Spike Milligan is one of the UK's most popular comic writers, with numerous books, television and radio scripts to his name.

Last year his nonsense verse On The Ning Nang Nong was voted the nation's favourite poem and he is also the favourite comic of Prince Charles, whose 50th birthday party he attended last year. This was despite once accusing the prince of grovelling at an awards ceremony.

Spike Milligan became a BBC radio star in the 1950s with the Goon Show. He wrote the scripts and starred with fellow goons Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. The show became a national institution.

His books include Silly Verse for Kids, the novel Puckoon and best-selling World War II biography Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall.

Your Top 10 Funniest People:

1. Spike Milligan
2. John Cleese
3. Billy Connolly
4. Charlie Chaplin
5. Rowan Atkinson
6. Peter Cook
7. Laurel and Hardy
8. Peter Sellers
9. Lucille Ball
10. Eric Morecambe

What you have said:
Spike Milligan is the father of intellectual madness ...
David Geissler

Spike Milligan has been brilliant and original for over 40 years.
Peter Taylor, Australia

Spike Milligan's Goon show has been broadcast (in Oz) almost unceasingly for the past 45 years. Can there be a better example of this well known. timeless, irreverent humor?
Chris Hocking, Australia

Spike Milligan was the main scriptwriter for the Goon Show, which many later comedy shows (e.g. Monty Python) were inspired by. It's a shame that only one person has to be chosen, because many people helped make the Goon Show such a success including Peter Sellers, Harry Seacombe, and Eric Sykes.
Richard J Foster, UK

Considering that the original airings of the Goon Show took place before I was born, I find Spike Milligan's sense of humour is only surpassed by his skill in being able to communicate it by print and sound alone. I still have hysterics listening to recording of those shows and in the books of his that I have read, both of the Goons and his war memoir/autobiography. A truly human treasure.
John Binley, Canada

Basil Fawlty's antics even made my Japanese students laugh out loud - now that's amazing for Japanese - although I think the bullying of Manuel had a lot to do with it.
Jonathan Higgins, Japan

The quality of John Cleese's work may have decreased now he's actually happy, but having been an integral part of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, he's already given so many other people so much happiness, I have to vote for him, even after those Sainsburys adverts.
Mike Fay, UK

Billy Connolly says things that most people only think and wish they had the courage to say.
Elaine Tennant

Billy Connolly. I laugh until my head aches and my stomach hurts when I see this wonderful man in action. This October a dream wish will come true, I'm going to see him perform LIVE!
Loes van den Bogert

Charlie Chaplin was universal to the world - he didn't need words really.
Mimi Parasheles

From the Tramp to the Great Dictator, only Charlie Chaplin could get the girl, avoid the bad guys, and take over the world. All while making us laugh.
Matt Clarke

Rowan Atkinson's expressions and simplicity are what make him a remarkable comedian.
J Harned

Not a comic, Rowan Atkinson is more an actor with a talent for comedy. Edmund Blackadder (from Blackadder II) is a comic persona that could stand the test of time, shoulder to shoulder with Hancock and Chaplin.

Scott Nicol

next page