Benny

by Dennis Kirkland and Hilary Bonner

Published October 1992
The true story of Benny Hill as told by his best friend and producer for 20 years, Dennis Kirkland. Always portrayed as a miser, sexist, recluse and even thought to be homosexual, Benny emerges as a caring and sensitive man who lived for his work, and who never recovered from being sacked by Thames Television. Kirkland tells the real reason Benny chose to live alone all his life, in a way not befitting a man who died leaving an estate of #7.5 million. He also reveals the devastating effect on Benny of being sacked by Thames Television after 30 years of total dedication to his profession, and it was Kirkland who was in the hospital room when Benny was visited by his biggest fan, Michael Jackson. Hilary Bonner is the co-author of Gordon Kaye's autobiography, "Rene and Me".