This man was a truly brilliant actor. Such a shame that he felt so lonely in his life, in part due to his homosexuality. We (the British people) lost a true genius, entertainer and wonderful man when he died. They sure don't make them like this anymore.
We are all unique, but nobody could ever come close to his fantastic mix of talents, all borne and molded out of his own personal experiences in a life that can never be replicated.
Must have been tough. I don't know this guy UA-cam just took me here. But my first impression was Omg he's so gay. Nowadays he'd be celebrated as fabulous but back than he must have denied the obvious
Jaffa T He was celibate his whole life, his privacy was the most important thing to him. He never had a relationship as he couldn’t let anyone see his body as he found that to be an invasion of his privacy.
He entertains from the second he opens his mouth. A unique, distinctive and unforgettable character. Luckily he's captured in all those classic movies he appeared in to be appreciated forever. ✌🏽
I remember KW from BBC World Service Radio in the 1970s whilst I was at University in Italy. Programs like "Just a Minute" and others, and the "Carry on" Films. Always a pleasing voice, and "campy" lilt to his voice. Years of soul lifting programs. Sadly Missed...a true Artiste.
Kenneth was a brilliant entertainer a wonderful mimic & a tremendous Mind, he is surely missed from our world, Sadly nothing remotely like him today, getting Dumber & Dumber I am afraid. great video
I adored him when I was 11 years old and too young to know what "campy " humour was all about- and when I DID find out, it made it all the funnier. RIP, Kenneth- I still miss your rich voice and nostrils flared in disdain!
I love Kenneth Williams - I am only thankful that our lives overlapped and that my parents shared every single Carry On movie with me from a young age.
No one has come close to Ken's brilliance in humour. His vocal abilities were fantastic, just watch episodes of the origanal run of willow the wisp all voices done by Ken. He was an entire cast in one.
It is difficult, I suppose, for most people to realise that in some one like Kenneth Williams is a spirit both as old as the ages (there's something wonderfully of the Victorian about him) and yet also, for all his learned erudition, eternally innocently impish and childlike with a wonderful smile when he allows it to break through his admirable seriousness. Yet all most will have seen is some kind of affected sense of camp arrogance. Far more fascinating than most people indeed- he should
And that my friends is the absolutely out of this world genius of the amazing Kenneth Williams. One of the greatest comic performers that ever lived! Robin Williams was another - but Kenneths delivery is unmatched.
Kenneth would have been an outstanding guest on the Graham Norton show had he lived and was able to attend. His close friends Miriam Margolyes and Barbera Windsor made it there, and it would have been great to see him as well.
@@ianbentley7276 oh yes! What a performer! All that stuff about when he was in the army, and that sergeant-major or whatever the rank was: 'Stand up straight then.' 'Got any cake?' And Ustinov was such a multifaceted guy, all the high level charity work he did.
@@martm216 indeed, his military stories were my favourites in the programme. In fact I've recounted them in the pub a few times. :-) Also the Jackie Stewart story was brilliant.
@@ianbentley7276 oh yes! I remember that! Wonderful with Jackie being in the audience. And a very accurate impression. What was it? 'He won't get far driving like that ... Well, he's still in the lead ... I don't like the sound of that engine... Well, he can count himself a VERY LUCKY young man.' And all the engine sound effects. Wonderful.
He was pure gold for talk shows. He was perfect for Parkinson. He and Parkinson did not like each other in the early years, Kenneth was a conservative with a small "c" and Michael was more left wing, so they clashed a bit politically, but later on they became friends, not best buddies, but mutual respect was gained and earned.
Kenneth Williams reminds me of a darling English friend I once had. They might be gone but they are not forgotten. Love makes all the right connections.
@@johnking5174 Yes.My take on Parky’s success was that he was exceedingly dull in his energy, in a congenial way, made boring celebrities look interesting and a good show My slight aversion to Parky these days is how rather than pay tribute to Kenneth William’s wonderful storytelling skills, he just sums him up as a ‘strange man’. A real disservice to Ken.
As a kid growing up I used to love him in the Carry On movies. ("Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!") Sublime. But he's just as good telling us his own anecdotes here. So sorry he's no longer with us. Wish all the tortured comics could each have been given a big hug and told how much they were loved. Stay with us.
Still a Shinning Star, brilliantly erudite, self deprecating, but ultimately the Master of words, anecdote, and his own voice characterisation. A unique individual, the like of which we will never see or hear again.
I love all films of kennth Williams, sixd James, Barbara winsor and Co. There will be no such comrdielian and intelligent artist any more. Rest in peace the true legends
Yes. I have recently read his " Diaries". A very complex man. I saw him many years ago walking along the Strand. I think he was going to the Playhouse Theatre in Villiers St. On this particular occasion, he may have been "looking" to be recognised. He was wearing a bright check jacket and whistling a chirpy tune. Comedian Ted Ray,father of Andrew, was himself a manic depressive. So ironic that [some] people who devoted their talents to make others happy were themselves not.
The word genius gets banded about for people with limited talent but Kenny is the real deal. Thank you for being alive and entertaining us all these years. Keep messing about!😊
One of the best ever funny men. He lived as he appeared to be. Utterly unique and genuine. His rendition of "mon crepe suzette"is side burstingly funny. Rest dear man. The word Arch describes his manner perfectly to me.
have been embraced as a serious talent- and as a person of lasting stature- rather than the way that many people just seemed to enjoy him as some kind of fruity relic of a rapidly bygone age. A well dressed, handsome, man too but in a way that the modern world does not seem to register anymore.
What a fantastic actor Kenneth was. When I was a kid we loved to sit infront of the telly. Me on the floor 🤣 and watch the carry on films. They were brilliant. Sid was awesome too. However they all were who starred in them. We will never see true comedy like this ever again. Sadly missed. So funny though 😂 😂 😂
We just opened a bottle of Beaujolais and couldn’t remember whether KW or Dame Edith had told the story. Such is the effect that this sketch had on me, I still can’t help but imitate DE when we have it!
I’ve loved him for years. Enunciation, English speaking, intelligence. I feel for his views on carry on movies. I wish I’d seen him chat with Stephen Fry
I hope that is so. He was very fond of walking and exploring London. Back in the late 70`s I saw him walking [whistling] down the Strand, I guess that he may have been making his way to the Playhouse Theatre in Villiers Street.
Google says, “ Kenneth Williams had a fierce intellect, was mainly self taught and his command of the English language was legendary “. I have heard that the only reason Sir Lawrence Olivier couldn’t accept Kenneth for a part in one of his productions of Shakespeare was because Kenneth was famous for the Carry On films and Sir Lawrence was afraid of the type of audience Kenneth would attract !
Maggie smith and Kenneth Williams were v good friends. She said she imitated his way of speaking in Harry Potter. Ian mckellen imitated her perfectly on graham norton show
What an amazing raconteur. I could listen to him for hours. Sadly we don't see talent like his any more.
In chatshows, his friend Miriam Margolyes tries to be a raconteur imitating his style, but she is tasteless and crude, and doesn't come close
I’d love to have seen him talk with several smart, gay, folk including Stephen fry
As many have commented, an absolute genius and legend.
Adore him could listen for hours and hours .
This man was a truly brilliant actor. Such a shame that he felt so lonely in his life, in part due to his homosexuality. We (the British people) lost a true genius, entertainer and wonderful man when he died. They sure don't make them like this anymore.
We are all unique, but nobody could ever come close to his fantastic mix of talents, all borne and molded out of his own personal experiences in a life that can never be replicated.
He always entertained me in whatever he did 👍 such a nice person to listen to unlike the so called star's these days.
@J S well said 👍
Must have been tough. I don't know this guy UA-cam just took me here. But my first impression was Omg he's so gay. Nowadays he'd be celebrated as fabulous but back than he must have denied the obvious
Jaffa T He was celibate his whole life, his privacy was the most important thing to him. He never had a relationship as he couldn’t let anyone see his body as he found that to be an invasion of his privacy.
He entertains from the second he opens his mouth. A unique, distinctive and unforgettable character. Luckily he's captured in all those classic movies he appeared in to be appreciated forever. ✌🏽
You just have to listen to EVERY WORD this man utters. Verbal poetry.
I remember KW from BBC World Service Radio in the 1970s whilst I was at University in Italy. Programs like "Just a Minute" and others, and the "Carry on" Films. Always a pleasing voice, and "campy" lilt to his voice. Years of soul lifting programs.
Sadly Missed...a true Artiste.
He never fails to lift my spirits. Watch these posts dozens of times. Love each one.
A masterclass in story telling.
You always new that Parkinson was worth staying up for if he or Frankie Howard were on it
Story telling yes... and overreacting in this interview if you dont notice but still a legend......❤
Kenneth was a brilliant entertainer a wonderful mimic & a tremendous Mind, he is surely missed from our world, Sadly nothing remotely like him today, getting Dumber & Dumber I am afraid.
great video
Never a dull moment. What a splendid dinner guest he must have been. Sit, Listen and Enjoy. Greatly missed.
Unique, will never be anyone like him, a Legend!
I'm sure he is in heaven now. There all laughing their heads off there too! What a brilliant man! Thank you Kenneth! 👍👍👍👍👍😂🤣😂🤣
I thought God banned the gays from heaven?
whenever i see Kenneth Wiliams on a chat show i never want it to end!
I adored him when I was 11 years old and too young to know what "campy " humour was all about- and when I DID find out, it made it all the funnier. RIP, Kenneth- I still miss your rich voice and nostrils flared in disdain!
I love Kenneth Williams - I am only thankful that our lives overlapped and that my parents shared every single Carry On movie with me from a young age.
No one has come close to Ken's brilliance in humour. His vocal abilities were fantastic, just watch episodes of the origanal run of willow the wisp all voices done by Ken. He was an entire cast in one.
Willow The Wisp! Jeez, that takes me back to the early 80s . I remember the opening credits.
I loved willow the wisp when I was little,I was scared of evil Edna and a large part of it was the great voice Kenneth did for her.
It is difficult, I suppose, for most people to realise that in some one like Kenneth Williams is a spirit both as old as the ages (there's something wonderfully of the Victorian about him) and yet also, for all his learned erudition, eternally innocently impish and childlike with a wonderful smile when he allows it to break through his admirable seriousness. Yet all most will have seen is some kind of affected sense of camp arrogance. Far more fascinating than most people indeed- he should
well commented.
nicely put.
He was a great speaker , very articulate.He was so much more than the Carry On actor.
He was a very good performer
and could handle a live audience.
You hang on his every word. A true genius.
At a fantasy dinner party this man would be in the top 5 guests.
Absolutely!
And that my friends is the absolutely
out of this world genius of the amazing Kenneth Williams.
One of the greatest comic performers that ever lived!
Robin Williams was another - but Kenneths delivery is unmatched.
I could listen to Kenny Williams telling stories for hours.
Kenneth would have been an outstanding guest on the Graham Norton show had he lived and was able to attend. His close friends Miriam Margolyes and Barbera Windsor made it there, and it would have been great to see him as well.
what a great loss he was, so sad that he took his own life. At least we have many recordings of the great man.
What an extremely gifted and funny man?God bless him🙏❤️
He never paused for breath. Best raconteur ever, with the exception of Peter Ustinov. Possibly a tie.
Yes, Peter Ustinov was also a master raconteur. Plus, Peter Sellers was pretty good as well. I think one of his Parky interviews is still on Utube.
@@martm216 funnily enough i watched Peter's, "an audience with" last night, brilliant.
@@ianbentley7276 oh yes! What a performer! All that stuff about when he was in the army, and that sergeant-major or whatever the rank was: 'Stand up straight then.' 'Got any cake?' And Ustinov was such a multifaceted guy, all the high level charity work he did.
@@martm216 indeed, his military stories were my favourites in the programme. In fact I've recounted them in the pub a few times. :-) Also the Jackie Stewart story was brilliant.
@@ianbentley7276 oh yes! I remember that! Wonderful with Jackie being in the audience. And a very accurate impression. What was it? 'He won't get far driving like that ... Well, he's still in the lead ... I don't like the sound of that engine... Well, he can count himself a VERY LUCKY young man.' And all the engine sound effects. Wonderful.
Love the way he rolls the Rs
I’ve always wanted to be able to do that!
such a brilliant performer and will no doubt still make me smile and laugh for many a years to come, rest easy Mr. Williams =) and thankyou
a brilliant storyteller with the voices too.YOU COULD SIT NEXT TO HIM IN A PUB and listen to him allnight.
He was pure gold for talk shows. He was perfect for Parkinson. He and Parkinson did not like each other in the early years, Kenneth was a conservative with a small "c" and Michael was more left wing, so they clashed a bit politically, but later on they became friends, not best buddies, but mutual respect was gained and earned.
Kenneth Williams reminds me of a darling English friend I once had. They might be gone but they are not forgotten. Love makes all the right connections.
@@johnking5174 Yes.My take on Parky’s success was that he was exceedingly dull in his energy, in a congenial way, made boring celebrities look interesting and a good show My slight aversion to Parky these days is how rather than pay tribute to Kenneth William’s wonderful storytelling skills, he just sums him up as a ‘strange man’. A real disservice to Ken.
Priceless.
Genius.
Loved and adored.
WF
Definitely my dinner guest number 1.
He speaks with such incredible alacrity, I could listen to him speak all day.
As a kid growing up I used to love him in the Carry On movies. ("Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!") Sublime.
But he's just as good telling us his own anecdotes here. So sorry he's no longer with us. Wish all the tortured comics could each have been given a big hug and told how much they were loved. Stay with us.
GREAT MAN,very UNIQUE CHARACTER AND TALENT
I SALUTE YOU
That is as good as it gets. A genius storyteller
Wonderful. Thanks for posting.
Still a Shinning Star, brilliantly erudite, self deprecating, but ultimately the Master of words, anecdote, and his own voice characterisation. A unique individual, the like of which we will never see or hear again.
Wow, I love this guy. Kenneth Williams you were brilliant. You are brilliant.
I remember listening to "Round The Horne" on the radio in the 60s. A groundbreaking comedy in many ways.
Oh gosh pity he could not live forever
I absolutely LOVE this interview. Every time I see it I laugh until I cry :D
I love all films of kennth Williams, sixd James, Barbara winsor and Co. There will be no such comrdielian and intelligent artist any more. Rest in peace the true legends
Yes. I have recently read his " Diaries".
A very complex man. I saw him many years ago walking along the Strand. I think he was going to the Playhouse Theatre in Villiers St. On this particular occasion, he may have been "looking" to be recognised. He was wearing a bright check jacket and whistling a chirpy tune.
Comedian Ted Ray,father of Andrew, was himself a manic depressive. So ironic that [some] people who devoted their talents to make others happy were themselves not.
Ageless, hilarious, extraordinarily talented...god I love this man.
The word genius gets banded about for people with limited talent but Kenny is the real deal. Thank you for being alive and entertaining us all these years. Keep messing about!😊
Brilliant - I have never read "Acid Drops", but shall search for it. Am amazing man and great entertainer.
I got a hardback copy for £2.50 inc postage from Amazon a couple of years ago, very amusing
You should, it's brilliant.
Starwithnoname
tart retorts wouldve made a better title, dont you think so?
I,m sure regardless itd be a scintillating read
It’s a fab book
One of the best ever funny men. He lived as he appeared to be. Utterly unique and genuine. His rendition of "mon crepe suzette"is side burstingly funny. Rest dear man. The word Arch describes his manner perfectly to me.
He was truly Mesmerising.
Great man, sorely missed.
I read Acid Drops years ago, it was great :)
have been embraced as a serious talent- and as a person of lasting stature- rather than the way that many people just seemed to enjoy him as some kind of fruity relic of a rapidly bygone age. A well dressed, handsome, man too but in a way that the modern world does not seem to register anymore.
RIP Kenneth.!Such genius.
I do so love Kenneth's intellect
Kenneth such a great person and great storyteller on jackanory 😊👍
British actors are the best in the world.. and Kenneth Williams was one of the funniest of them all..🙂
Could listen to him all night . So interesting . Real intelligence.
Could have listened to him all day. Now go watch an audience with Kenneth Williams
Fab adore him and Maggie Smith..
the people of the earth should not forget this man
What a fantastic actor Kenneth was. When I was a kid we loved to sit infront of the telly. Me on the floor 🤣 and watch the carry on films. They were brilliant. Sid was awesome too. However they all were who starred in them. We will never see true comedy like this ever again. Sadly missed. So funny though 😂 😂 😂
A wonderful wonderful story teller.
Legendary funny man. No one like it these days.
RIP Ken
We just opened a bottle of Beaujolais and couldn’t remember whether KW or Dame Edith had told the story. Such is the effect that this sketch had on me, I still can’t help but imitate DE when we have it!
A true one off. A genius. So talented.
I love that Edith Evans story.
Brilliant man ! 🙏
Very funny. Marvellous mimicry and delivery.
What a joy!
What a brilliant character he was awesome
What a loss to us all he was. I don't think he understood how loved he was by the British public.
And he loved it.
stormbringer, thanks! I was truly puzzled by that one!
Grew up loving the Carry On films and Willow the Wisp and adored Kenneth.
He loved doing his Dame Edith, didn't he? :)
What a extraordinary man!
I've only watched him in the Carry On! series... never knew he had such a treasure-trove of LOL-inducing stories!
There's thousands of them, you have a treat in store searching for them on youtube.
Three very clever guests this particular evening.
Halfway through I was hoping for a Maggie Smith story. He did not disappoint.
With ...... " Alarming ferocity " !
Love the Robert Helpmann story. Can just visualise the scene 😂
I love him. He’s been so missed.
Just wonderful
I’ve loved him for years. Enunciation, English speaking, intelligence. I feel for his views on carry on movies. I wish I’d seen him chat with Stephen Fry
I always think of Kenneth as being on a higher plane than most people.
1979LITTLEMISS
So did he, lamentably.
comic genius. sharp as a razorblade
Love Him and Adore Him.
excellent, thanks for sharing video
It's when he recalls about the fellow who wanted a blow wave at his fathers shop..I cannot stop laughing!!
He makes Russell Brand look like Russell Bland. True Genius
Don't be petty. Humour is subjective, and it's tacky to berate one form of comedian over another.
Everyone makes Russell Brand look like Russell Bland cos he is......
Yep. Thats bloke,s a self-watching phoney. And so many try to be a ‘ new’ Kenneth Williams. Makes K.W seem all the more missed.
One of a kind was Kenneth Williams ❤
My maternal uncle and mother knew him quite well and as a result when I was born in 1959, I was given the forenames Kenneth William……..
I hope that is so. He was very fond of walking and exploring London. Back in the late 70`s I saw him walking [whistling] down the Strand, I guess that he may have been making his way to the Playhouse Theatre in Villiers Street.
Kenneth Williams was so funny RIP.
Excellent. Thanks for posting this.
I love the carry on film they ware all great star I love Kenneth Williams and Sid James r I p Stephen riggett Doncaster
The Queen of Camp . R.I.P.
Google says, “ Kenneth Williams had a fierce intellect, was mainly self taught and his command of the English language was legendary “. I have heard that the only reason Sir Lawrence Olivier couldn’t accept Kenneth for a part in one of his productions of Shakespeare was because Kenneth was famous for the Carry On films and Sir Lawrence was afraid of the type of audience Kenneth would attract !
What a pity he's not still with us.
Thank you Mr Williams!
Maggie smith and Kenneth Williams were v good friends. She said she imitated his way of speaking in Harry Potter. Ian mckellen imitated her perfectly on graham norton show
Is it weird that I hear a bit of Snape in Ken's face and gutteral voice?
Everything this guy says is one mic-drop after another!
Pure class.