I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan (ATOM Study Guide)

I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan is a documentary film suitable for senior secondary students. This personal portrait of Spike Milligan, as seen through the eyes of his brother, three daughters and third wife, reveals the multifaceted personality of this comic genius. For the first time, his family have opened up their archives to reveal Spike as a brilliant, tortured and visionary man who trod a thin line between brilliance and debilitating depression.

Spike's story reveals a remarkable professional life as a performer and comedy writer, teaming up with Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine. The Goon Show became an international sensation. Spike was eighty-three years old when he died, leaving behind a complex web of relationships. The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan adds a new chapter to the longstanding debate about the connections between creativity and manic depression (now known as bipolar disorder).

Curriculum Links:
I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan could have application and relevance to senior secondary classes in:

• English
• Media
• Health
• Performance Studies