Kenneth Williams Unseen: The private notes, scripts and photographs

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

Wes Butters

To mark the 20th anniversary of Kenneth Williams’ death, a beautiful coffee table book celebrating his life, including never-before-seen photographs, sketches and personal testimony from Williams’ closest friends, for the very first time.2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of legendary comic actor and broadcaster Kenneth Williams. Among the actor's bequests, in a will which itself was controversial enough to require re-examination, was a large cache of private papers and memorabilia inherited by his godson, Robert Chiddell, and subsequently acquired by the broadcaster and Williams fanatic, Wesley Butters.This material, none of which has been seen before, includes scripts and drafts by Williams, lectures and speeches delivered by him (to an audience of policemen, in a couple of cases), a large number of superb photographs from all phases of his career, and creative writing which even extends to a fictional recreation of his own turbulent Cockney childhood.Without ever arranging it formally Williams had unwittingly assembled a brilliant scrapbook of his life. Kenneth Williams Unseen is that scrapbook, enlarged and emboldened by contributions from those who knew and loved him and is a must for every fan of the great man himself. This is the first authorised book on Williams in over a decade and will re-define the Williams legacy.

Kenneth Williams Unseen

THE PRIVATE NOTES, SCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Wes Butters & Russell Davies

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u24842cab-fe67-54ed-964f-0d32edc102ee)

Title Page (#u0aaada51-f265-522c-89e8-6c397e3e9dc3)

Cast of Characters (#u9b68236a-3256-59db-8381-fc979b1010f3)

Introduction by Russell Davies (#u70e604bf-bf51-5ef0-8729-19f66f8fcf43)

The DEATH of Kenneth Williams (#u0ac01af5-cfa6-55a5-bbed-18c268be564c)

Marchmont Street (#ua090d1c5-a9b0-517e-aad1-7c785b42699a)

Enter STAGE RIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

From CSE to the BBC (#litres_trial_promo)

Radio STAR (#litres_trial_promo)

Cordwangles and JAM (#litres_trial_promo)

The MAN WHO TAUGHT HIM COMEDY (#litres_trial_promo)

Carry on Ken (#litres_trial_promo)

Beyond our Kenneth (#litres_trial_promo)

Kenneth Williams (#litres_trial_promo)

Kenneth Williams (#litres_trial_promo)

Kenneth Williams (#litres_trial_promo)

Afterword by Wes Butters (#litres_trial_promo)

Sources (#litres_trial_promo)

Index (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Cast of Characters (#ulink_de61ee13-14e0-5cbe-9102-ef839327463c)

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 Swan His 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.’