Kenneth Williams Unseen: The Private Notes, Scripts and Photographs

by Butters Wesley

To mark the 20th anniversary of legendary comic actor and broadcaster Kenneth Williams’ death, this beautiful coffee table book includes never-before-seen photographs, sketches, and personal testimony from Williams’ closest friends, for the very first time. 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, Wes 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 authorized book on Williams in over a decade and will re-define the Williams legacy.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Anthony McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly a biography of the famous British actor: more a scrapbook of his life and career.

I am showing my age, but I remember listening to Kenneth Williams on radio, long before my parents purchased a television set. He played a supporting but vital part in the BBC Hancock Half-Hour shows which we couldn't wait to listen to each week. With brilliant scripts by Galton and Simpson and a cast headed by the great Tony Hancock alongside Hattie Jacques, Sid James and our
very own Aussie Bill Kerr, with KW providing all those odd ball characterizations with that remarkable voice.

I also remember him in the famous Kenneth Horne shows: "Beyond Our Ken" and "Round the Horne" part of the golden days of British radio comedy. He also appeared (right up to his apparent suicide) in many other comedy and quiz shows which I was not familiar with.

This scrapbook of his life concentrates heavily on his radio work and the shows he appeared in on the London stage. A wonderful collection of KW memorabilia including stacks of great photos, private correspondence, theatre notes and an absorbing series of observations (more a running commentary) by friends and colleagues including Dennis Main Wilson, Derek Nimmo, Bill Pertwee, Betty Marsden, Barry Took, Barbara Windsor and Peter Rogers - all synonymous with classic British comedy of the day.

Readers who love the Carry-On films may be a bit disappointed that there is only a twenty-page chapter on the series in which KW appeared in 22 (I think!) and will be forever remembered for all those delightful facial distortions and unmistakable voice and his continual sparring with the likes of Hattie Jacques. (And considering all the gastric problems which plagued him all his life, remembered so fondly for his hilarious portrayals of doctor in so many of these films.) But fans will enjoy the abundance of comments from Carry-On producer Peter Rogers including some very amusing reflections on the always drunk Charles Hawtrey.

With all his radio, television, stage and film work he was a truly gifted actor (not comedian!) and a career which should be more appreciated than just parroting "Oooh Matron!" and "Stop messin' about!" A very private man who could light up and shock a room of guests or his radio audience with clever and intelligent wit laced with some quite crude sexual innuendo.

Liked this KW quote (although I doubt it's original): "Critics are like eunuchs in the harem: they're there every night, they see it done every night, but they can't do it themselves."
and
"Go on Kenny, show us your diction!
"I'm asexual. I should have been a monk. I'm only interested in myself and would regard any kind of relationship as deeply intrusive and anything which invaded that would be a threat, so consequently I live a life of celibacy ... I'm not interested in the other. The whole idea of other people's adventures in that sphere, I must say well good luck to them! It seems to me a very messy business."

I found this quite an enthralling read and was a time well spent with one of the true enigmas of actors. I had not read much about his life before except for his adventures with Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell as they cavorted in North Africa during the mid-60s checking out the local livestock - a strange trio indeed: the always promiscuous Orton, the always depressed Halliwell and the always chaste Williams.

Even with fame and prosperity, KW lived a very private and spartan lifestyle in a small London flat with few luxuries and only a short distance from his mother (an often complicated lifetime devotion) and sister and rarely moved away from his cockney roots.

This book shed a lot of light on a truly remarkable figure in British entertainment.

P.S. Oddly when I was reading this I came upon jokes that I have been repeating constantly for years. Obviously I had picked these up from KW during his early radio programs and have stayed with me forever!

[Colin Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book there's little more more we know about KW. The various contributions from people who knew him more personally is interesting to read KW had many sides to his personality and there is no drought what a great knowledge of literature and arts he had. I have always enjoyed his appearances on the Parkinson shows. Also his various radio shows that really highlight his genius and humour. Personally back in the earlier 70's I used to walk to my place of work in Euston road in London,, and sometimes KW would be walking towards me in the opposite direction and we would say Good morning and carry on our journey. He lived quite near my work . Also I have seen him in the west end in London in a much outlandish way with some I presume friends. He did come up to Milton Keynes once in 1985 to do a signing of his latest book in WH Smith then proceeded to do a great monologue in the adjacent shopping centre stage. This I Remember was the Great KW at his best.

[Bunny Cavanagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Russell Davis wormed his way in again. I really don't trust the man.
The subtitle to the book is 'private notes, scripts and photographs'. I was surprised to find the book is in actuality a lot of anecdotes about KW by people who worked with him such as Giles Brandsworth. V odd. The pics of KW with his Godson are wonderful and it was nice to read he had him in his life. I love KW I wish there had been more of his papers in here and transcriptions of the few pages that have been included. Did they hold back in hope of a sequel?

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting. The scripts at the end were wonderful and some of the unseen photos joyful. The rest was a mix of anecdotes but apart from those from people who weren’t really in the diaries I’m not sure it added much to my ‘knowledge’ of the man.

[Mikey James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book regarding Kenneth Williams however, I had just finished reading Freeland's biography on him and there was so much repetition. The photos and scans of William's documents were a nice touch and the layout of the book was interesting throughout.

[claire hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read 👍

Brilliant book, going to read the others now. Couldn't put it down ☺😊😃 . Funny, interesting but sad in places.

[Ant Koplowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing really new here, but an interesting pictorial summary of the mercurial life of Kenneth Williams.

[Mark Glidden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty dull.