The Last Goon Show of All - Topical Jokes

Topical Jokes

As with the original series, references to contemporary events are heard in the show, and with the passage of time the significance of the references has faded. For instance, at one point Neddie declares that he must get Bluebottle's photographs back "before Bryan Forbes turns them into a novelty!" This was a reference to the recently published first novel (The Distant Laughter) by the film director Forbes. The novel had been received with derision in certain quarters, notably in Private Eye.

There are other references to Private Eye and its humour to be heard. At the time the magazine was popular and was celebrating its tenth anniversary. During the warmup Secombe jokes that he is broadcasting "live via satellite from Neasden", a reference to the all-purpose urban location used in Private Eye's parodies and fake news articles. There is also the reference to "Grocer" Heath, using the magazine's sobriquet for the then Prime Minister.