The International Christmas Pudding
| "The International Christmas Pudding" | |
|---|---|
| The Goon Show episode | |
| Episode: no. | Series: 6 Episode: 9 |
| Written by | Spike Milligan |
| Announcer | Wallace Greenslade |
| Produced by | Peter Eton |
| Music |
|
| Recording Number | TBU 52103 (changed from TLO 90462) |
| First broadcast | 15 November 1955 |
| Running time | 29:24 |
The International Christmas Pudding (announced as The Great International Christmas Pudding) is an episode from The Goon Show. It is the nineth show in the sixth series. The show was recorded at 9pm on Sunday 13 November 1955. The recording took place at the Camden Theatre, Camden Town, London.
The first British public broadcast was on the Home Service on Tuesday 15 November 1955 at 8.30pm. It reached a peak listenership of 3.0m.
| Day | Date | Time | Ratings | Station | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 19 November 1955 | 7.30pm | 2.3m | Light Programme | |
| Tuesday | 10 April 1956 | 8.30pm | 2.6m | Home Service | |
| Friday | 28 February 1975 | 6.15pm | 0.6m | Radio 4 | Encore the Goons; Not Scotland or Wales |
| Wednesday | 26 December 1984 | 1.05pm | Radio 4 | in Smash of the Day | |
| Friday | 25 December 1987 | 4pm | Radio 2 | ||
| Thursday | 25 December 1997 | 3pm | Radio 2 | in Classic Comedy: Pick of the Goons |
Transcription Service Remake Synopsis
The year is 1848. A discovery of the utmost importance has been made in the Sudan - a fossilised fragment of the Great International Christmas Pudding which was struck by lightning in the year 562BC has been recovered. A member of the House of Commons, alert to anything that will raise the falling prestige of the country, suggests that if all the portions of this emblem of international goodwill and understanding could be re-assembled and set up in some appropriate spot, it could be a turning point in Britain's history. Filled with patriotic pride and enthusiasm, Neddie Seagoon, the eccentric millionaire, mounts an expedition to seek the last fragments.
Music
- The BBC Radio Orchestra was conducted by Wally Stott
- Max Geldray plays Me and My Gal (George W. Meyer / Edgar Leslie / E. Ray Goetz)
- The Ray Ellington Quartet plays The Crocodile Crawl (Sam Coslow)
Technical
Originally recorded on TBU 52103 (changed from TLO 90462) (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at Broadcasting House). This tape still exists, but is as cut for the POTG issue, and the cuts were not kept; this issue is therefore compiled from this tape, the TGS master tape and a domestic tape recording. A snatch of studio atmosphere and a few words from Wallace Greenslade, found on the TLO, appear on disc 7 of the Compendium Vol 3 collection.[1]
References
- ^ Kendall, Ted (2009). The Goon Show Compendium Vol 3 (Booklet 2). BBC Worldwide. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4084-1044-8.
