Back in the 1980s, when I was a child, Kenneth Williams seemed to be everywhere. He was famously competitive against the likes of Derek Nimmo and Clement Freud on BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute and could regularly be seen as a guest on shows as varied as Child’s Play, Whose Baby?, Through the Keyhole, Give Us a Clue, Did You See? and Countdown.
He was a chat-show favourite and was always reliably entertaining whether sitting opposite Harty, Aspel or Parkinson. He once even stood in for Terry Wogan himself during one of his occasional holidays. He played a devil, complete with horns and velvet cape, for a TV commercial for BP and did voiceovers on ads for Supersoft nappies and Temik pesticides. He was interviewed frequently on a variety of subjects both highbrow and lowbrow.
As a child, I enjoyed his spirited reading of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach on Jackanory, and could easily recognise his voice behind that of the bug-eyed ship’s computer SID (Space Investigation Detector) on Children’s BBC space comedy Galloping Galaxies!. More famously, he narrated and provided all of the voices for cartoon fantasy Willo the Wisp including unlikely fairy Mavis Cruet and malevolent TV set Evil Edna.
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It's a Lottery
Claire Saul celebrates 30 years of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which supports heritage projects across the United Kingdom
In Memoriam
Michael Foley pays his respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice
Leader of the Pack
Paul Williams examines the history of War Horse
French Fancies
Alain Carraze explains how cult British shows are perceived as the best on television in France
Redheads & Rollers
Simon Stabler talks to Crossroads' Tony Adams
Bringing Memories Back to Life
Richard Haines on the importance of making the most of your vintage photographs
POSTCARD FROM KENT
Bob Barton investigates a network of caves, takes a ride on a thriving heritage railway, and marvels at the beauty of the garden of England
Laughter in the Air
Chris Hallam remembers writer, television presenter and comedian Barry Took
My Good Old Days
Tim Quinn takes us behind the scenes of Leeds City Varieties
The Battersea Bardot
David Barnes remembers the star of Cathy Come Home