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Nicholas Boulton reads Christopher Stevens' biography of Kenneth Williams. Tom and Clive join Williams on holiday but familiarity begins to breed contempt.

Tom and Clive join Williams on holiday but, as ever, if Kenneth does something he loves every day, he begins to hate it.

Kenneth Williams was the stand-out comic actor of his generation. Beloved as the manic star of Carry On films and as a peerless raconteur on TV chat shows and radio comedies, he was also acclaimed for serious stage roles.

Since the publication of edited extracts from his diaries, much controversy has surrounded Williams's personal and professional lives. But journalist and author Christopher Stevens has been granted access by the estate to Williams's complete archive - the forty-three volumes of diaries and hundreds of unseen letters to and from the star.

Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams (the first full-length authorised biography) traces the complex contradictions that characterised an extraordinary life.

Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Read by Nicholas Boulton

Producer: Joanna Green
A Pier Production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.

15 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Thu 2 Dec 2010 09:45
  • Fri 3 Dec 2010 00:30

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