John Browell

From The Goon Show Depository

John Browell
John Browell.jpg
Born
John Logan Browell

(1917-06-29)29 June 1917
Died25 May 1997(1997-05-25) (aged 79)
OccupationRadio producer
Known forThe Goon Show

John Logan Browell (29 June 1917 – 19 May 1997 in Watford, Hertfordshire) was a radio producer who worked primarily in BBC Radio.

Born in Poplar, London, Browell's family soon moved to Leeds, where he went to school and learnt how to play the violin and saxophone.[1][2] During World War II, he was a radio technician in the Royal Air Force (RAF), mainly stationed in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Before the war, he worked for Barclays Bank, but on demob chose a career in entertainment. He joined the BBC in London, becoming a senior sound engineer in light entertainment, and, from 1954, a producer, initially working on music such as Sing Something Simple.[1]

He is best remembered for producing the final two series of The Goon Show (1958–60) and its special edition The Last Goon Show of All (1972). He also produced comedies with Goon Show writer and performer Spike Milligan, including Milligna (or Your Favourite Spike) in 1972. He also worked on long running radio series with, among others, Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd and Beryl Reid.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Willey, Brian (25 May 1997). "Obituary: John Browell". The Independent. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Obituary: John Browell". The Independent. 1997-05-26. Retrieved 2019-09-04.