Part One: 'The Private World of Kenneth Williams' Read by David Benson
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- This is Part One of the three-part radio version of The Private World of Kenneth Williams, which includes some material not released on the BBC CD in 2004 as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 FM, 11 November 2003.
Part One takes Williams from his earliest diary entries in 1948, through his years in regional Rep, his legendary performance in Bernard Shaw's St. Joan, Moby Dick with Orson Welles, Hancock's Half Hour, Beyond Our Ken, the Carry On films and Gogol's Diary of a Madman. You will also hear Kenneth and Maggie Smith, on a night out at the trendy Soho comedy club The Establishment heckling a long-suffering Frankie Howerd.
David Benson came to public attention in 1996 with his critically acclaimed solo show 'Think No Evil of Us: My Life With Kenneth Williams'.
His first association with Williams, however, was when, as a thirteen-year old schoolboy, his entry to the 1975 Jackanory Story-writing Competition, 'The Rag and Bone Man', was chosen by Williams as one of the five he read on the programme that week.
BBC press release for the CD version of the programme
www.bbc.co.uk/p...
A uniquely multi talented man. Won’t see his like again. RIP Mr Williams.
You sound just like Keneth Williams, amazing 👌
Thank you for the upload.
As a child i spent a lot of time in the company of the carry on team as my grandfather was part of the production team I can remember the job of being sent for tea and coffee etc for the actors in my possession is a complete set of scripts signed by the complete company Mr Williams was always nice to me and often good for a few pennies for fizzzy pop etc
Pastor Flaps. What lovely memories you must have ! Emma Thompson met Kenneth when she was young. He said, “Never get drunk on champagne, darling. The hangover is just not worth it !” She was 11 years old at the time !
@@christinahall2587 the most treasured memories are of Hattie Jacques who would give wonderful hugs and on Christmas would give the most fantastic meals and children's parties she sent me birthday cards until she sadly past away
@@pastorflaps6819 ❤️
What amazing memories
I am so happy to have stumbled across these!! I have read Kenneth's diaries many times and this is so lovely to listen to, what a complex and brilliant man he was 😊
Yes! I feel he came to us (the British) just after the war when we all needed cheering up, a role model in a funny way by being himself giving us courage to be individual.
Unbelievable how underappreciated this will be now!
I enjoyed every minute of this programme
Omg this is about to be a huge treat for me...two incredible actors about to entwine to become one.
Thanks David this is a Great Tribute to a Great Unique Talent. A Part thats justified in the name Great Britain
What a joy to hear this brought to life. I found his diaries in a book exchange many moons ago and found it equal parts tragic and hilarious. Such is life I suppose. Thank you for making this available - I am relishing listening to this. I am an admirer of your work (I adored Goodnight Sweetheart as a child) and wish you the very best.
Definitely a brilliant talented and unique man. Rest in Pàradise 🌄 Kenneth. 💜🎥🎬📺
Brilliant narration. Enjoyed it very much, thank you DB.
This is excellent. Thank you .
I like the guy, thought the chemistry between he and Tony Hancock was amazing! A true legend, sadly missed
Excellent David, and shared with my pals on Facebook :)
Thank you - much appreciated!
As brilliant as ever.
Thank you!
Well done David!
Wonderful. 😘
“The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.”--- Tennessee Williams.
I really thought this was KW reading. What an intelligent, honest and brave man he was. His lack of self-deception made life painful to live.
What a great insight - that being honest with yourself causes pain. I suppose a lot of people kid themselves on most of the time.
Maybe you should listen to KW and compare. I can't mix them up.
"kidding" ourselves is probably a survival mechanism (interesting word isn't it!)
yes i did too, sounds just like him!
Really lovely to listen to
Such a brilliant orator
He says "bought" instead of "brought" and pronounces "etcetera" as "eck-cetera". But does sound similar to KW.
Nice work David
Someone on UA-cam said take away the screaming queen over the top mannerisms and where was the talent.
I replied thusly.
A extremely well read intelligent guy, who like a lot of comics aspire to be taken seriously as an actor, get typecast and in essence have so many more layers to them as a person than they are given credit for. The world is a better place for Kenneth having been in it and in my mind he will be remembered for making many people laugh, even though inside he was a tortured sole who hid the pain he was feeling inside and never completely excepted his sexuality. R.I.P Kenneth Williams I hope you found what you were looking for.
Agree 💯
Good stuff
Poor man RIP
Funny how Kenneth lied about the heckler at the Frankie Howard gig...he claims it was a woman but it sounds like him and an accomplice!
Kenny reversed the story about Frankie Howerd, it was Kenny who was guffawing at the performance, he didn't know it was being recorded
A very troubled genius.
Love this video although it would be disingenuous of me to rave about the vocal impersonation. Anyone could tell who this voice is supposed to be due to the caricatured exagerrations (as Williams himself did many times) but I must simply admit that to my ears, this mimicry fails to convince. The overly rolled Rs grate as Williams did not roll every one he uttered, and the unaffected portions of him just reciting are in too high a register and the cadence totally dissimilar.
Not that I could ever come anywhere close to Mr. Benson but I feel to not state my honest opinion would be fraudulent.
Everyone raves about Michael Sheen's performance as Kenneth and I am left astonished by what they are watching - His portrayal in that 'Fantabulosa!' is SOOOO over the top and forced its ludicrous. The scene where he sits on the park bench 'laughing' is downright cringe inducing to behold.
For me, Adam Godley in 'Cor! Blimey' (although totally opposite to KW in looks and height) completely nailed his voice. Superb. It was his capturing of KW voice that made me suspend disbelief and made me believe he WAS kenneth after a whlle!
Let us hear "et cetera" pronounced properly, the anglicized way, all right?
Sounds nothing like Kenneth.
troll
@@DavidBensonActor Can't take criticism?
@@kolnman3582 troll
@@DavidBensonActor How old are you? What a idiot.
@@kolnman3582 xx