Humphrey Carpenter writes as if he is the Devil's Advocate in the pending canonisation of Spike Milligan.

Mr Carpenter never met Spike, whereas Pauline Scudamore knew him well when she wrote his biography.

Carpenter speaks of his crippling manic depression.

There were times when Spike lay locked in his room, desperately depressed and suicidal.

Dr Thomas Stuttaford says those who suffer from Bipolar Disorder can no more control their mood swings than Canute could order the tide.

The disability is biochemical and related to serotonin levels in the central nervous system.

There are, thankfully, few instances of violence but Spike's outbursts could be attributed to his condition and it would make him unpredictable.

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide (David J Miklowitz) asks: "The genius disease or a very severe disabling one?"

How does Mr Carpenter know about clinical depression and from where has he found facts?

There is no mention of Spike's very charitable side and the child with learning difficulties for whom he cared.

Spike probably did not reply to Mr Carpenter because he had a triple heart by-pass and became very frail.

He was patron of the Manic Depression Fellowship to the end.

-Carole Irvine, Brighton