More Rosebud Special - Kenneth Williams at 100, with David Benson episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 22, 2026 · 1H 12M

More Rosebud Special - Kenneth Williams at 100, with David Benson

from Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

In this special edition of Rosebud, we celebrate the late, great, self-proclaimed cult that is Kenneth Williams - on what would have been his 100th birthday. One of the greatest British entertainers of the twentieth century, Williams was revered for his unique voice, his impeccable timing, his virtuoso storytelling and his brilliant appearances on Parkinson, in the Carry On films, and in series from Hancock's Half Hour to Round the Horne to Beyond our Ken.In this conversation, Gyles talks to the actor David Benson, who has been performing shows about Kenneth Williams for thirty years. Gyles and David talk about their own relationships with Kenneth - and they each give their own unique perspective about this complicated and gifted man. We find out about his childhood, his difficult relationship with his father, and his tortured relationship with his own sexuality. We hear about his working life, and the end of his life. Interwoven with this story are anecdotes from David Benson's life - whose life in some ways mirrors that of Kenneth Williams. This is a fascinating and unusual edition of Rosebud which we hope gives you a fresh insight into a household name.David's show, My Life with Kenneth Williams is currently touring, tickets are available here.Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special edition of Rosebud, we celebrate the late, great, self-proclaimed cult that is Kenneth Williams - on what would have been his 100th birthday. One of the greatest British entertainers of the twentieth century, Williams was revered for his unique voice, his impeccable timing, his virtuoso storytelling and his brilliant appearances on Parkinson, in the Carry On films, and in series from Hancock's Half Hour to Round the Horne to Beyond our Ken.In this conversation, Gyles talks to the actor David Benson, who has been performing shows about Kenneth Williams for thirty years. Gyles and David talk about their own relationships with Kenneth - and they each give their own unique perspective about this complicated and gifted man. We find out about his childhood, his difficult relationship with his father, and his tortured relationship with his own sexuality. We hear about his working life, and the end of his life. Interwoven with this story are anecdotes from David Benson's life - whose life in some ways mirrors that of Kenneth Williams. This is a fascinating and unusual edition of Rosebud which we hope gives you a fresh insight into a household name.David's show, My Life with Kenneth Williams is currently touring, tickets are available here.Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth?

This episode is 1 hour and 12 minutes long.

When was this Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth episode published?

This episode was published on February 22, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In this special edition of Rosebud, we celebrate the late, great, self-proclaimed cult that is Kenneth Williams - on what would have been his 100th birthday. One of the greatest British entertainers of the twentieth century, Williams was revered for...

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