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Hello, Darlings!: The Authorised Biography of Kenny Everett
The fully authorised biography of this adored pioneer of radio and television comedy.
Spontaneous, hilarious, irrepressible and, of course, trailblazing -- Kenny Everett was revolutionary in television and radio comedy. Chris Evans, Chris Moyles, Rob Brydon and Steve Wright have all cited Kenny as a huge influence on their work -- even the great Spike Milligan called him a genius.
This in-depth and affectionate biography has been fully authorised by Kenny's family and contains original interviews with Kenny's sister, Kate and with his former wife, Lee, as well as entertainment figures such as Barry Cryer, Bryan Ferry, Chris Tarrant and Paul Gambaccini. Packed with fabulous stories about the highs and lows of Kenny's life, his great friendships with The Beatles and Freddie Mercury, this is a book that any fan of comedy and entertainment must read.
Spontaneous, hilarious, irrepressible and, of course, trailblazing -- Kenny Everett was revolutionary in television and radio comedy. Chris Evans, Chris Moyles, Rob Brydon and Steve Wright have all cited Kenny as a huge influence on their work -- even the great Spike Milligan called him a genius.
This in-depth and affectionate biography has been fully authorised by Kenny's family and contains original interviews with Kenny's sister, Kate and with his former wife, Lee, as well as entertainment figures such as Barry Cryer, Bryan Ferry, Chris Tarrant and Paul Gambaccini. Packed with fabulous stories about the highs and lows of Kenny's life, his great friendships with The Beatles and Freddie Mercury, this is a book that any fan of comedy and entertainment must read.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionMusic
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2013
About the author
James Hogg
38 booksLibrarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
James^^Hogg
James^^Hogg
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 24, 2013
Well researched, mostly well written portrayal of a complex man. The history of pirate radio and the beginnings of Radio One is fascinating. Excess of exclamation marks somehow detracts from the story and sometimes makes the story 'folksy'.
June 29, 2014
An interesting insight to life of Kenny Everett. Must admit I wasn't that much of a fan, but did appreciate some of his humour and will applaud his technical achievements on radio presentation when tape was king and nobody had heard of digital recording. A pioneer in the art of presentation, much copied, but never bettered.
September 23, 2013
Well researched and excellent biography of cuddly ken. Focused very much on his true work of genius which was the wireless. The last chapter was truly touching. Best biography I've read in a long time,
March 5, 2017
It was a great read. I didn't realise Kenny Everett did as much as he did. Makes me want to look up his stuff on Youtube.
December 31, 2017
A very solid and page turning biography of an iconic radio and television star. I've always enjoyed Kenny Everett's TV work - I grew up with it, as did many people of my generation. This book introduced me to his prior career, and it was genuinely interesting to discover how Cuddly Ken became a major star in the UK. I was very engaged by descriptions of how he made radio, and his use of tape editing and sound collage; it seems he was one of the first people to do this, and throughout his career, adopted new technology and was an innovative user of it.
I was far more interested in how Kenny made his work, and I'd have liked some closer examination of key moments (apparently many are well preserved in a considerable archive), but the authors do make the point that his life and work were entwined. Still, some transcripts seemed to be lacking from the book.
I found myself a little sad at the end, and this book does serve underline the great loss to the world's creative community that occurred during the HIV years.
Hello Darlings is a great tribute to a singular cultural figure, and it's important Kenny Everett and his remarkable body of work do not fade into obscurity; he was a pioneer of techniques that are still with us in broadcasting and sound production, as well as being genuinely funny.
I was far more interested in how Kenny made his work, and I'd have liked some closer examination of key moments (apparently many are well preserved in a considerable archive), but the authors do make the point that his life and work were entwined. Still, some transcripts seemed to be lacking from the book.
I found myself a little sad at the end, and this book does serve underline the great loss to the world's creative community that occurred during the HIV years.
Hello Darlings is a great tribute to a singular cultural figure, and it's important Kenny Everett and his remarkable body of work do not fade into obscurity; he was a pioneer of techniques that are still with us in broadcasting and sound production, as well as being genuinely funny.
February 19, 2025
I remember the first time I saw Kenny Everett on TV. I was around 11, maybe 12 years old, and The Kenny Everett Video Show was airing on RTE 2, Ireland's second TV station. Ireland of the late 1970's/early 80's, was very strait laced, so one can imagine the reaction of some viewers upon viewing Cuddly Ken. As for me, I loved him.
Hello Darlings was like a trip down memory lane. All those characters I'd laughed at, such as Captain Kremmen and Sid Snot. Freddie Mercury dressing up as Sid Snot for the Eurovision Violence Contest. Classic!
And I will be forever grateful that Kenny played Bohemian Rhapsody in its entirety on his radio show, as that was the start of my love for Queen. 🎙📻
Hello Darlings is one of the best biographies I have read in recent times. It has been wonderfully researched, and very well written. I learned a lot about Cuddly Ken, his early years in Liverpool, and his later struggles with his sexuality. I warmed to him even more, the more I read.
The final chapters were difficult to read and, yes, I cried at the poignancy of Kenny's final months, and the loss that was felt by those who knew and loved him. Despite the tears, I enjoyed this book immensely.
Hello Darlings was like a trip down memory lane. All those characters I'd laughed at, such as Captain Kremmen and Sid Snot. Freddie Mercury dressing up as Sid Snot for the Eurovision Violence Contest. Classic!
And I will be forever grateful that Kenny played Bohemian Rhapsody in its entirety on his radio show, as that was the start of my love for Queen. 🎙📻
Hello Darlings is one of the best biographies I have read in recent times. It has been wonderfully researched, and very well written. I learned a lot about Cuddly Ken, his early years in Liverpool, and his later struggles with his sexuality. I warmed to him even more, the more I read.
The final chapters were difficult to read and, yes, I cried at the poignancy of Kenny's final months, and the loss that was felt by those who knew and loved him. Despite the tears, I enjoyed this book immensely.
May 31, 2017
I loved Kenny, as a child I watched him and he was very much part of my life growing up. This book gave quite a good insight to the complicated man behind the personna. Many people could accuse the book of being one sided, but I don't agree. Okay so it doesn't go in to much detail of his private life and there is no real mention of people like Cleo Rocos, but I think that is a good thing. To be honest we really have no right to know the nitty gritty of the man, after all we only got to see the clown side of him. However it does not angelify him, we know he was conflicted and desperately troubled, but aren't most highly gifted people? I found it a very satisfying insight to him that made me laugh and cry. It is well written with plenty anecdotes from those who knew him best and I do truly believe them when they said no one had anything bad to say about him. If you loved Kenny, this is definitely the book to read, it even brought back to my mind things I had forgotten about him and his programmes.
January 4, 2021
A brilliant book well written and researched. A very complex intresting beautiful talented man. He was so funny I missed most of cuddley Ken on the radio but used to watch the video show and television show it was great entertainment. Amazing character's and star guests on the show never serious just jaw dropping watching them being sent up by Kenny and not at all minding him do it. The man was a genius kind and superstar human being. Great book to read easy riveting and interesting.
February 5, 2025
I loved this book, and got quite emotional at the end. I wouldn't recommend Chapter 31, especially if you're squeamish, but the rest is well worth reading. There is mention of his lifestyle, but the main focus is Kenny's personality and talent for entertaining people, which is what I wanted to read about.
March 10, 2025
An interesting journey through a time that I shared although not the place. As radio Kenny, being so very London centric, was missed by those of us, the majority, who live elsewhere in the UK.
However his TV work and some Radio One work showed us his engaging, irreverent and original take on life.
This book, although not massively long, would not have suffered from being shorter.
However his TV work and some Radio One work showed us his engaging, irreverent and original take on life.
This book, although not massively long, would not have suffered from being shorter.
June 24, 2017
42 WORD REVIEW:
Kenny Everett once wrote an autobiography; or rather, he didn’t. It was ghost-written by a friend and Kenny didn’t even read it. He wasn’t interested in the past. For those who are, Hogg and Sellers’ comprehensively researched biography is well worth reading.
Kenny Everett once wrote an autobiography; or rather, he didn’t. It was ghost-written by a friend and Kenny didn’t even read it. He wasn’t interested in the past. For those who are, Hogg and Sellers’ comprehensively researched biography is well worth reading.
January 11, 2019
Lovely book, written with love and affection for Kenny E. The book itself splits you in two. Smiling, beaming at the absurdity of the comic capers. Heart broken and frustrated that such a talent and decent chap got himself into such a existential cul-de-sac.
January 28, 2022
Very informative and entertaining biography. Quite poignant as well as read it in the same week that Barry Cryer passed away and that I also saw a documentary about Terry Wogan where a clip of Blankety Blank showed both Kenny and Barry.
March 28, 2025
A very good biography, very well researched and well written.
I did not know about Kenny's vast work with wireless but his tv work is part of my childhood and one of the reasons for my love of UK, so this was really interesting to read.
I did not know about Kenny's vast work with wireless but his tv work is part of my childhood and one of the reasons for my love of UK, so this was really interesting to read.
November 22, 2018
If you're going to read this, also read Cleo Rocos's Kenny and Me. Between the two you'll get a fuller picture.
August 2, 2024
Fantastic, loved every moment and had a lump in my throat towards the end, a lovely man who we lost too soon.
June 7, 2022
As someone who grew up watching Kenny Everett on the BBC, it was nice to learn more about him - what made him tick to a certain extent. I know that there will be people who say that this book was somewhat sanitised, but for me, it was a good book.
For those who have not been lucky enough to see such comic classics such as the Rod Stewart sketch, this book may not make much sense, but to those of us who grew up either watching or listening to Kenny, it's a sensitively written book, and towards the end, I don't mind admitting to shedding a few tears.
For those who have not been lucky enough to see such comic classics such as the Rod Stewart sketch, this book may not make much sense, but to those of us who grew up either watching or listening to Kenny, it's a sensitively written book, and towards the end, I don't mind admitting to shedding a few tears.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews