Christopher Stevens (1)

Kenneth Williams was a genius. I have read all the biographies and the autobiography so, one would be surprised, and suspicious, were this one to be radically different: it isn't.

Was it, then, worth the read? Yes. Williams was a complex character, capable of acts of monumental kindness and equal spite. Previous biographies have pointed this out but, Stevens is the first biographer to stitch the two facets together in a believable, understandable way. This book also finally puts the lid on show more the theories that Williams committed suicide. The explanation as to how he died are compelling and, just to be sure, Stevens takes the time to destroy the suicide theories one by one.

The best two compliments that I can pay this book are, firstly that it was one of those reads that one does not want to reach the end and secondly, it has driven me straight to the collection of Hancock, Round the Horne and Carry On recordings to enjoy the man's work. show less

Interesting topic but the book is mostly a relentless instant gratification list of random facts explaining little and annoyingly peppered with awkward jokes and pop-culture references. I'm also surprised how the etymologies are presented as fact and without any caveats of being guesswork or there being any controversy around them.

This book traces the history of one of Britain's greatest comedy writing duos. Galton and Simpson were as much a part of the success of Tony Hancock as the lad 'imself. When Hancock cut the final thread, holding him to his fame, by dismissing the services of his writers, they went on to create Steptoe and Son, a series that took sitcom on another step.

Pre-G&S, comedy, this side of the Atlantic, consisted of comedians, men (and they almost exclusively were men) who had served their time on show more the boards doing mother-in-law jokes, telling a story packed with jokes. They wrote, initially for Tony Hancock, a different style of comedy: one without punchlines. Their humour was the humour of the ordinary man but, Hancock, although he agreed with this approach, was still that archetypal comedian.

Galton and Simpson's next foray into comedy, with Steptoe and Son, bore no comedian. Wilfred Bramble had played comic roles in the theatre but Harry H Corbett was an actor making a name for himself in serious theatre. They tell a lovely story about the making of the first episode when Harold is frustrated and they were amazed to see real tears in the actors eyes.

This book is a real tribute: almost fifty per cent of the work is taken up with extracts from Galton and Simpson scripts. These are surrounded by quotes from the writers as to what they were trying to achieve and details of their lives. I have been a fan, through Tony Hancock, for many years and so, I knew most of the information contained in this opus but, there was enough new information to sustain my interest and it is great to have it all within a single set of covers. This book is an essential for anyone with even a passing interest in British comedy - and a darned good read. show less

The complex life of Kenneth Williams is well told here by Christopher Stevens. Williams was a truly marvellous wit and raconteur as well as a popular comic actor. He was also a repressed homosexual and suffered from acute depression. He seemed to make so many wrong decisions during the course of his career,and on the way he fell out with most of his friends. He died by taking a mixture of pills which may have been a successful suicide attempt or as this book would have it, an unfortunate show more accident. The verdict is still out on that one I think. show less