Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's comedy Spike premieres at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre on September 6 before touring the UK this autumn

Robert Wilfort (Gavin and Stacey, Bridgerton) will take over the role of Spike Milligan, Patrick Warner ('Peter Cook' in The Crown, One Man, Two Guvnors and Play that Goes Wrong) will also join the production to play Peter Sellers, and Jeremy Lloyd (The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Trial by Laughter) will return to his critically acclaimed role as Harry Secombe.

It's 1950s austerity Britain, and out of the gloom comes Goon mania as men, women and children across the country scramble to get their ear to a wireless for another instalment of The Goon Show.

While Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers get down to the serious business of becoming overnight celebrities, fellow Goon and chief writer Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC.

Flanked by his fellow Goons and bolstered by the efforts of irrepressible sound assistant Janet, Spike takes a flourishing nosedive off the cliffs of respectability, and mashes up his haunted past to create the comedy of the future. His war with Hitler may be over, but his war with Auntie Beeb - and ultimately himself - has just begun.

Will Spike's dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler?

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman said: "It's a privilege to take 'Spike' on tour, exploring the genius of Britain's most inspirational and ground-breaking comedian. And of course, it's another chance to steal all his jokes and pass them off as our own. Spike Milligan may be Goon, but he's not forgotten."

The play also features TV comedienne and podcaster Margaret Cabourn-Smith (Motherland, Miranda, Buffering) who will reprise her role as Janet, as will James Mack as Denis Main-Wilson / Peter Eton.

Ellie Morris plays June and Robert Mountford BBC Executive. Peter Dukes will join the company as BBC Announcer, as will Tesni Kujore as Myra, and Sam Ducane as Doctor.

Spike, which will tour to Malvern, Guildford, Oxford, Salisbury, Brighton, Darlington, Aylesbury, Glasgow, Richmond, Blackpool and Cardiff, will be directed by Watermill artistic director Paul Hart.

For further information or to book tickets for Spike at The Everyman Theatre, see https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/spike/