When Diane Met Ken

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

When Diane Met Ken: 2. Beyond the Warp

2. Beyond the Warp

BBC Radio 4 Extra - When Diane Met Ken, 2. Beyond the Warp

Diane Morgan celebrates the life and work of Ken Campbell

Diane Morgan celebrates the life and work of Ken Campbell with Nina Conti, Terry Johnson, Neil Edmond, Maureen Vincent, Nicki Stoddart and Daisy Campbell.

Ken Campbell, the writer, director and actor was renowned for many an epic production and theatrical caper. He devoured books and information, and was a seeker of new knowledge and experiences. His career flitted expertly between writing, acting, ventriloquism and gastromancy, improvisation, epic theatre productions, and one-man touring shows. He died on the 31st August 2008 at the age of 66.

Ken was also responsible for the world’s longest play, The Warp, a twenty-four hour odyssey. It was originally performed in 1979 with a cast including Jim Broadbent, Terry Johnson, and Bill Nighy. When the play was revived in the late ‘90s it was directed by Ken and his daughter, Daisy Campbell, and boasted a cast including Neil Edmond, Nina Conti and Diane Morgan – in fact it was Diane’s first acting job.

In this three-part special Diane is joined by Ken’s friends, family and colleagues including the playwright Terry Johnson, the ventriloquist and comedian Nina Conti, the actor and comedian Neil Edmond, Ken's agent Maureen Vincent, his literary agent Nicki Stoddart and Daisy Campbell who all speak of the chaotic, important and life-changing role Ken played in all their lives. From the BBC Radio Archive you can hear:

‘Midweek’ interview with Libby Purvis
'A Night with Ken Campbell'
‘The Great Caper’ read by Toby Jones 

Producer: Laura Grimshaw.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in August 2018.

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Factual: Life Stories

Diane Morgan celebrates the life and work of Ken Campbell.

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