refreshingly humble for such a comedic icon. I agree with vvoodee that Spike was a 'treasure.' Kudos to David Dimbleby for doing justice to a difficult subject with rare insight. Bless you Spike Milligan. Thank you for your laughter. Now rest in peace.

I've never seen this before. Thanks for uploading 👍

Thanks for posting this very good interview - most interviews of Spike are in front of a TV audience. An opportunity to understand more about Spike as an individual.

Thanks for uploading. Love Spike. Very rare to see him being serious and candid.

Wonderful - many thanks for this - missed it at the time. Fabulous interview.

Just as relevant today, a lovely reminder of what a wonderfully thoughtful, humane, brilliant man Spike was.

This is fascinating, a rare insight into a comedy genius, many thanks for sharing.

1969, in Durban, South Africa, was where these pearls of wisdom were first offered, as genuine advice, and we'll meant......

I wonder why on earth 6 people down voted this video.Strange.

Loved it.....

Beautiful interview with a unique man.

That was very special. Great concept for the show and Dimbleby is an outstanding interviewer.

this is absolutely a brilliant interview

How marvellous! - so interesting to watch Spike and listen to those close to him. Funniest man at times - sad at others... I feel a kinship somehow with that guy. See you someday Spike, I hope! ... I met him once in Hastings at a poetry reading - funny and intelligent. Happy memories watching him.

Interesting interview series first broadcast in 1974. David Dimbleby best known for political interviewing, here attempts to delve beneath the surface of some well known personalities of the day. This was a series of seven interviews which included politicians Lords Longford, Hailsham and George Brown.The non political comprised of Spike, Malcolm Muggeridge, and Germaine Greer. Well worth repeating.

I love Spike. A very genuine guy.

"Some things you don´t find...it finds you" Rumi. Spike says exactly the same thing...great interview !

David Dimbleby was not up to the task of interviewing Spike and uneducated as he was, Spike seems to be far more intelligent than Dimbleby. and superior in his general understanding of life. A golden opportunity was lost here as it was rare to find Spike in a serious mood. Still it's very interesting.

God bless a beautiful troubled man who brought us so much lovely humour. God bless him.

A beautiful soul.

Lovely, lovely, beautiful and gentle genius.

When his serious face breaks into a grin - wonderful

The bankers in their war had spike drafted in under the military, And the bankers during peace had the overdrafts do him in under

A complicated man is Spike, but I love so many many elements of his intelligently simple psyche 😊

True sanity, bent by the ill-winds of consumerism. This is what happens to the sane in an insane world is all. Still a celebration of willpower, gifts and tenacity. And the healing joy of a laugh.

Spike's demeanour is possibly down to his Lithium, which levels off his bi-polarity. I'd have loved to have gone for a pint with him.

What a beautiful smile!

It's easy to feign madness when one is of privilege! Spike has had a taste of various lives and is truly one of lifes dancers!

I grew up listening to The Goons and particularly loved Spike. His contribution to British culture shaped even the royals. He was his own naysayer. In the early sixties I hitchhiked to London to see The Bedsitting Room which was being touted as funniest ever but couldn't afford the ticket. The absurdity fit the objective to goon around. Cheers Spike.

Miss this honest guy so much

A genius at every level, a poetic God at his best, to laugh with Spike, was to laugh at at life, he was a one off, and the mould is definitely broken. Sleep warm Spike, we all miss you. Clive & Pamela.

Whenever I listen to people like Spike, and other folk from that era, the Indian [sic] ‘colonies’ sound like wonderful and romantic places to have been born and raised (perhaps only if you were British?). But in any case it really does highlight just what an absolute mess we have collectively made of our world.

Spike was a man of character I would aspire too , He was sensitive and had to deal with awful matters , very much like we all do, I regard him as a brother , Funny beyond anything i could conceive, he made fun of the rubbish, fabulous man, He said waking up and seeing rain or another day was far more important , He was right!!

A really interesting interview - Spike was so ahead of his time, both as a human being and as a writer/performer. Where are the Spikes of today?

God gave us a God gifted human and he learned to laugh at himself and take us along with him for ever. I share his philosophy. Thank you.

He is right his work pursued him.

Dimbleby…is the straight man….in this double act. Spike was a joy of crazy humor which was unique😄….sure miss him…RIP 😔

Love the TV on the side ...

Just when I thought I could not possibly love this man any more than I already did he states this: "I didn't manufacture western society and I don't quite agree with it. I'm in it, BUT I LOCK MYSELF UP FOR DAYS ...I read books... Play music... ...and I DON'T NEED PEOPLE" "...The society that's been created is a very material one and happiness cannot be allied to materialism" My soul and his soul... We come from the same place I felt an instant love for this man long before I knew his personal views on anything... Something about him was "familiar" to me... Before I ever knew a thing about him personally.. He is literally the male version of me

Wow....GENIUS....funniest man ever.

his life with ptsd is insightful.

A really deep and insightful look into psyche of Spike Milligan. I love it that Spike opened up, but feel he was still hiding some of his demons and that he did not want to hang out too much of the dirty washing of his life in the interview for public scrutiny. His first wife in particular who left him because she simply could not cope with his mental instability that led up to a nervous breakdown was a wonderful woman who Spike by his own admission truly deeply loved. She was the love of Spike's life. Deep down inside Spike felt so much painful regret, remorse, and guilt for what he had put his wonderful wife through. Spike must have looked within himself and thought, 'Me. I did that. I was the one that drove that wonderful woman, the mother of my children, away. The woman I loved, the woman who meant everything to me in this life. Yes, it was me, I did that.' Considering himself a failure because of that stupidity, often wishing he could simply turn back the clock to put things to rights, must have gnawed on his conscious. Spikes second wife who died of cancer was not mentioned either, being another wonderful woman, and that too must have had a profound affect on him both emotionally and mentally. An intellectual eccentric none conformist, I liked Spikes viewpoint and can admire his desire to retreat from materialism into a world of simple living devoid of adults and more attune to children and nature. This is a retreat not so much from society or responsibility generally but as a means of alleviating high stress levels and disorder in his life that he had suffered from for years mainly due to others pressuring him beyond his capabilities leading him to spates of depression and mental instability. God bless Spike. He made his mistakes, but under the duress of intense pressure that caused him to mentally deteriorate. How refreshing it was that Spike recovered from his condition, realising its cause and directing his life to minimise a potential reoccurrence. On the whole Spike Milligan was a good man who stuck with his phenomenal talent, and who tried his best under very strenuous circumstances in his life not only for himself, but for his children and others. RIP Spike. Thank you for all you gave us. We miss you.

In my 30s and find myself watching due to his manic depression aka Bipolar. Have this myself and watched a few videos on him- can see the traits and like him on Lithium- . He died of Kidney failure- wonderif the Lithium done this which I fear as a known thing with Lithium

The wonderful Spike Milligan.

Spike was a clever man he should have gone to University easily

Utterly beguiling. His depth of pain, when it surfaces, seems to render him more childlike than he professes. His views about Western civilisation show the extent of his intellectual independence. Truly a multifaceted genius, in my humble opinion.

What a marvellous man..........Spike was ok too!😂😂😂