At 82, Alan Bennett remains a distinctive voice in British culture, blending sharp wit with a nostalgic lament for a bygone era. His latest publication, 'Keeping On Keeping On', a 736-page tome of diaries and essays from 2005 to 2015, captures his grumpy yet endearing perspective on modern life. Bennett's observations, from the replacement of the Speaking Clock's adult voice with a child's to the naming of an 'environmentally sensitive' bus after him, reveal a man out of step with contemporary trends.
Bennett's career began in the 1960s as part of the satirical revue 'Beyond the Fringe', alongside Jonathan Miller, Peter Cook, and Dudley Moore. The group lampooned authority figures, from war heroes to politicians, paving the way for later comedy shows like 'That Was The Week That Was' and 'Monty Python'. Despite his age, Bennett retains an undergraduate air, often seen in the same jacket and jumper he wore at Oxford six decades ago.
The BBC is airing a 60-minute profile, 'Alan Bennett's Diaries', followed by 'The Lady in the Van', a film based on his experience of allowing a homeless woman to live in his driveway for 15 years. Bennett's work continues to resonate with audiences who share his belief that society has declined since the 'good old days'. As he puts it, 'One does try not to be an Old Git, but they don't make it easy.'
