Description

As creative force of The Goon Show, Spike Milligan was the architect of the lunatic style of humour that permeates the best-loved performances of Peter Sellers; a friend and colleague who Milligan considered: “one of the true comedy greats of the 20th century. He can hold his head up with the very best.”

And it is the comic genius of Peter Sellers that is the driving passion of this book. A labour of love by Robert Ross, Britain’s Comedy Historian, in which the well-documented wealth, wives, and weirdness of Peter’s personal life is referenced only when it fully impacts his happiest place: as an interpretive, dedicated, truthful actor.

Whether it is Doctor Strangelove; Inspector Clouseau; or Chance the Gardener, Sellers had the conviction and the control to become his characters.

It’s a legacy of laughter which still holds the world bewitched and enthralled; a legacy here put into historical and comical context.

AUTHOR

Robert Ross is the leading authority on British Comedy. Beginning with The Carry On Companion, in 1996, he has written a library of books including in depth celebrations; The Monty  Python Encyclopedia, The Goodies Rule OK, Forgotten Heroes of Comedy, Official BBC tributes to Fawlty Towers, Last of the Summer  Wine and Steptoe & Son, and acclaimed biographies dedicated to Marty Feldman and Sid James. Most recently, Robert was the co-author of The Carry On Girls which was named as Book of the Week in the Daily Mail in January 2024. He is a frequent face on television, appearing on such diverse programmes as the BBC News, Blue Peter, Ronnie Corbett: His 30 Funniest Moments, Sir Bruce Forsyth: Mr. Entertainment, Richard & Judy, When Classic Comedy Goes Horribly Wrong, The Barbara Windsor Story, and Norman Wisdom: His Story. Robert is the founder  and chair of Write On Comedy. He is thrilled to be able to finally pay tribute to Peter Sellers, a comedy hero for as long as he can remember.