Born Brilliant: The Life Of Kenneth Williams
- Radio documentary
- BBC Radio 4
- 2010
- 5 episodes (1 series)
Nicholas Boulton reads from Christopher Stevens's biography of Kenneth Williams, drawing from interviews and the 43 volumes of Williams's diaries.
Key details
- Genre
- Documentary
- Broadcast
- 2010
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Episodes
- 5 (1 series)
- Features
- Nicholas Boulton
- Writers
- Christopher Stevens and Libby Spurrier
- Producers
- Joanna Green
- Company
Christopher Stevens's biography of Kenneth Williams details the life and rise to fame of the Carry On star.
Born Brilliant draws on all 43 volumes of Williams's diaries as well as Stevens's interviews with Williams's friends and colleagues.
Kenneth Williams was one of the stand-out comic actors of his generation. Beloved as the manic star of Carry On films and as a peerless raconteur on television chat shows and radio comedies, he was also acclaimed for serious stage roles.
In the first episode, the young Kenneth Williams shows academic promise and an instinct for comedy, but his father tells him he must learn a trade.
In the second episode, Williams is an established star of the Carry On films and is offered a role in a new radio comedy series.
The third programme reveals the closest Williams came to having a love affair; and in penultimate episode, he joins close friends Tom and Clive on holiday in Morocco.
By the final programme, Williams is the voice of Willo The Wisp; a regular on television chat shows and BBC Radio 4's Just A Minute; and is invited to direct Joe Orton's play, Loot.
Additional details
- Production setting
- Studio