Spike's son to expose family split

Spike Milligan's illegitimate son James is threatening to widen the rift with the rest of the comic's family with a controversial new book.

James, a 26-year-old events organise says he now wants to set the record straight about his father.

"In a way, it's therapy for myself," he told the Telegraph. "I'm certainly getting a few things off my chest.

"I want to reveal just what other people did, particularly when he was old and didn't realise what was going on."

His will be the latest in a flurry of biographies about the late Goon coming out this year.

James, who first met Spike in 1992 after The People exposed his father's infidelities with artist Margaret Maughan, also co-operated with biographer Humphrey Carpenter, whose tome is out on Monday. (Click to order)

And Spike's long-suffering manager and friend, Norma Farnes, is writing her memoirs for publication in October.

Published: 2 Aug 2003