Kenneth Williams on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" (1987)

Kenneth Williams, a true British comedy legend and also a man of great sadness. In 1987 he appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. Interviewed by the Michael Parkinson, Kenneth chooses his favourite records and talks about his life and career.

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[Robbyem12]

Thank you so much for posting this - I find Kenneth Williams enduringly fascinating and read and re-read and watch and re-watch everything about him. A truly unique and captivating person. I so wish I could have met him although I suspect he would have been suitably irritated by any invasion of his space (and rightly so). Great man and greatly underrated.

[JollimanLtd]

Love this , thank you

[wungabunga]

And he was on a desert island.

[peterdcarter1]

@ImhotepsAshes This was recorded on Monday 30th March. His diary entry for that day reads; I did Desert Island Discs with Michael Parkinson. I told him truthfully 'what a difference doing it with you! That awful Plumb Leigh was dreadful, so oleaginous!' I get on fine with M.P.'cos he's direct and honest and lets you become uninhibited.

[AntPDC]

What can one say? A priceless post, for which huge thanks. Kenny was a singular figure for whom I (and of course the rest of his rather large audience) had enormous affection and admiration. I corresponded with him very, very briefly in my early 20's - and I treasure his wonderful letters back.

[ImhotepsAshes]

How long was this recorded before his death? At what point in 1987? (It's wonderful, might I add!)

[grai]

thanks for this I have been waiting years to hear this

Interesting that even in 1987 Williams makes a reference to choice in hair dressing being an example of the acceptance of homosexuality

And yet his gayness his skirted around with all that perculiar waffle about Dynastic families

today if someone was asked if they had ever wanted children to pass on there genes they would simply be able to say "no I'm gay"

So while an improvement 1987 wasnt as liberated as they thought !

[littleandlarge06]

Fantastic. Been looking for this everywhere. Great post

[7554EdwardG]

MysteriousBritishGuy,

Many thanks for the posting of this - great to hear an interview not easily available elsewhere. There will never be another entertainer like Kenneth Williams, who was better educated, more well read and worldly than many ever gave him credit for. Along with his great humour was the well documented anguish in his private life, but here he is in great form.