Russell Davies - Kenneth Williams Unseen - The private notes, scripts and photographs

THE PRIVATE NOTES, SCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Cover Page

Title Page Kenneth Williams Unseen THE PRIVATE NOTES, SCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Cast of Characters

Introduction by Russell Davies

The DEATH of Kenneth Williams

Marchmont Street

Enter STAGE RIGHT

From CSE to the BBC

Radio STAR

Cordwangles and JAM

The MAN WHO TAUGHT HIM COMEDY

Carry on Ken

Beyond our Kenneth

Kenneth Williams

Kenneth Williams

Kenneth Williams

Afterword by Wes Butters

Sources

Index

Acknowledgements

Copyright

About the Publisher

Michael Anderson(b. 1929) One of the four beneficiaries of Kenneth Williams’s will, Michael became Kenneth’s agent (at ICM) in 1980, shortly after the death of his initial representative, Peter Eade.

Gyles Brandreth(b. 1948) The prolific author and former Conservative MP for Chester (1992–7) worked closely with Kenneth on his literary productions. Uniquely among Kenneth’s friends, he has blamed himself publicly for ‘giving up’ on Ken, deterred by his difficult behaviour in the last years.

Peter Cadley(b. 1965) He was a young employee of Michael Whittaker’s when a casual remark, mentioning his admiration for the Carry On films, led to a surprise dinner for him to meet his hero. He maintained close friendships with both Pat and Louie after Kenneth’s death.

Angela Chidell(b. 1941) The mother of Robert Chidell was a piano teacher in North London. She suggested Kenneth Williams as her son’s godfather because of their long-standing family connection.

Isabel Chidell(b. 1918) The paternal grandmother of Robert Chidell is the sister of the actor John Vere, the man who, Kenneth said, ‘taught me all I know about comedy’.

Robert Chidell(b. 1975) Kenneth’s godson became front-page news at the age of 12 after inheriting 50 per cent of Kenneth’s belongings plus £30,000. An aspiring musician, he lives in the West Country with his wife and baby son.

Isabel Dean(1918–97) A dignified and beautiful actress, very popular in her profession, she was snubbed by the major West End manager-producer of her day, and never enjoyed the career she deserved. She was one of several women invited to consider the possibility of living with Kenneth Williams.

Sir Clement Freud(b. 1924) Grandson of Sigmund Freud, the former Liberal MP for the Isle of Ely (1973–87) was a fellow panellist on Radio 4’s Just a Minute throughout Kenneth’s involvement in the show.

John Harding(b. 1948) After reading glowing press accounts of his play, For Sylvia , in Edinburgh, Michael Codron cast him in My Fat Friend. It was his first West End engagement and was mired by another of Kenneth’s insecure walkouts that, at the time, he cited as ‘health reasons’.

Sir David Hatch(1939–2007) Successful as a Cambridge Footlights revue member in the Cleese generation, he became a radio comedy producer, originating Just a Minute , then successively Head of Light Entertainment (Radio), Controller of Radio 2 and Controller of Radio 4. He took over as Managing Director (Radio) but was out of place in the John Birt era. He ended his career as Chairman of the National Consumer Council, then finally Chairman of the Parole Board.

Norman Hudis(b. 1923) The forgotten man of the Carry On tradition wrote the first six films in the series. Moving to America, he wrote for Cannon , Hawaii Five-O and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Nick Lewis (b. 1966) As a Warwick University undergraduate, he struck up a correspondence with Kenneth Williams in the late 1980s. They met just once: at Joe Allen, eight weeks before Kenneth’s death.

Betty Marsden(1919–98) The ripe-voiced actress shared both the microphone and the stage with Kenneth in Round the Horne , Beyond Our Ken and Cinderella. She also appeared in two of the Carry On films. She lived in an elegant houseboat in Isleworth.

Eric Merriman(1924–2003) The prolific scriptwriter created Beyond Our Ken with Barry Took, and after Took’s departure wrote it alone. He went into television and co-wrote, for example, several series of the celebrated sitcom Terry and June.

Derek Nimmo(1930–99) Chiefly famous for his comic-cleric roles on TV, he was a long-term fellow panellist on Just a Minute , and most active late in life as a theatrical impresario, organizing worldwide tours. He died after a fall downstairs at his home.

Richard Pearson(b. 1918) A character actor with a wonderful career in meek and understated roles, he shared with Kenneth and Maggie Smith the success of The Private Ear and The Public Eye. His family became a domestic refuge for KW.

Bill Pertwee(b. 1926) The surviving doyen of Dad’s Army (as Warden Hodges), he had been the bits-and-pieces man in the casts of Round the Horne and Beyond Our Ken. He also participated in three Carry On films.

Paul Richardson(b. 1944) Kenneth’s friend and neighbour at Marlborough House for sixteen years, he was left 50 per cent of KW’s belongings, including his diaries and letters. He is currently Technical Director of Sadler’s Wells.

Peter Rogers(b. 1914) The producer of the Carry On films, who entered the film industry as a writer of religious subjects for the Rank Organisation, still works at the Pinewood Studios.

Jeremy SwanHis vast list of credits in children’s programming include Jackanory and Rentaghost , of which Christopher Biggins has said: ‘It was all due to the most brilliant director-producer – a mad Irishman called Jeremy Swan, and it was he who instigated all the completely insane stuff like the pantomime horse. We used to cry with laughter.’

Barry Took(1928–2002) Best known to the public as a quiz chairman and TV presenter, Took had collaborated with Merriman on the first seasons of Beyond Our Ken , and then co-wrote Round the Horne with Marty Feldman. He later employed Kenneth as a voice-over artist.

Michael Whittaker(b. 1938) A businessman – unusually in Kenneth’s circle – he is acknowledged in the diaries as ‘best of people and best of my friends’ because of his unfaltering loyalty and kindness in caring for Kenneth and Louie.

Louie Williams(1901–91) Kenneth’s mother and greatest fan was seemingly ever-present at his recordings, particularly in radio. She had given birth to Ken at 11 Bingfield Street, Islington, off the Caledonian Road, close to what is now the ‘Cally’ swimming pool.

Pat Williams(d. 1994) Kenneth’s sister – the full circumstances of her birth, could not be revealed during her lifetime. The allusion Kenneth made to the matter in his diaries did not appear in the published version.

Dennis Main Wilson(1924–97) The screenonline website, developed by the British Film Institute, describes the producer of Hancock’s Half Hour as ‘arguably the most important and influential of all comedy producers/directors in British radio and television’. He was responsible for getting The Goon Show on the air.