Kenneth Williams...Excellent Chat Show Appearance From 1980

[lynchian]

An endlessly fascinating man... and a true legend.

[FilmFan1982]

Even if every interview of Kenny in existance was here on YouTube, I'd still want to see more of him!! brilliant! :D

[ecurl]

Kenneth Williams was a master story teller and an undeniable comic genius.

Just the way he paces his anecdotes leave you hanging on the edge of your seat for what will obviously be an hilarious finale.

In a class of his own.

[alicetaylor1984]

A fascinating man.

[MaryHarper]

Wonderful. Thanks for posting.

[drwhatson]

I remember listening to "Round The Horne" on the radio in the 60s. A groundbreaking comedy in many ways.

[SamGuitarTunes]

Oooooooooo Matron!!!

[poobummcgregor]

ooooooooooooooooooooooh

stop messin about..........

[poobummcgregor]

ooooooooooooooooooooooh



[Meinlondon]

Maggie Smith joke at 8:12 onwards is classic!

[Picnicl]

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.

[Picnicl]

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

[Picnicl]

Some of the great comics were great tragedians too. (Not all- some comics are so good at being light-hearted- like Chevy Chase in his heyday that they don't need to mine a tragic angle) but Kenneth Williams seemed to be both. There was no artifice to it. He had a perfectly professorial yet also theatrical air but professors of that time would have probably ignored him as being too 'arch' and disliked that fact that, despite not being Oxbridge-educated, he seemed far more Oxbridge than they did.

[pinkriffic]

It seems that so many comics either hate themselves, have drug problems or are just generally disturbed. I guess genius does come at a price.

Britain misses you Kenneth...

[capjoartist1200]

GREAT MAN,very UNIQUE CHARACTER AND TALENT

I SALUTE YOU

[MrDenizen]

Great man, sorely missed.

[PokeXpertoX]

god that voice gives me the shivers

[Galianvincent1]

Love the way he rolls the Rs

[Mdonkin961]

i love his strong accent its cool

[golsno147]

Superb raconteur and comedian On radio with Hancock some of the exchanges are

so funny they may have contributed to Hancock's subsequent dislike and hostility to

Williams. Hancock possibly feared being outshone. Although one cannot

ever give enough praise to Galton and Simpson for their great scripts Hancock and

Williams were clearly the best comedy duo of all time.

[emma5977]

I think (or feel ) that Kenneth Williams was a good man. Lots of things have been said, thought, considered since his death. But I wanted to say this. I was at college at the Polytechnic of Central London in the early 1980's , in rag trade land -the library was opposite the old ITN building. The thing I remember is I often saw him walking down the street - and he always looked unhappy - always - I mean really unhappy. God bless him. A man admired, but I doubt the admiration was felt .

[endracismguy]

fantastic voice

[madabbafan]

I can imagine Maggie Smith saying that in F+M

[mrsthursday]

"The trouble with nude dancing is that not everything stops when the music does"

- Sir Robert Helpmann-choreographer/dancer.

A quote from the man who was standing on a chair on the table in kw story.

[MrJasonSmarts]

"he broke wind with alarming velocity"

i nearly died from laughing when he said that lol

[madabbafan]

"7 guineas? cheaper to have you're tits off' lol.

(for those who don't know a guinea is a pre-decimalisation unit of money worth 21 shillings which is £1.05 post decimalisation)

[madabbafan]

@Askalon1985 yep

[madabbafan]

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.

[miramamimira]

What a voice on such a small frame! With an instrument like that he would have had endless work as a first-class voice artist. But, alas, that was not to be. He was a complicated man which may or may have not committed suicide (there is no certainty of it). His legacy lies in the throng of Carry On films he made from 1958 to 1978, his published diaries, and his fascinating television interviews.

His take on Edith Evans is hilariously spot on.

[XXXMoodiboyXXX]

Sad story. Any man or boy who is a little different is subject to agression all over the world. Not women though, who can speak and dress any way they like. What do you think?

[autopsysal666]

He makes Russell Brand look like Russell Bland. True Genius

[scallyhunter]

@autopsysal666 i think that russell managed to that without anybody's help :)

[PFCmothergoose]

@autopsysal666 I hear that...

[lovebrookeshields]

I absolutely LOVE this interview. Every time I see it I laugh until I cry :D

[mickeyh1961]

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

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

Did he fall down the stairs but it wadscut out???????????????

[mts1977]

Who were the other 2 guests?

[musicalmaniauk]

@mts1977 They are Tom Lehrer and Robin Ray

[louiswalsh2009]

Genius

[rimmersgirl81]

funny how kenneth williams done the parky shows when in his diaries (which i am reading for the millionth time!) he calls michael parkinson a "north country nit!" what a guy! R.I.P kenneth williams what a loss of a great comedy and acting genius!

[1979LITTLEMISS]

I always think of Kenneth as being on a higher plane than most people.

[emma5977]

@1979LITTLEMISS

Hello, Little Miss...hope you don;t mind my knocking on your door about Kenneth Williams. Was he on a higher plane? I don't know. The way things seem to work is you get by or get off. I could rant about so much..funny old world. x

[1979LITTLEMISS]

@emma5977 Hello there :) I don't mind you knocking on my door at all! Oh yes, in terms of knowledge and wisdom I believe he was 'streets ahead' of most of us!!! Incidentally, your comment about seeing Kenneth walking down the 'street' (in real terms!) is very interesting.

[TheWhitehall]

Never a dull moment. What a splendid dinner guest he must have been. Sit, Listen and Enjoy. Greatly missed.

[ChrizRockster]

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.

[DaveBond21]

Michael Parkinson has admitted that he didn't get on with Williams, but he always invited him on the show, because he was so fascinating and funny.

[ecurl]

What an incredible person - I was captivated by his story telling ability.

[JoanCollins2009]

loved him genuine man

[phillace]

wonderfull,wonderfull man

[Kimimus]

Just brilliant - i wonder if he really knew how funny and lovely he was?

[matrags]

Kenneth Williams was a very talented and intelligent man however I believe on his off days he was a complete bitch.

[Kimimus]

Arent we all :)

[makthnife]

@Kimimus

LOL- here here!

[Wikipediot]

a great man

[wildizer]

Genius!!!

[ammorreztristar]

Genuis .

[serehfa]

i just love him. how lucky we are that being gay is no longer an issue and how sad so many people had to go through such hell over it

[1979LITTLEMISS]

'The K W Diaries' Sat 4th Oct 1980: 'TV Centre at 1 o'c. & talked with Chris (researcher) & Mike Parkinson & John Fisher...My entrance was marred by my tripping up on the bottom step, the opening dialogue was stilted & unfunny & four or five minutes of turgid rubbish constituted the chat till I got off the play & on to the book! Telling stories - ...Edith Evans & the Crescent Hotel...Charles Laurence's Mae West line. By that time I'd started climbing & by the end it was OK, but only just!'

[Mharkin007]

I LOVE HIM! You wouldn't think that he secretly hated himself. He lived such a troubled life. poor man.

[fancypantsuk]

yes he did.....he couldn't accept he was a gayman poor soul....i think he felt embarressed bout being gay.....but he was so so funny....

[TheWhitehall]

What a Bona performer he was.I hope he realised how much pleasure and joy he gave. Was he a happy or tormented soul?

[CalamityKessel]

He suffered his share of torment (depression including thoughts of suicide, especially as he got older) but I believe he did find happiness in some things in his life.

[TheWhitehall]

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.

[iampauleybaby]

Tormented. Read his diaries? He doesn't mention this particualr performance, but despite the fact that it was truly excellent and professional (in my opinion) he might have seen it as a complete disaster.

[TheWhitehall]

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.

[iampauleybaby]

Well, he could be very narcissistic too.

[gabrieldix64]

Pure class. Excellent performance.

Thanks for sharing.

[scaryflakybiscuits]

He makes you believe in uniqueness, its a rare quality but he had it.

[shakercoola]

This is absoilutely hilarious. He was a one off.

[md50vd]

the master of put downs. Pity he killed his dad and himself. Maybe the guild overcame him in the end.

[RAFDanny]

He's a legend! Miss him so much...

[gresach]

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.

[phyllodendron]

Brilliant, one of-a-kind; dear Kenneth. My favourite has to be his attendance on "Just A Minute". How I wish that at least some episodes had been filmed!

[raynarks]

His father was a hairdresser, watch the BBC film "Fantabulosa"

[sadielumay]

never appreciated growing up what a talent this man was, remember him from jackanory and carry on films, only as an adult though can I fully appreciate the extent of his talent

[pinkboypaul]

sadly, they don't make em like Kenneth Williams anymore

[stumblebum1]

whats the book theyre talking about

[Mousepie999]

What a loss to us all he was. I don't think he understood how loved he was by the British public.

[razzman21]

he killed himself because he couldnt cope with not being take as a serious actor shame rele

[DanaSnowComedian]

I'm fairly certain one of the other people on the panel is Tom Lehrer!

[lovelyangel2244]

he took his own life with drugs summet 2 do with his sex prefrence or summet

[Shanniquitie]

it was to do with morons like you actually. 'summet' indeed. cretin lol

[instorebox]

his notes were diaries written at the time which portrays an honest account of what he thought then, not some glossed over autobiography to make a person look like a saint.

You got Kenneth Williams warts and all

The all was inclusive of genius that is not oft portrayed these days

[instorebox]

One thing about Parkinson he has a truly commanding voice, he may not be liked by some but his tone is excellent

[Penabby]

Unique, will never be anyone like him, a Legend!

[johnfinbarburke]

how did he die ?

[lovelyangel2244]

he took his own life with drugs because he couldnt cope with his sexual preferance or summet STILL A LEGEND THOUGH

[Beatman197]

Thankyou for this post. He was a tremendous man. Sadly missed.

[howunavailable]

Such a talented, but sad man. He was hiding such tortuous thoughts. As many geniuses have.

[prontford]

Tom Lehrer, the university lecturer and satirical singer/pianist. Perhaps his best known work is 'The Elements Song'.

From Kenneth William's diary (published 1994), Saturday 4 October 1980:

"My entrance was marred by my tripping up on the bottom step, the opening dialogue was stilted and unfunny and four or five minutes of turgid rubbish constituted the chat till I got off the play [he had been directing Joe Orton's 'Loot'] and onto the book ['Acid Drops']...

[prontford]

... Telling stories - the Helpmann at the umpires' room, Maggie Smith teeth fillings and the bra story, Edith Evans and the Crescent Hotel, syndrome and aerodrome, Stanley Baxter and finally Charles Laurence's Mae West line. By that time I'd started climbing and by the end it was OK, but only just. Why? - well the competition was fierce, I'd been lazy, and I'd done the best of the Orton (last year!) on this show and couldn't repeat it. Tom Lehrer was marvellous to me!...

[iiredeye]

At a fantasy dinner party this man would be in the top 5 guests.

[farleigh17]

Along with Peter Cook

[ghodium]

oh dear, i noticed how much his nostrils are displayed, and how much the relative sizes of his right and left nostrils appear so different as the camera angle varies... it ruined it for me, a word of advise, never focus on his nostrils

[vinilla]

what a truly fascinating man

[redrachel76]

His death was recorded an open verdict. He either accidently overdosed on tablets or comitted suicide. But before he died he wrote of (and was) suffering very severe terrible pain which would have come from his ulcer.

[0FindGlory]

The umpires joke is really about Helpmann pretending that putting on eye make-up on top of a table was a usual occurance.

[Kubrickfan1]

Or maybe that the umps were a bit queeny.

[redrachel76]

The cause of stomach ulcers was discovered in 1981 but it was only recognised and adopted as treatment in the 90's b/c of drug companies power and political reasons. Kenneth Williams and many others died as a result of this delay. I bet treatment for other deseases now being delayed this way, for deseases like M.E. etc. I loved Kenneth Williams, such a shame.

[politirel]

I miss Kenny, Spike, Frankie, Ollie, Cook, Ustinov, all great story tellers, what do we have left?

[instorebox]

David Beckham

[derbyogill]

There is only one Kenneth Williams a true British Legend and a man before his time with everlasting talent!...Stand aside all you queens in TV today and listen to the master!..God bleSs him and may HE rest in peace with his hearts desires!...XX Derby O Gill

[paj74]

It implies Robert Helpmann figured that umpires wear eye make up.

[ghodium]

if only kenneth williams could have interviewed bob dylan

[ellecto]

haha!! great idea!

[GrandPrix55]

Brilliant. To be as witty as Kenneth Williams, takes brains.

How ironic that they finally found the cause of stomach ulcers (bacteria in the stomach acid which no one had thought possible) just after he was driven to kill himself due to the pain they caused.

[jojesdan]

a pure genius

[coralarch]

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!

[mrgbennet]

Mr Williams and Mr Fry and Mr Cook (and Mr Hardy) - the greatest and funniest of all time imho.

[ellecto]

agreed.

[MrMakeDo]

What a pity he's not still with us.

[swedpidge]

Wonderful, the man was a genius.

[tommorrissey]

I love this man a pure genius

[algoyo]

I love that Edith Evans story.

[lyndonlongden]

great stories wonderful voice bless his cotton socks

[Nicpetelogan]

Bravo Bravo ! Kenneth

[leejohnson1234]

I agree with previous comments, Kenneth Williams was a highly interlectual man who struggled with many demons, however his flare for language and deliverence even in an interview is proof that he had and continually demonstrated his talent. R.I.P Kenneth Williams 1926-88

[79wx9z]

Personalities like Kenneth Williams keep the GREAT in Britain

Άπαιχτο το άτομο

[MFCworld]

Most excellent!!!

[MFCworld]

Most excellent!!!

[dangerwithing]

Apologies to elsa8001, I hit the wrong key and did'nt mean to mark your comments badly. I actually agree with everything you say.

[skankinhappy]

a great

[elsa8001]

He was wonderful! Who are the other two guests? I recognize them but can't place their names.

[bornfreefoundation]

Tom Lehrer and (I think) Robin Ray.

[liamys]

I think one of the guests is bomber gasgoinge who was a university game show host in the 60's .

[LoverSniper]

is 'parky' the longest running chat show?

[nostromoau]

I could listen to Kenny Williams telling stories for hours.

[kirkwanglers32]

sadley missed

[whispperson]

A Classic.

[Numboss]

An amazing man and an icon of English comedy.

[brickbat44]

what a man?

[coralarch]

The bit about "Evita"- I don't get it. Can someone explain? Is it an in-joke?

[stormbringerII]

...they thought Evita was a holiday destination...probably Ibiza, but it's aactually a musical..hence "I've just come from Evita"

[coralarch]

stormbringer, thanks! I was truly puzzled by that one!

[skankinhappy]

funny man

[gmusto]

lol did i see him miss the step at the beginning LOL!!!!!!!!!

[ROYSTONRAY]

HI

DO YOU HAVE ANY VIDEO CLIPS OF KENNETHS SHOWS

16TH MAR 1970 AND 7 FEB 1970 ?

REGARDS

ROY

dO YOU HAVE ANY

[25thNovember1970]

No, I don't have them.

[freedom232x]

lmao

the way he rolls his "r"'s is great. dont get many people talking as well as that anymore. what a shithole this country has become.

[marksol1881]

how true and how sad that you're right

[kensatan]

what a gem. we miss you Ken.

[davidcutting]

excellent, thanks for sharing video

[pitfieldn1]

Comic genius! They don't make em like that anymore!

[lkijju]

I couldn't agree more KLSambient.

[KLSambient]

This is a real celebrity...not like today where some talentless tart hangs her tits out at a premire and gets called a celebrity..all the real celebrities are long gone..listen to Kenneth, you could listen to him all day..what a man!

[kalindoscopy]

too true. I hate that we've got to put up with so much shit now, if we're to watch tv at all.

[glendonovan]

There's much more to work through on Youtube than television...

[freedom232x]

very true. i very rarely watch tv.

[farr64]

brilliant as ever

[emoheartcannie]

Hilarious stuff right there. Such a shame hes no longer with us. Truly a comedic genius is Kenneth Wiliiams!

[Beatman197]

What a man! Sadly missed by us all that appreciate art, intelligence, articulation, humour and timing. God rest his soul.

[choomanfoo]

Thank you Mr Williams!

[SOFAJEDI]

he always had brilliant use of the english language.fantastic performer.

[prot1066]

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

[peggymount]

Fabulous. One of my favourite Kenny interviews. 'cheaper to have yer tits off' still cracks me up every time. Thanks.

[offrampt]

Good clip. Ken never recovered from his brilliant review in Orson Welles's London production of 80 Days.

He considered himself a serios actor ever after that fateful day.

[hotwok19]

Kenneth Williams was some kind of intellectual comic genius. He was always a dream guest for any chat show host such as Parkinson. His collossal talent seems somewhat wasted on the "Carry On" films, but nonetheless would have been so much poorer without him.

[25thNovember1970]

I'd like to have seen him do some more straight acting as well, but alas, it wasn't to be....

[randycornhole]

How articulate, fantastic!

[craig1078]

Excellent. Thanks for posting this.

[malleebull75]

Brilliant. Brilliant.

[kingdaniel69]

Yes i'm alright but goddness knows how these Umpires manage! So so funny, what timing, delivery and diction.

[carlnotts]

Great clip, was filmed Saturday 4th October 1980, at TV Centre. Ken was quite confident about the show till he saw the monitor showing Tom Lehrer & thought "Follow that" his entrance was marred when he tripped on the bottom step He thought his opening was stilted and unfunny till he got onto chat about the book (Acid Drops) he had done the best of the orton bits on the same show the year before

[wakemeupb4ugogo]

1St time seeing this clip 5 stars

Rip Ken