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  • The Private World of Kenneth Williams

  • By: BBC Audiobooks
  • Narrated by: Full Cast
  • Length: 2 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (113 ratings)
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The Private World of Kenneth Williams cover art

The Private World of Kenneth Williams

By: BBC Audiobooks
Narrated by: Full Cast
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Summary

In this documentary portrait of Kenneth Williams, who died in 1988, the much-loved comedy actor's diaries are drawn upon to illustrate his life and career. David Benson, who won acclaim for his one-man show in which he portrayed Kenneth Williams, reads extracts from the diaries, while archive audio clips from such programmes as Round the Horne and Beyond Out Ken illustrate the madcap versatility of Williams the performer. This Radio Collection version features material additional to the original Radio 4 broadcast.
©2004 BBC Audiobooks LTD (P)2004 BBC Audiobooks LTD

What listeners say about The Private World of Kenneth Williams

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent However....

Excellent listening to David Benson, just not enough of the Diary extracts as it is on CD. This is mainly archive chat show stuff an only about 20 minutes of actual Diary recitation. Shame as David Benson is excellent. So be warned.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen

Hearing how Kenneth recalls the day’s events, then hearing the recording/interviews and how they actually went, really highlights how incredibly self critical he was.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Faultless

The performance of this is enhanced by clips of Williams at his best , funny bitchy and brilliant

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An amazing real life experience, behind the curtain of Kenneth’s life

This was a great audio book adaptation of the book, beautifully narrated. So much humour and the stitching together or archive real performances is genius!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

fascinating bloke and well performed

I kept forgetting it was narrated, he has got the voice down pretty well! Shame it wasn't the full diaries though.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Diary of a troubled mind

These extracts from Williams’ diaries are interspersed with clips from his performances, from formal productions to some of his many talk-show appearances. It’s an excellent record of his life and work, and reminds us again of how deeply troubled Williams was in his private life - though frequently funny in his diary entries, and always brutally candid. He was often highly cynical / negative about his work, and dismissive / highly critical of colleagues, and contemporaries. It’s ultimately a tragic story, but there are many laughs in this relatively short audiobook. The central message is that - however much success a celebrity might achieve - there’s always (or very often) a deep-seated paranoia and insecurity.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

I am intrigued by Williams persona and this audiobook made insightful and easy listening. The excerpts from interviews and radio shows integrate perfectly with the commentary which reveals a lonely but frank and well meaning man with a genius for cynical observation. I wish I had been part of this era and artistic circle. A good account of a very British life, well actually a very London life at that.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent great listen in depth and sad out look

a great read with a sad comedian in his personal life but projects the happier side of his identity in the public eye.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I wasted my credit in an audio pamphlet !

Too short . Lesson learned ; always check the length !!!
Narration very good ; excerpts very good but far too short ; not enough content . Wish I’d bought Acid drops !

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

stop mucking about.

I guess Kenneth Williams is not for everybody and some may not find this book as funny and as real as I did. But I absolutely adored it. from the background that he had... he turned into quite an adorable human being in a quirky kind of way. the.very much loved and missed Kenneth Williams.

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