It's recently been mentioned in a few places that the BBC is planning another biographical drama series on the life of several well known comedians for BBC4, one of which is rumoured to be about Kenny Everett. Could this be one of the most difficult pieces of casting in years?
Everett was a truly unique character, a real one off for so many reasons, whoever they get to play him will need to be slightly mad and have enough energy within to power the national grid for a few months. Certainly his life story is an interesting one, with many dramatic twists so there is an entertaining story to tell, but they really need someone convincing to play him or it'll never work. All I can say is whoever has the job of choosing the actor to play him, good luck.
My favourite memories of Kenny are not so much for his radio work, more for his TV series. Way back in about 1978/9 he used to have a show that started life as "The Kenny Everett Video Cassette" which later became "The Kenny Everett Video Show". I was a mere child at the time and this show used to go out in an early evening slot on ITV on Friday's. I must have only been about five years old but it certainly made me sit up and take notice.
I think it was something in the sheer energy of Kenny's performance that drew me in and now looking back on it, he had a strange ability to be very adult and near the knuckle but also have a child like quality that appealed to kids. The shows had a very spontaneous and almost homespun feel about it. There was usually no studio audience but the crew in the studio would often be roaring with laughter and were very much a part of the fun.
Something else that struck me looking back at videos of these shows is how he used to get away with lampooning rock stars and celebrities a lot of the time and they seemed to love it. How many other comedians have managed to get away with hanging Cliff Richard live on TV? Then followed it up with having him gagged and tied up? Not to mention various sketches with Freddie Mercury, David Essex, The Bee Gees, David Bowie and many others (see the clip below for evidence of Cliff's exploits or should that be exploitation? from one of his shows).
After three or four series at Thames TV, Kenny jumped ship and went back to the BBC for his own prime time half hour sketch show on BBC1 which began in 1981, but something got lost in translation when he moved channels. It just didn't have the same atmosphere and the humour just seemed too childish. To me his glory days on TV will always be those Thames shows.
Once again good luck to the person who has to choose the actor to play him if this drama does get made, and please choose someone who can do him justice.
Everett was a truly unique character, a real one off for so many reasons, whoever they get to play him will need to be slightly mad and have enough energy within to power the national grid for a few months. Certainly his life story is an interesting one, with many dramatic twists so there is an entertaining story to tell, but they really need someone convincing to play him or it'll never work. All I can say is whoever has the job of choosing the actor to play him, good luck.
My favourite memories of Kenny are not so much for his radio work, more for his TV series. Way back in about 1978/9 he used to have a show that started life as "The Kenny Everett Video Cassette" which later became "The Kenny Everett Video Show". I was a mere child at the time and this show used to go out in an early evening slot on ITV on Friday's. I must have only been about five years old but it certainly made me sit up and take notice.
I think it was something in the sheer energy of Kenny's performance that drew me in and now looking back on it, he had a strange ability to be very adult and near the knuckle but also have a child like quality that appealed to kids. The shows had a very spontaneous and almost homespun feel about it. There was usually no studio audience but the crew in the studio would often be roaring with laughter and were very much a part of the fun.
Something else that struck me looking back at videos of these shows is how he used to get away with lampooning rock stars and celebrities a lot of the time and they seemed to love it. How many other comedians have managed to get away with hanging Cliff Richard live on TV? Then followed it up with having him gagged and tied up? Not to mention various sketches with Freddie Mercury, David Essex, The Bee Gees, David Bowie and many others (see the clip below for evidence of Cliff's exploits or should that be exploitation? from one of his shows).
After three or four series at Thames TV, Kenny jumped ship and went back to the BBC for his own prime time half hour sketch show on BBC1 which began in 1981, but something got lost in translation when he moved channels. It just didn't have the same atmosphere and the humour just seemed too childish. To me his glory days on TV will always be those Thames shows.
Once again good luck to the person who has to choose the actor to play him if this drama does get made, and please choose someone who can do him justice.
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