Michael Parkinson chatted with Kenneth Williams after this recording, and Parky asked Kenny what he was up to work wise, with Kenny replying "Very little". Parky then replied "You are ridiculously under used! You're miles better than most performers you see nowadays".
Kenneth Williams wrote about the recording of the last Parkinson edition which was recorded on Wednesday 31st March 1982 in Studio TC8, BBC Television Centre in London. Kenny liked Billy Connolly's appearance "B.C. did a cookery send up which was v. funny but untidy". He was less generous with Spike Milligan.
What did he say about spike? He seemed to make a very deliberate point of avoiding shaking hands with anyone and turning his chair away from the other guests. Which does seem incredibly rude indeed, particularly on the last ever show.
@@paulmarshall2007 Spike was famous for his strange behaviour on shows. Spike had a lot of mental health problems which affected him all of his life. He was bipolar manic depressive. Had several mental breakdowns. So maybe he was on a downer at this interview.
@@johnking5174Yeah, sure. But I was just particularly interested in what Kenneth Williams says about it in his book? Was he specific? The Billy Connolly bit was weird but funny. Not at all his usual shtick. More like Tommy Cooper. And you can already see the influence of Pamela Stephenson starting to help him to ‘clean up his act,’ I personally think he improved greatly from this point on. I wasn’t at all a fan of his earlier stuff. I found the rage far too disturbing to watch and when he announced the sexual abuse he’d suffered from his father it sort of made sense. If you watch some of these earlier performances it looks to me like a man close to self-destruction. I can’t see how anyone found that funny. Whereas for me, from around the time of ‘An audience with…’ he is just unmatched in his wit and joy and mischievousness.
@@paulmarshall2007 I found it Paul - they filmed this last Parkinson edition on Wednesday 31st March 1982 at BBC TV Centre - "Got to the centre, rehearsed with the guitarist ... On the show Jimmy Tarbuck (JT) opened ... and there was talk of getting pissed, the word bollocks and etc. All got v vulgar without ambiguity. Billy Connolly (BC) did a cookery send-up which was very funny but untidy. Spike Milligan came on then, and was practically incoherent. Then a woman sang, then Sammy Cahn appeared and sang a musical tribute to Michael Parkinson (MP). Then it was me, I did the Joe he was a young cordwangler, talked about Australia, the Bill Kerr story and about Louie on the number 30 bus. Then MP asked me to tell the Edith Evans story and the porter farting. Then there was a birthday cake and everyone had a farewell drink for the last Parkinson show. In the make up room MP asked me what I was doing and I said very little. He told me you are ridiculously under used! You are miles better than most of the performers you see nowadays. It was rather embarrassing as I stuttered about getting bits here and there" - So what do you think of his entry for his night?
'my show' - a good interviewer, but was it really 'my show'? Didn't he really create the circumstances in which others (the interviewees) created a 'show'?
Spike Milligan was determined to laugh at Kenneth Williams' jokes. So bad that the camera stopped showing Spike. The sour faced, miserable beggar. Kenneth was superb.
Someone says below about Kenneth Williams commenting something about spike Milligan on that last show but I don’t know the details. It certainly to me does seem incredibly rude to deliberately avoid shaking hands with everyone else and turn your chair away from them. Billy Connolly and Jimmy Tarbuck didn’t seem to mind. But Spike obviously wasn’t happy as the camera never landed on him once. There must be some previous between them. Two crazy old men. Equally very talented in their own way but both well-known for sometimes being hard work.
I did have one from 2004 with Kylie Minogue on it but it got blocked sadly and I discarded the tape. I regret it now because I could've edited out the copyrighted material. Sorry to disappoint
@@hakc97again Kenneth Williams wrote about the recording of the last Parkinson edition which was recorded on Wednesday 31st March 1982 in Studio TC8, BBC Television Centre in London. Kenny liked Billy Connolly's appearance "B.C. did a cookery send up which was v. funny but untidy". He was less generous with Spike Milligan.
@@johnking5174 I noticed Spike Milligan didn't laugh once during Kenny's spot, whereas the others were howling with laughter. I wonder if there was any friction between the pair?
incredible opening number! what a band!
Kenneth’s story and delivery of the conductor on the bus is one of the funniest things I’ve seen him do on a chat show. Bloody hilarious! 😂😂😂
Michael Parkinson chatted with Kenneth Williams after this recording, and Parky asked Kenny what he was up to work wise, with Kenny replying "Very little". Parky then replied "You are ridiculously under used! You're miles better than most performers you see nowadays".
Kenneth Williams never failed to deliver. One of the funniest guys on the planet.
Tarby laughs at anything.
Even his own material.
Easily the best chat show host ever, Parky always knew it was about the guest and not him and he got the best out of each and every one.
His last show! He went to ITV and then radio. He never retired.
Kenneth Williams wrote about the recording of the last Parkinson edition which was recorded on Wednesday 31st March 1982 in Studio TC8, BBC Television Centre in London. Kenny liked Billy Connolly's appearance "B.C. did a cookery send up which was v. funny but untidy". He was less generous with Spike Milligan.
What did he say about spike? He seemed to make a very deliberate point of avoiding shaking hands with anyone and turning his chair away from the other guests. Which does seem incredibly rude indeed, particularly on the last ever show.
@@paulmarshall2007 Spike was famous for his strange behaviour on shows. Spike had a lot of mental health problems which affected him all of his life. He was bipolar manic depressive. Had several mental breakdowns. So maybe he was on a downer at this interview.
@@johnking5174Yeah, sure. But I was just particularly interested in what Kenneth Williams says about it in his book? Was he specific?
The Billy Connolly bit was weird but funny. Not at all his usual shtick. More like Tommy Cooper. And you can already see the influence of Pamela Stephenson starting to help him to ‘clean up his act,’ I personally think he improved greatly from this point on. I wasn’t at all a fan of his earlier stuff. I found the rage far too disturbing to watch and when he announced the sexual abuse he’d suffered from his father it sort of made sense. If you watch some of these earlier performances it looks to me like a man close to self-destruction. I can’t see how anyone found that funny. Whereas for me, from around the time of ‘An audience with…’ he is just unmatched in his wit and joy and mischievousness.
@@paulmarshall2007 I must get the diary, I have it here somehere in the living room. If I can find the section, I will tell you what Kenneth wrote
@@paulmarshall2007 I found it Paul - they filmed this last Parkinson edition on Wednesday 31st March 1982 at BBC TV Centre - "Got to the centre, rehearsed with the guitarist ... On the show Jimmy Tarbuck (JT) opened ... and there was talk of getting pissed, the word bollocks and etc. All got v vulgar without ambiguity. Billy Connolly (BC) did a cookery send-up which was very funny but untidy. Spike Milligan came on then, and was practically incoherent. Then a woman sang, then Sammy Cahn appeared and sang a musical tribute to Michael Parkinson (MP). Then it was me, I did the Joe he was a young cordwangler, talked about Australia, the Bill Kerr story and about Louie on the number 30 bus. Then MP asked me to tell the Edith Evans story and the porter farting. Then there was a birthday cake and everyone had a farewell drink for the last Parkinson show. In the make up room MP asked me what I was doing and I said very little. He told me you are ridiculously under used! You are miles better than most of the performers you see nowadays. It was rather embarrassing as I stuttered about getting bits here and there" - So what do you think of his entry for his night?
'my show' - a good interviewer, but was it really 'my show'? Didn't he really create the circumstances in which others (the interviewees) created a 'show'?
Surely this can’t be the last Episode of Parkinson? March 1982 ? To my knowledge there many more after this ??? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Of its original run this is the last episode yes
It would come back much later in 1998
Thanks for uploading this, it’s great. Any chance you have more Parkinson from this era?
It was this appearance that led to Jimmy Tarbuck hosting Live From Her Majesty's.
Marion Montgomery is pure class.
What a strange song for the ending (it's called, the peanut vendor)
Spike Milligan was determined to laugh at Kenneth Williams' jokes. So bad that the camera stopped showing Spike. The sour faced, miserable beggar. Kenneth was superb.
Odd thing about getting older.
Some things you remembered as being classier/funnier.. Well, sometimes, you're wrong.
Miss the big band sound, though.
The greatest of them all was Kenneth Williams. He was priceless.
Sir Billy Connolly make me laugh 😆
Farewell Parky
Can sense huge awkward atmosphere between Spike and Kenneth? Any reason?
Someone says below about Kenneth Williams commenting something about spike Milligan on that last show but I don’t know the details. It certainly to me does seem incredibly rude to deliberately avoid shaking hands with everyone else and turn your chair away from them. Billy Connolly and Jimmy Tarbuck didn’t seem to mind. But Spike obviously wasn’t happy as the camera never landed on him once. There must be some previous between them. Two crazy old men. Equally very talented in their own way but both well-known for sometimes being hard work.
Tarby with the beard worries me
Fact is, he did exactly the same thing on ITV when he quit a second time.
That's why he'll always be the British chat show g.o.a.t
Billy Connolly's pastry sketch was just stupid!
Have you got any Parkinson episodes from 2003 and 2004?
I did have one from 2004 with Kylie Minogue on it but it got blocked sadly and I discarded the tape. I regret it now because I could've edited out the copyrighted material.
Sorry to disappoint
@@hakc97again Kenneth Williams wrote about the recording of the last Parkinson edition which was recorded on Wednesday 31st March 1982 in Studio TC8, BBC Television Centre in London. Kenny liked Billy Connolly's appearance "B.C. did a cookery send up which was v. funny but untidy". He was less generous with Spike Milligan.
@@johnking5174 I noticed Spike Milligan didn't laugh once during Kenny's spot, whereas the others were howling with laughter. I wonder if there was any friction between the pair?
Love Jimmy Tarbuck. No comedy these days which is much needed for health reasons.
@Yu Choob Yes very possibly. Likewise I found Spike Milligan's humour somewhat of an acquired taste.
Kenny Williams wins hands down!
Sorry not see Peter Kay.