News about Kenneth Williams

Bill Cotton, the head of the BBC 's light entertainment department, was adamant. The department store sitcom Are You Being Served?, an instant hit with viewers, could not be screened without one major change.

Sir Anthony Hopkins once shared his regret over never starring in huge comedy franchise, a co-star has recalled.  The award-winning, 86, known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, has starred in numerous films, television shows and theatre performances.  But there is one British comedy series that he didn't get the chance to feature in, with Patricia Franklin revealing which. 

Bestselling author VICTORIA HISLOP, 65, didn't start writing fiction until her 40s. Nurture what you're really good at as you get older, she tells Tasmina Perry, and success will follow

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's right-hand man, had a head like a toad. We can see his fat jowls and tiny eyes in the portrait by Hans Holbein. It's impossible that anyone, least of all the vain monarch, ever looked at Cromwell and thought, 'In 500 years that bloke is going to be a sex symbol.' But the son of a Putney blacksmith has been played by James Frain in The Tudors, Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall (adapted from the books by Dame Hilary Mantel, who confessed she was in love with her Cromwell), and now Sean Bean in the Tudor detective thriller Shardlake. He was also portrayed by Kenneth Williams in Carry On Henry, though Barbara Windsor was the only sex symbol in that version of history.

Hit eighties series Button Moon and Willo the Wisp are set to head back onto TV screens, decades after they last aired. This June, the childrens' TV favourites will land on BritBox UK as the subscription service is set to be flooded with nostalgic classic shows. The first two series of Willo the Wisp and every episode of Button Moon will be added to the digital streaming platform, which is jointly run by the BBC and ITV.

Emma Heathcote-James, the UK business leader, became engaged to her long-term partner in her early 20s. However, she fell head over heels in love with another straight woman while preparing for her Masters in a bizarre way.

Emma Heathcote-James (right) writes that I got engaged in my early 20s with my long-term boyfriend. There had never been a doubt about me being gay, but I'd never felt attracted to women. However, while studying for my Masters, I completely unexpectedly fell head over heels in love with another straight woman (pictured later today on their wedding day, left). Both of us felt it out of nowhere. I still loved my fiance; he was my first proper relationship; but this new love was much different, and I was very curious about what these new intense emotions meant.

CRAIG BROWN: One of the Sunday magazines asked the question, 'How Hip Is Your Home?' A rundown of the 'eight fall interiors trends you should try right now,' is followed by a list of 'eight autumn interior design style trends to try right now.' Did you know that stainless steel is back? It's a statement,' he says. The magazine recommends that you invest £1,700 on a 'countervailing dining chair' to complete the trendy new all-metal look. This chair has no arms and just a single metal rod for your back, so it meets all of the requirements for cutting-edge pain at any moment. The third of my favorites is still: 'Curate a tumultuous knick-knack set collection.' It turns out that knick-knacks are back in a big way.'

Following the death of Sir Michael Parkinson at the age of 88, TV viewers around the world shared their favorite Sir Michael Parkinson moments today. Fans recalled some of Parkinson's finest times, including his tense interview with singer George Michael. Sir Michael's bereaved family revealed today that the 'King of the Chat Show' died today' after a 'brief illness.' The presenter's followers took to Twitter to share memorable moments from Sir Michael's career. During the time Sir Michael was struck by an 'emu', they were told by Carry On film star Kenneth Williams that he was talking "crap."

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Prince Andrew's refusal to attend the second year of the Garter Day activities on Monday was clearly a blow considering his coronation appearance in Garter finery. But pretending that Andrew is an invisible knight is a fudge that doesn't go well with others. As heralds scale ladders to depose his banners and throw them out of Windsor's St George's Chapel, King Charles clearly prefers simply barring Andrew rather than threatening him with the Indignity of removing his Garter with the King of Arms reading the Degradation Order.

Amanda Barrie, 87, Sherrie Hewson, 72, and late Barbara Windsor, who died from Alzheimer's disease in December 2020, are among the Channel 5 documentary Carry on - Secrets and Scandals, which airs on Sunday. In one clip from Carry on Camping), Windsor (left) brands the show's developers 'immoral' and claims she and the cast members did not receive money when the films were repeated on television. Amanda Barrie (right in Carry on Cleo) alleged she was sent by a 'hormone specialist' before filming scenes where she was scantily clad so she could 'boost her money'. Kenneth Williams (inset, with Barbara Windsor in Carry on Christmas) once yelled her robe off while on camera, leaving her'stark naked' in front of crew members.