A new documentary will delve into a treasure trove of recently unearthed archive to tell a brand-new story of Spike Milligan.

Film, scripts, letters, objects, photographs, recordings, art – they all come together to paint a portrait of a comic genius. But one plagued by crippling mental illness, insecurity, and an enduring lifetime struggle to reinvent what comedy could be.

The archive takes us on a surreal and revelatory journey into Spike Milligan’s brain. Key pieces of archive will be jumping off points to explore a part of his character or specific chapter in his life. These range from an unpublished play called ‘The Snow Goose’ that Spike returned to again and again after it was rejected by the BBC; home movies of sunny afternoons in the paddling pool; through to a simple annotated envelope that read: I went into the now overgrown garden in 127 Holden Rd. I found this little toy… I broke down and cried. I feel I wanted those yesterdays with the children to come back. 

This will be the story of Spike Milligan …. In his own words.

Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive - 7th December at 9pm on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW.