Bluebottle (character)

For other meanings, see bluebottle

Bluebottle is the name of a comedy character, created and performed by Peter Sellers, from the 1950s British radio comedy series The Goon Show.

Bluebottle, an adenoidally-squeaky voiced boy scout from Finchley, was noted for reading stage directions out loud, and was always greeted with a deliberate round of applause from the audience ("Enter Bluebottle wearing string and cardboard pyjamas. Waits for audience applause"). As was common with Goon Show characters, Sellers' Bluebottle was paired with a Spike Milligan character — usually Eccles (the third Goon, Harry Secombe, usually stayed in his alter-ego of Neddie Seagoon throughout the show).

Bluebottle was allegedly based on a Scout Master Sellers once met. Anyone who has seen and heard the film of said Scout Master will attest to his rather uncanny cardboard and string resemblance to the 'Bottle'.