
Kenneth Williams: Said the Actor to the Bishop
At the height of his fame in the 1970s, Kenneth Williams was asked to record excerpts from the Bible. Those recordings haven鈥檛 been broadcast until now.
Kenneth Williams鈥檚 Christian faith was a significant part of his life and impacted him deeply. He was a complex but deeply thoughtful character and he grappled with how Christianity fitted with his career and sexuality. At the height of his fame in the 1970s he was asked to record excerpts from the Bible. Those recordings haven鈥檛 been broadcast until now.
Williams was a master storyteller, on Jackanory he had the audience beguiled, and he brings that artistry to the telling of Bible stories such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The recordings were the creation of James Jones, who went on to become the Bishop of Liverpool, and to mark the start of Easter he presents a special Archive on 4 showcasing Williams鈥檚 Bible readings and exploring the faith of the man who would be approaching his 100th birthday.
Bishop James discovers how much Williams contemplated his faith personally and with others. He meets Williams鈥檚 friend Mark Oakley, a student at the time of their friendship and now Dean of Southwark, to learn more about the role of God in the last couple of years of the Carry On star鈥檚 life. And, by talking to those who knew Williams well, Gyles Brandreth, and who have written about him, Wes Butters, Bishop James explores the longing for affirmation at the root of his many friendships and his faith.
To explore the gift Kenneth Williams had for storytelling, author and Children鈥檚 Laureate Frank Cottrell Boyce dissects the techniques used to narrate these Biblical chronicles. And Bishop James meets Anna 成人快手 and Jeremy Swan, who recognised Williams鈥檚 storytelling credentials and invited him to be on Jackanory. They reflect on the compelling way he could enthral an audience with any narrative.
The Bible stories, read by Kenneth Williams, weave throughout the programme to highlight the message and teachings of Jesus - and how his own human story illustrates them so poignantly.
Producer: Alexa Good
With thanks to Scripture Union and Jennifer Robertson
On radio
Broadcast
- Sat 12 Apr 2025 20:00成人快手 Radio 4