An evening of conversation celebrating the life and legacy of Kenneth Williams, marking 100 years since his birth.

Southwark Cathedral recently hosted a lively evening of conversation exploring Williams’ humour, friendships and cultural legacy.

Author Bill Holland joined broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth in conversation with The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark, for an engaging discussion exploring Williams’ humour, friendships and cultural legacy. Together they reflected on Williams’ extraordinary contribution to British entertainment and the enduring fascination with his voice, wit and personal diaries.

Watch the event recording

Please note that some clips referenced during the event are not included in the recording due to copyright restrictions.

About the event

Kenneth Williams remains one of the most distinctive voices in British cultural life. Known to many for his unforgettable performances in the Carry On films, he was also a celebrated broadcaster and diarist, famed for his razor-sharp wit on radio’s Just A Minute and for his candid and often poignant personal diaries.

The discussion drew on Bill Holland’s book, Beyond Our Kenneth: The Continued Diaries of Kenneth Williams, which imagines what might have happened had Williams continued writing into the early 1990s. Inspired by Williams’ authentic voice and outlook, Holland’s work offers a playful continuation of the diaries while also celebrating the life of one of Britain’s most fascinating cultural figures.

During the evening, the speakers explored Williams’ humour, friendships and spiritual curiosity, reflecting on how his personality and writing continue to resonate with audiences today.

Speakers

Bill Holland
Bill Holland graduated from the Arts Educational Schools and spent ten years working as an actor before turning to writing. His interests span British cultural history, theatre and television, including the legacy of the Carry On films. His book Beyond Our Kenneth imagines a continuation of Kenneth Williams’ diaries into the early 1990s.

Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster and former Member of Parliament. A familiar voice on radio and television, he appears regularly on programmes including Just A Minute, QI, Countdown, Pointless and This Morning. He has written numerous books ranging from biographies to murder mysteries and is a columnist for The Oldie.

The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley
The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley is Dean of Southwark Cathedral. Formerly Dean of St John’s College, Cambridge, and Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, he is an acclaimed writer on poetry and theology. His book The Splash of Words: Believing in Poetry won the international Michael Ramsey Prize for theological writing.

The evening

The event took place in the Cathedral Library and welcomed visitors for an evening of conversation celebrating the life, humour and cultural impact of Kenneth Williams.