caption birth_place imagesize birth_date image article_title name occupation homepage
david benson in 2010 oxford , england 180px 11 january 1962 david_benson_in_2010 . jpg david benson
 david benson actor , writer , director http://www.davidbenson.webs.com
david benson

david benson -lrb- born david hodgson on 11 january 1962 -rrb- is an english character actor , writer and comedian , most famous for his one-man show titled `` think no evil of us : my life with kenneth williams '' about the life and career of the late comedian , for which he won the `` scotsman 's '' fringe first award in 1996 , and for his television role as noël coward in the bbc comedy series `` goodnight sweetheart '' .
his theatrical repertoire includes a wide range of coward 's best known songs , performed in-character as coward .
when not touring in the theatre he can be found on bbc radio , playing all the character parts in the science fiction comedy series `` the scarifyers '' .
he was born in oxford , england , and has a twin sister miranda and an older brother jonathan .
he changed his surname in 1996 on joining equity , the actors ' trade union .
he was educated at park hall secondary modern in castle bromwich , warwickshire , and at sutton coldfield college of further education .
he went on to gain a degree in drama and theatre studies at the royal holloway college , university of london .
he lived in edinburgh from 1985 , and in new york from 1993 on-and-off for four years .
in 2001 he moved permanently to london , where he now resides .
presently represented by seabright productions , david benson appeared at the edinburgh fringe during august 2010 in two new shows , previewed in eastbourne , highgate , london and oxford during july .
for `` lockerbie : unfinished business '' he won the `` scotsman 's '' fringe first award 2010 , and received notices in the new york times and hollywood trade press .
he has a dozen one-man shows in his current theatrical repertoire , with which he tours , and writes and directs professional stage productions for other performers .
he also sings : performing a wide range of the songs of noël coward , amongst others , in a flamboyant cabaret style , performed in-character as coward .
his theatrical , television and radio work has mainly revolved around comedy ; and his most famous roles , impersonating comic actor kenneth williams , comedian frankie howerd , and playwright and composer noël coward , have featured his uncanny mimicry of well-known stars who share a common `` camp '' theme .
david benson appeared in the national theatre production of `` one man , two guvnors '' , a comedy starring james corden , adapted from goldoni 's `` servant of two masters '' , which was presented at the lyttelton theatre on london 's south bank from 17 may to 26 july 2011 , and which garnered glowing reviews .
he also toured throughout september and october 2011 with the production .
