Send us your thoughts on Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! and we will publish a selection of comments below.

I can honestly say that this is probably one of the best dramas I have ever seen. Although the recent series of programmes chronicling the decline of Frankie Howerd etc were good, they come no where this.
David Wagstaff, Nottingham

I'm so glad that you followed up the Curse of comedy with this similar style drama.I watched the whole thing again and was once again immersed in this wonderful one off, which seemed to really capture the feel of the time in which it was set the acting was superb, Martin Sheen never ceases to amaze me. His portrayal of Kenneth Williams was brilliant. His mannerisms and voice were so good I almost forgot it wasn't the real Kenneth. Full marks all round for a memorable piece of TV. More of the same please!
Jane, Melton Mowbray

My accolade goes to Cheryl Campbell whose marvellous performance as Williams' eighty-year-old mother outshone the rest.
Jennifer Halliday, Hay-on-Wye

Michael Sheen was an excellent choice. Well done to everybody who worked on that production. Can we have a Charles Hawtrey biopic next year please?
Mark Dunstan, Croydon

Michael Sheen was fabulous. He made me feel enormous sympathy for Kenneth Williams even though I was never too keen on the man. He deserves an award for a great piece of acting.
Nan Wise, London

I thought Michael Sheen was excellent in this drama, which to date I have already watched twice because I am a big fan of the late Kenneth Williams. However, I feel that there were a few problems. For instance there were a few factual errors in the script - not least that, at the end of the drama, it was said that Kenneth was found dead on Thursday 14 April 1988. In fact, he was found on the morning of Friday 15 April 1988. Also, why was Kenneth's sister, Pat, not mentioned at all? Whilst BBC Four should be congratulated for making such dramas, I feel that the lack of budget and a quality script let the production down. I also felt that the writer had not read the whole Kenneth Williams Diaries, and that he had merely taken bits and pieces from the diaries read in documentaries like Reputations.
Paul Burton, Leicester

I can't say that I'm a big Kenneth Williams fan, but I must say that I thought Fantabulosa! was absolutely excellent. Michael Sheen's acting was superb.
Stephen Hall, Manchester

A good insight into a wonderful entertainer with a very complex, troubled personality. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Kenny and the other actors who played characters like Joan Sims and Charles Hawtrey.
Georgina Allan, Cardiff, Wales

The whole Ken Williams evening before and after Michael Sheen's brilliant performance was excellent. I am writing a book about a man Kenneth mentions in his diaries - the late great (Walsall born/bred) comedy actor Richard Wattis.
Ian Payne, Lichfield, Staffs

Fantastic piece of BBC drama. Why did they forget Kenneth Williams' sister? The actor playing Joe Orton was superb too. Could there be a production touted for Orton and Halliwell?
S French, East Yorks

Congratulations to a uniformly excellent cast. I thought the photography was exceptional and the direction was so very subtle. The director seemed to illicit such fine performances from all. I thought it dissected the persona; finding the sadness and happiness of this elusive man. A superlative piece of work.
Eleanor Dent, Cardiff, Wales

This was a wonderful drama on every level. The writing, acting, sets and music were first class. Not only was Michael Sheen superb as Williams, but Cheryl Campbell was wonderful as Lou and Beatie Edney was a marvellous Joan Sims. I cried at the end; I knew Williams had been desperately unhappy, but the tragedy of his life and death was brought home most poignantly in this drama which must become an all-time classic.
Eleanor Dent, Cardiff, Wales

Not sure where to start, I thought Fantabulosa! was brilliant. Well acted, written and put together. Michael Sheen was incredible as were Kenny Doughty and Cheryl Campbell. A lovely 80 minutes viewing.
Chris Toon, Birmingham

I have not seen anything as good as this on TV for absolutely ages: sad, poignant, and sadly true. Brilliant performances from everyone involved. A masterpiece deserving all awards going. More of Michael Sheen please.
Carole Symonds, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

A fascinating insight into the private life of a funny yet deeply troubled man. It shows that Kenneth felt so lonely and depressed that it seems he was probably happiest when he was performing. Michael Sheen was absolutely brilliant in the role. Amusing, thought-provoking but also sad. I don't know what Kenneth himself would have thought of it if he was still with us or what the people who knew him who are still alive think of it but I think it was a brilliant piece of work.
Gavin Culloty, Birmingham

Thank you for such a moving and well-made, intelligent programme. I'm sure it's by no means anywhere near the whole story but the programme had a coherence usually lacking elsewhere. Nice to see Pennies from Heaven Cheryl.
Miss J Ware, Bristol

This was one of the finest programmes ever to be aired. It was of the very finest quality, and everyone involved must have known they were producing a diamond of a programme that glistened like a jewel.
John Duffy, London

Loved the whole Kenneth Williams night on BBC Four, thank you so much for presenting it.
Brendan Taggart, Bristol

Firstly I would like to thank the BBC for its Kenneth Williams night; but this was the only low-point. Sheen was impressive but at sometimes too much of a caricature of Williams. I too found it slightly insulting in parts to its subject and this was no way near as good as the ITV drama "'Cor Blimey" from a few years back now. Still the voice made me laugh!
English Bob, London

This was a very difficult subject, wonderfully produced and crafted. It illustrated Williams' extremely complex emotional struggles with dignity, and without being gratuitous. I think Kenneth Williams would have approved.
Graham Wright, London

Very disappointed by Fantabulosa!. The documentary that followed was more informative. Fantabulosa! appeared to be a series of impersonations of famous comedy actors and none of them were better than listening to clips of the real thing.
Richard Seymour, Stoke-on-Trent

I thought Kenneth Williams had come back from the dead. Michael Sheen caught him brilliantly in both speech and mannerisms. What a tortured soul he was. Great production with its convincing stark sets. Lovely performance from Cheryl Campbell as his mother but what a depressing and sad story.
Barbara Farris, Harpenden, Herts

A very funny and emotional piece of drama with a great central performance. I did wonder though why Philip Glass's music from The Hours was used in some scenes instead of an original composition.
Dave Smith, Dartford

This was an excellent show. Very moving. Michael Sheen was outstanding. I have one slight criticism though, the actress playing Joan Sims seemed confused as to which Carry On actress she was playing. To me she seemed to be doing Barbara Windsor not Joan Sims.
Mark Wallis, Stockton

A lot of my childhood was spent lying in front of the wireless listening to Round the Horne or Hancock's Half Hour or watching Carry On films. Probably the most famous line in comedy "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it infamy!" still makes me laugh. Fantabulosa! is a rare insight into the man behind the comic figure and the whole production is a brilliant mix of tragedy and comedy right down to the final quotation from the coroner's court read in four different voices by Michael Sheen. He was brilliant in the role. Most of the other members of the Carry On team were so-so and the Kenneth Horne was very good but Michael Sheen carried the show and there should be an award of some sort for him. It left me feeling wow. To quote Kenneth Williams, to the cynic who says 'life is a joke' the only response can be 'Yes, well let's make it a good one.'
Derek McMillan, West Sussex

This was a fantastic production. I thought you captured the essence of the diaries, including the piteous self-loathing and sexual anxiety, perfectly. When I read the diaries I was left with a sense of unease. You managed to recreate the same atmosphere last night. Oh, and the casting was exceptional. Michael Sheen was Kenneth Williams' doppleganger and how you re-created Charlie Hawtry and Joan Sims staggers me.
James Warner, London

Although the programme tended to concentrate on the dark side of Kenneth Williams's life, I think it succeeded in portraying the way in which the comic genius of the man was informed by his unhappiness. This is apparent in the diaries, where he constantly struggles to come to terms with his sexuality, sense of failure and loneliness. Michael Sheen was wonderful in the role - his speech, mannerisms and Williamsesque outbursts were often uncanny. However, this drama was certainly not easy or comfortable viewing.
P, Cambridgshire

Please say thank you to everyone involved in making this play such a lovely, moving piece of work. In particular, thanks and applause to Michael Sheen and Cheryl Campbell for their beautiful acting. I feel lucky to have seen it.
Emma Kelly, Winchester

An outstanding production - amusing yet thought-provoking and ultimately very, very sad. A brilliant performance by Michael Sheen.
Priscilla, Manchester

Bravo for airing the show, certainly illuminates the fact there were genuine personalities before the advent of DIY 'celebrity' driven 'entertainment'!
Andrew Davis, London

Just to say how much I enjoyed last night's Ken Williams shows, especially Fantabulosa!. Acting was great and gave a real image of what was a rather sad life. It also portrayed the times well. Also enjoyed the Harold Wilson play and am looking forward to others in this genre over the next few months.
Nick MacNeill, Bedfordshire

Michael Sheen was excellent. The drama was wonderfully realised but, as expected, also very sad. However, why was the fact that Kenneth had a sister totally skipped? The Reputations programme that followed had more information that actually went further in explaining the man and his background.
Bruce Attenborrow, London

Emotive and compelling viewing. Like others I have come to realise that BBC Four is definitely the place to find quality programmes.
Sharon Davis-Owen, Walsall

Absolutely fantastic. Great cast and great writing, more of this kind of programming BBC! Well worth our TV licence.
Dan Hanton, Norwich, Norfolk

Michael Sheen was just fantabulosa! An excellent portrayal of Kenneth Williams - a real BBC treat.
Amanda Jack, Surrey

What a wonderful drama. Michael Sheen was so very good. Not just the look of Williams, but the voice, the way he moved, the true sadness came through. The best drama I have seen for a long time.
Faye Southall, Cwmbran, South Wales

At times hysterical, at others heartbreaking and, throughout, gripping. Michael Sheen was a triumph! The voices and particularly the facial expressions were uncanny. I have been a fan of the diaries for years and it was a joy to see them put across on the screen so eloquently.
Richard Lyons, London

How sad that Kenneth Williams should be denigrated in this way. I am surprised that the BBC would countenance a drama as insensitive and offensive as this. Some of the scenes were entirely speculative and gratuitous and would be better consigned to the realms of fiction. I had been looking forward to the programme but I elected to turn the TV off partway through and was left feeling quite sickened by the whole thing. How easy for writers to produce work that cannot be repudiated by the very person they seek to disassemble simply because that person is no longer alive to respond.
Diana Hunter, Salisbury

The title says it all, this was a fantastic piece of work from the BBC. Michael Sheen deserves a Bafta for this performance - he is one of our most talented and underrated actors.
Sarah Garrity, Cheadle Hulme

A marvellous piece of drama. Thank you very much.
Vorn Hancock, Cambridge

What can I say? What an absolutely marvellous production. A joy to watch and a complete masterpiece. Well produced with a cast of extreme talent.
Lee Richardson, Sittingbourne, Kent

I thought this one of the worst pieces of television writing I have ever seen. It wasn't about anything at all, and was insulting to its subject, concentrating almost solely on the downs in his life. Anyone who has actually read the diaries would realise what a load of rubbish this was. Kenny would turn in his grave.
James Gardiner, Brighton

A genuine and welcome piece of work which was funny, tragic and warm all at the same time. The performance from the lead actor, Sheen, was breathtaking. I felt strongly that the essence of this troubled man had been captured and laid out with great style and wit.
Ian Butler, Tamworth

The acting was superb. Well done to the writers for capturing the essence of Kenneth Williams.
Paul Allchorne, Coventry, West Midlands

What a fantastically wonderful piece of television; sympathetically executed and filmed beautifully. The characters were brought alive by a skilful (and skilfully gathered) cast, who acted with a degree of excellence rarely seen on the big screen, let alone television.
John London, Deanshanger

What an absolutely brilliant drama. So well acted, I forgot I was not watching Kenneth Williams. Whilst showing all the warts it still managed to show Ken's bright incandescent light, which alas he never seemed to see. Very true to say that he was loved by all except himself. An absolute triumph BBC Four. Brilliant!
Stewart Webb, Reading, Berks

Michael Sheen was brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed this very insightful look into Kenneth Williams the man.
Joan Elliott, Hamilton

Outstanding drama. Michael Sheen was amazing in the part. How a young person can produce a trilled 'r' like that, I don't know. I should know - I'm a linguist! So well directed, too. I'm not old enough to remember Kenneth Williams' life, but of course I enjoyed his life's work.
Louise Maxwell Lomas, Manchester

Can I congratulate BBC Four on their Kenneth Williams Night especially Fantabulosa!. Michael Sheen was great, but not as polished as David Benson. However for me the whole piece was painful to watch because I want to remember Kenny the comedian, nevertheless great acting and a great script.
Layton Jones, Rhondda Valley

This performance captured the period, the sadness and tragedy of Mr Williams.
Gordon McIntosh, London

Brilliant, loved it. Michael Sheen gave an excellent portrayal of Kenneth Williams.
Alexandra Wood, Derby

Wonderful acting - Michael Sheen was riveting. A thoroughly enjoyable programme. Thank you BBC Four.
Sue Welford, Bridgend, South Wales

A wonderfully written, acted and utterly moving piece of drama. I've read the diaries many times and this brought it all so much to life. I was left emotional and shaking - exactly what good drama should do. Thank you BBC Four, more of it please.
Glenn Denny, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Brilliant performance, brilliant drama. Well done.
Jonathan Cracknell, London

What a fab programme! But why do we have to pander to the American market when these programmes are made? I have just had to listen to a phone ring...it was an old-fashioned British phone, ringing with a continuous American-styled and -sounding ring. Come on, get real, it should have been the 'ring, ring' that we all know. It's our history and culture that is being re-written and changed just to make our programming more palatable to the Yanks.
Steve Randall, Oxford

That unforgivable ringtone announcing his part in Carry On Sergeant! It was an American ringtone. The sound of a phone from the 50s was completely different! What moron let this get through?
Brendan