Spike: his famous words

Spike Milligan was known for his irreverent one-liners which poked fun at himself and his often high-profile targets. Here are some of his most famous sayings ...

"Little grovelling bastard" - Milligan on the Prince of Wales after the Prince wrote a letter praising him as he received a Lifetime Achievement Comedy Award in 1994.

"Yes, but it's your mother, isn't it? You don't get board and lodging at Buckingham Palace if you don't swear an oath" - Milligan to the Prince of Wales, who told him even he had to swear the oath of allegiance after the comic refused to do so.

"I can't see the sense in it really. It makes me a Commander of the British Empire. They might as well make me a Commander of Milton Keynes - at least that exists!" - Milligan on receiving an honorary CBE in 1992.

"I don't mind dying. I just don't want to be there when it happens."

"I don't like women in positions of power because they make all the wrong bloody decisions."

"I suppose basically I am very talented, but I am not personally aware of that."

"I'd like to go there. But if Jeffrey Archer is there I want to go to Lewisham." - Milligan on whether he believed he would go to heaven.

"Then came the war. North Africa, promoted in the field (they wouldn't let me indoors). Mentioned in dispatches: nothing positive. Just mentioned." - Milligan on his army career.

"When I look back, the fondest memory I have is not really of the Goons. It is of a girl called Julia with enormous breasts" - Milligan celebrating his 75th birthday.

"He sent me a fax. It said: 'I hope you go before me because I don't want you singing at my funeral" - Sir Harry Secombe after receiving a message from Milligan.