The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d

The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d was the first real attempt to translate the humour of The Goon Show to television. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion during 1956 and was broadcast only in the London area.

This article is about the British television series. For the Australian radio series, see The Idiot Weekly.

The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d
Written byDave Freeman, John Junkin, Spike Milligan, Terry Nation, Eric Sykes
StarringPeter Sellers
Spike Milligan
Eric Sykes
Valentine Dyall
Kenneth Connor
Graham Stark
June Whitfield
Patti Lewis
Max Geldray
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes6
Production
Running time30 minutes per episode
Release
Original networkAssociated-Rediffusion
ITV
Original release24 February (1956-02-24) –
30 March 1956 (1956-03-30)

It combined elements of a sitcom and sketch comedy with Peter Sellers as the editor of a tatty Victorian newspaper, The Idiot Weekly. The headlines of the paper were used as links to comedy sketches.[1]

Although written mainly by Spike Milligan, there were many contributions from members of Associated London Scripts, the writers' co-operative, including Dave Freeman and Terry Nation. Eric Sykes was credited as the script editor. The series was produced and directed by Richard Lester.[2]

It was followed by A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred.[3] The title was revived by Spike Milligan for his Australian radio series The Idiot Weekly which ran from 1958.

References
  1. Marcus, Laurence. "The Idiot Weekly (Priced 2d)". Television Heaven.
  2. "The Idiot Weekly Price 2d [24/02/56] (1956)". BFI. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018.
  3. "Idiot Weekly, Price 2d, The – Nostalgia Central". nostalgiacentral.com. 21 September 2014.
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