'Death in Leamington' read by Kenneth Williams & Maggie Smith

[AmyOGeeezus]

I could listen to Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams speak until the end of time. Although the poem is wonderful, I would have been just as happy listening to them argue about the merits of the word 'wobble'. Their delivery and intonation is just so...so....interesting.

[sleepyfish]

that must be uncomfortable, sitting like that.

[hugh0221]

We lost Olivier, Heston, Gielgud, Brett, Niven, Harrison, Coward, Price, Curtis, Sellers, lots and lots of et-ceteras...but thank God, yet we have Dame Maggie Smith!

[gupsnot]

I can't stop admiring Maggie's suave beauty. What a woman.

[19GirlBad]

RIP Kenneth Williams. Maggie Smith is aged a lot. And Michael Parkinson was so young in his prime. Funny hwo times changed.

[LINDSAYWINN]

How wonderful to see the great Kenneth Williams read with Dame Maggie Smith, as she is now; thank so much for posting this.

[504gld]

Thank you for posting this clip its wonderful.

[irish66]

i can't get any sound

[Toddysfins]

@irish66 Sorry for the delay in replying. This has been uploaded in mono, and I've been told that people who can't get any sound can usually fix that by fiddling with their audio settings (don't ask me how). Thanks for looking.

[irish66]

@Toddysfins Hi, I did manage to hear it. I forget how. I probably either downloaded it, or tried a different browser.

[tomes55moon]

wow. I iive in leamington spa and just stumbled accross this! very nice poem

[SquadronCommander007]

Maggie Smith very much loved Kenneth.  They were perfect made for eachother in a way that was unique.

[qdfjbmaria]

Maggie Smith is the best!

What a voice! What a performance!

Absolutely stunning!

[snookyookyooky]

Simply beautiful. One of my favorite poems by Betjeman.  Many thanks.

[Ccmcr1]

Wonderful! Thanks for uploading!

[GrandPrix55]

Excellent.

And Betjeman was just 19 when he wrote that.

[username1me]

lot of shite

[ellecto]

@username1me ?

[ffrancesccaaaa]

I cannot stop watching this!

Thank you! Do you have the whole show?

[Toddysfins]

I don't have the whole show but if you search youtube you can find some of it uploaded on other channels. This is the only poetry reading though.

[71bab]

God bless maggie smith!

[KlopJob]

Fantastic

[xXxmissemmaxXx]

wow My. she sounds Maggie's voice is lovely , she souds diffrent in Harry Potter

[Fagottron]

Seeing Maggie in this video reminds me of her role in the Harry Potter films. It's so fascinating to see how she's aged. How terribly unfortunate it is that Kenneth died when he did - I'd have loved to see him in films today as well.

[zentropy78]

This clip should be put in a museum. Maggie smith is a gift from God.

[Kiyraesyn]

*melts* Maggie is brilliant. By far, my favourite ! Next to Judi and both Julies, of course ! (Andrews and Walters respectively)

[CartoonPhysics]

Haha. It's almost if at 1.52 Betjeman doesn't realise the poem is finished. Amazing excerpt.

[PGPyramid1]

I remember learning this poem in English at school. A nice trip down Memory Lane. Thank you.

[MinervasEule]

To hear Maggie read is one of the best possible treats I could find this morning !

[farleigh17]

Thanks for this. The colour is very different compared with the other recording. May I ask where you got this?

[Toddysfins]

This is an extract from a compilation of Kenneth Williams' best bits from the Parkinson show over the years. I odn't have the entire episode with Williams, Maggie Smith and John Betjeman.

Presumably it was broadcast on ABC TV (Australia) at some point, since I have a copy (can't remember exactly, sorry).

Thanks for watching.

[farleigh17]

Oh ok. Do you have the whole Kenneth Williams on Parkinson compilation programme?

[Toddysfins]

I do have the compilation episode and it appears that all the other sections have already been uploaded on other youtube channels. Thanks for watching.