The Versatile Voice of Kenneth Williams: A Centenary Celebration

February 22nd 2026 marks 100 years since the birth of Kenneth Williams.

Wes Butters is on hand to guide us through an eclectic selection of programmes from the BBC Archives as he attempts to discover the many different sides of the beloved comic performer, actor and writer.

Guests include the actress Thelma Ruby who tells us about acting alongside Kenneth, and the script writer Brad Ashton who discusses some of the difficulties of working with Kenneth.

Programmes include:

Desert Island Discs (4 Extra Debut)
Kenneth is castaway by Michael Parkinson.

Hancock's Half Hour: The Wild Man of the Woods
The Lad announces that he's rejecting society to go and live a truly rural life.

Home This Afternoon (4 Extra Debut)
Kenneth talks to Peter Davalle about his life and career.

The Secret Life of Kenneth Williams (4 Extra Debut)
RD Wingfield's drama in which Kenneth plays a secret agent version of himself.

Strength In A Parched Place
Kenneth reads a bible story, written by Jenny Robertson

The Streets of London (4 Extra Debut)
Kenneth invites Percy Edwards and Johnny Morris around the streets of his London.

Just A Minute (4 Extra Debut)
Nicholas Parsons challenges Derek Nimmo, Peter Jones, Ami MacDonald and Kenneth Williams

Big and Little (4 Extra Debut)
One of Sue Limb's stories written for very young children, starring Roy Kinnear as Big and Kenneth Williams as Little.

Round the Horne
Kenneth Horne welcomes the Palone Ranger, plus bona secrets of the BBC are revealed.

Diary of a Madman
Nikolai Gogol's insight into the mind of a man sliding into madness. Read by Kenneth Williams.

The Law Game (4 Extra Debut)
Kenneth Williams, Nerys Hughes and Ian McCaskill join Shaw Taylor to give verdicts on some challenging law cases. From 1988.

Presenter: Wes Butters
Producer: Chris Pearson
Archive Researcher: Andrew Jupp