Kenneth legacy carries on...

Enduring national treasure Kenneth Williams was born 100 years ago today. To mark the occasion, JAMES RAMPTON talks to performer and Williams expert David Benson, to assess the cultural impact the iconic comedy actor has to this day

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COMIC actor Kenneth Williams was responsible for some of the best-loved catchphrases of the last century. Whether “stop messing about”, “infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me”, or “ooo, matron” is your personal favourite, his impact on film and popular culture cannot be denied, making him an enduring national treasure.

Kenneth, who died in 1988 at the relatively young age of 62, was a widely adored performer, starring in favourites such as the Carry On film series, Hancock's Half Hour, Round The Horne and Just A Minute.

Chat show producers had him on speed dial as he was guaranteed to entertain if another guest dropped out.

A highly gifted verbal chameleon whose voice could stretch from Walford to Downton Abbey, he was also an acclaimed diarist.

Kenneth was born 100 years ago today, so this seems an appropriate moment to reflect on what still makes him so beloved.

David Benson, who has played Kenneth in a series of well-regarded plays since his lauded 1996 debut one-man show, Think No Evil of Us, sums up why the comedian continues to delight us almost four decades after his death.

“There’s something about Kenneth’s personality that seems to reach across the decades and still electrify people.

“What has kept him so popular is that he wasn’t just a performer, he was also a personality. He had a repertoire of stories he knew would entertain people, whether on a chat show or in the pub.”

People are also still mesmerised by his remarkable voice. David, who once received a letter from Dame Maggie Smith after one performance exclaiming, “I thought it was Kenneth!”, says: “You may never even have heard of him, but if I do Kenneth’s voice, it could stop traffic in the street.”