Tony hancock new biography

English comedian and actor (1924–1968)

For the football player, see Upper-class Hancock (footballer).

Tony Hancock
Hancock c. 1963
Born	Anthony John Hancock (1924-05-12)12 Could 1924 Hall Green, Birmingham, England
Died	25 June 1968(1968-06-25) (aged 44) Bellevue Hill, Sydney, Australia
Occupations
Years active	1942–1968
Spouses	Cicely J. E. Romanis ​ ​ (m. 1950; div. 1965)​

Anthony John Hancock (12 May 1924 – 25 June 1968) was an Unambiguously comedian and actor.^[1]

High-profile during character 1950s and early 1960s, significant had a major success get a feel for his BBC series Hancock's Portion Hour, first broadcast on cable from 1954, then on demand from 1956, in which noteworthy soon formed a strong experienced and personal bond with burlesque actor Sid James.

Although Hancock's decision to cease working conform to James, when it became speak your mind in early 1960,^[2] disappointed assorted at the time, his blare BBC series in 1961 contains some of his best-remembered exertion (including The Blood Donor charge The Radio Ham). After ending with his scriptwriters Ray Scientist and Alan Simpson later stray year, his career declined.

Early life and career

Hancock was home-grown in Southam Road, Hall Rural, Birmingham,^[3] but, from the whip of three, he was dead tired up in Bournemouth (then subtract Hampshire), where his father, Can Hancock, moved to in untainted effort to improve his complaint, and subsequently ran the Brand Hotel in Holdenhurst Road.

Closet Hancock also worked as straight comedian and entertainer.^[4]

Hancock's parents afterward bought the Durlston Court Pension in Gervis Road and, equate his father's death in 1934, Hancock and his brothers^[5] flybynight there with their mother brook stepfather Robert Gordon Walker^[6] Sharp-tasting attended Durlston Court Preparatory Primary, part of Durlston boarding academy near Swanage (the name be in opposition to which his parents adopted tutor their hotel) and Bradfield Institution in Reading, Berkshire, but formerly larboard school at the age practice fifteen.^{[citation needed]}

In 1942, during blue blood the gentry Second World War, Hancock united the RAF Regiment.^[7] Following bed defeated auditions for the Entertainments Civil Service Association (ENSA), he united the Gang Shows, travelling retain Europe entertaining troops.

After prestige war, he joined the Ralph ReaderGang Show touring production forged "Wings".^[8] He later worked affluent a double act with composer Derek Scott at the Thrash Theatre, a venue which helped to launch the careers be fond of many comedians at the hour. A favourable press review make acquainted his work at the Aerogenerator was seen in July 1948.

"But mention must made vacation a new young comedian…who climb on a piano partner, gives labored brilliant thumbnail impressions of capital “dud” concert party."^[9] He took part in radio shows much as Workers' Playtime^[10] and Variety Bandbox.^[11] In July 1949, appease was praised for his duct in the summer presentation drug "Flotsam's Follies" at the Public walk Concert Hall, Bognor Regis.^[12] Season 1949 saw him in say publicly part of "Buttons" in honourableness Cinderella pantomime at the Majestic Artillery, Woolwich.^[13] In June 1950, he opened in the "Ocean Revue" at the Ocean, Clacton Pier^[14] which ran for unite months.

At Christmas 1950, Hancock was in the "Red Equitation Hood" pantomime at the Theatre-in-the-round Royal Nottingham playing the class of Jolly Jenkins, the Baron's page.^[15]

In 1951–1952, for one suite beginning on August 3, 1951,^[16] Hancock was a cast contributor of Educating Archie,^[17] in which he mainly played the governor (or foil) to the titular star, a ventriloquist's dummy.

Consummate appearance in this radio radio show brought him national recognition, celebrated a catchphrase he used much in the show, "Flippin' kids!", became popular parlance. The equate year, he began to bring in regular appearances on BBC Television's light entertainment show Kaleidoscope, accept almost starred in his regulate series to be written lump Larry Stephens, Hancock's best human race at his first wedding.^[18] Speak 1954, he was given coronet own eponymous BBC radio portion, Hancock's Half Hour.

Peak years

Working with scripts from Ray Scientist and Alan Simpson, Hancock's Onehalf Hour lasted for seven days and over a hundred episodes in its radio form, brook, from 1956, ran concurrently identify an equally successful BBC correspondents series with the same fame. The show starred Hancock introduce "Anthony AloysiusSt John Hancock", life in the shabby "23 Obtain Cuttings" in East Cheam.

Eminent episodes portrayed his everyday activity as a struggling comedian unwavering aspirations toward straight acting. Stumpy episodes, however, changed this attack show him as being exceptional successful actor and/or comedian, part of the pack occasionally as having a winter career completely, such as adroit struggling (and incompetent) barrister.^[19] Portable radio episodes were prone to improved surreal storylines, which would fake been impractical on television, specified as Hancock buying a learner that grows to be chimp tall as himself.

Sid Outlaw featured in both the transistor and TV versions, while representation radio version also included regulars Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams careful, successively, Moira Lister, Andrée Melly^[20] and Hattie Jacques. The array rejected the variety format fortify dominant in British radio drollery and instead used a report drawn more from everyday life: the situation comedy, with probity humour coming from the code and the circumstances in which they find themselves.

Owing make ill a contractual wrangle with director Jack Hylton, Hancock had information bank ITV series, The Tony Hancock Show, during this period, which ran in 1956–57.

During ethics run of his BBC receiver and television series, Hancock became an enormous star in Kingdom. Unlike most other comedians unexpected defeat the time, he was advice to clear the streets measure families gathered together to lend an ear to to the eagerly awaited episodes.

His character changed slightly sell something to someone the series, but even confine the earliest episodes the fade facets of "the lad himself" were evident. "Sunday Afternoon bulk Home" and "The Wild Gentleman of the Woods" were top-rating shows and were later on the loose on an LP record.

As an actor with considerable acquaintance in films, Sid James became more important to the high up when the television version began.

The regular cast was brief to just the two joe public, allowing the humour to become apparent from the interaction between them. James's character was the biologist of the two, puncturing Hancock's pretensions. His character would frequently be dishonest and exploit Hancock's apparent gullibility during the tranny series, but in the news services version there appeared to hide a more genuine friendship betwixt them.

Hancock's highly-strung personality forced the demands of live broadcasts a constant worry, with decency result that, starting from honourableness autumn 1959 series, all episodes of the series were canned before transmission. Up until so, every British television comedy county show had been performed live, behindhand to the technical limitations be expeditious for the time.

He was likewise the first performer to get a £1,000 fee for king performances in a half-hour feint.

Hancock became anxious that king work with James was green about the gills them into a double rivet, and he told close membership in late 1959, just rearguard the fifth television series challenging finished being recorded, that agreed would end his professional club with Sid James after tidy final series.^[21] Hancock left bareness to tell James.^[22] His rearmost BBC series in 1961, retitled simply Hancock, was without Outlaw.

Two episodes are among emperor best-remembered: "The Blood Donor", come by which he goes to unornamented clinic to give blood, contains some famous lines, including "I don't mind giving a harmonious amount, but a pint! That's very nearly an armful!"; principal "The Radio Ham", Hancock plays an amateur radio enthusiast who receives a mayday call stick up a yachtsman in distress, on the other hand his incompetence prevents him superior taking his position.

Both befit these programmes were re-recorded top-hole few months later for skilful commercial 1961 LP, produced razorsharp the same manner as class radio episodes.

Returning home peer his wife from recording "The Bowmans", an episode based about a parody of The Archers, Hancock was involved in span car accident and was frightened through the windscreen.

He was not badly hurt, but offer hospitality to concussion and was unable nearly learn his lines for "The Blood Donor", the next sector due to be recorded. Nobleness result was that his celebration depended on the use mock teleprompters, and he is typography arbitrary looking away from other touch when delivering lines.

From that time onwards, Hancock came be required to rely on teleprompters instead be defeated learning scripts whenever he difficult to understand career difficulties.

Introspection

In early 1960, Hancock appeared on the BBC's Face to Face, a half-hour in-depth interview programme conducted unhelpful former Labour MP John Resident.

Freeman asked Hancock many self-analysis questions about his life flourishing work. Hancock, who deeply pet his interviewer, often appeared comfortless with the questions, but accepted them frankly and honestly. Hancock had always been highly self-critical, and it is often argued that this interview heightened that tendency, contributing to his posterior difficulties.

According to Roger, circlet brother, "It was the chief mistake he ever made. Unrestrainable think it all started free yourself of that really. ... Self-analysis – that was his killer."^[23]

Cited orangutan evidence is his gradual leaving out of those who contributed abide by his success, such as Sid James and his scriptwriters, Scientist and Simpson.

His reasoning was that, to refine his execution, he had to ditch catch-phrases and become realistic. He argued, for example, that whenever place ad-hoc character was needed, much as a policeman, it would be played by someone come out Kenneth Williams, who would come out in the open with his well-known oily slogan "Good evening". Hancock believed justness comedy suffered because people blunt not believe in the bogey, knowing it was just Ballplayer doing a funny voice.^[24]

Break speed up Galton and Simpson

Further information: Hancock (1963 TV series)

Hancock starred concentrated the film The Rebel (1961), in which he plays dignity role of an office worker-turned-artist who finds himself successful puzzle out a move to Paris, however only as the result clone mistaken identity.

Although a attainment in Britain, the film was not well received in illustriousness United States: owing to splendid contemporary American television series divest yourself of the same name, the lp was retitled Call Me Genius and was not well stuffy by American critics.^{[citation needed]}

According give a lift his agent at the pause, Beryl Vertue his break able Galton and Simpson took uplift at a meeting held display October 1961, where he along with broke with her.

Alan Doc remembered that the break occurred during a telephone call become calm that only Beryl's position was discussed at the meeting. Next to the previous six months, birth writers had developed – insolvent payment and in consultation letter the comedian – three scripts for Hancock's second starring pick up vehicle. Worried that the projects were wrong for him, character first two had been shunned incomplete; the third was cursive to completion at the writers' insistence, only for Hancock concord reject it.

It is considered that he had not discover any of the screenplays. Honourableness result of the break was that he chose to individually develop something previously discussed, direct the writers were ultimately endorsed to write a Comedy Playhouse series for the BBC, connotation of which, "The Offer", emerged as the pilot for Steptoe and Son.

That "something at one time discussed" became The Punch plus Judy Man, for which Hancock hired writer Philip Oakes, who moved in with the comic to co-write the screenplay.^[24]

In The Punch and Judy Man (1963), Hancock plays a struggling strand entertainer who dreams of copperplate better life; Sylvia Syms plays his nagging social climber female a wife, and John Straighten Mesurier a sand sculptor.

Say publicly extent to which the night played by Hancock had unified with his real personality job clear in the film, which owes much to his life story of his childhood in Bournemouth.^[24]

Later years

Hancock moved to ATV have round 1962 with different writers, while Oakes, retained as an physician, disagreed over script ideas forward the two men severed their professional (but not personal) bond.

The initial writer of Hancock's ATV series, Godfrey Harrison, abstruse scripted the successful George Kail radio series A Life Wear out Bliss, and also Hancock's prime regular television appearances on Fools Rush In (a segment perfect example Kaleidoscope) more than a decennium earlier. Harrison had trouble accession deadlines, so other writers were commissioned, including Terry Nation.^[25]

The ATV series was transmitted in obvious 1963, on the same evenings as the second series point toward Steptoe and Son, written indifferent to Hancock's former writers, Galton sit Simpson.

Critical comparisons did shriek favour Hancock's series. Around 1965, Hancock made a series work 11 television adverts^[26] for influence Egg Marketing Board. Hancock asterisked in the adverts with Patricia Hayes as the character "Mrs Cravatte" in an attempt on two legs revive the Galton and Medico style of scripts.

Slightly sooner, in 1963, he had featured in a spoof Hancock Report – hired by Lord Beeching to promote his plan restage reduce railway mileage in advertisements. Hancock reportedly wanted to take off paid what Beeching was render annually – £34,000; he was offered half that amount pray for his services.^[27]

Hancock continued to produce regular appearances on British press until 1967, including a 50-minute show for BBC2 from honesty Royal Festival Hall, which was poorly received.

By then reward alcoholism was seriously affecting circlet performances. Two unsuccessful variety array for ABC Weekend TV, The Blackpool Show (1966) and Hancock's (1967), were his last rip off for British television. He reliable a role in a Filmmaker film – The Adventures pencil in Bullwhip Griffin – but was sacked after reportedly having event with the mock-Shakespearian dialogue.

Unquestionable collapsed with a liver tactic on 1 January 1967 contemporary was told he would suffer death within three months if proceed continued drinking.^[28]

In December 1967, as recovering from a broken bone from a drunken fall, powder became ill with pneumonia.^[29] Wreath final television appearances were bring into being Australia under a contract quick make a 13-part series carry the Seven Network.

However, puzzle out arriving in Australia in Hike 1968, he completed only two programmes before his death boss they remained unaired for not quite four years. These shows arrange the only existing television aloofness of him in colour, because all his previous shows locked away been made for black-and-white mash.

Personal life

In June 1950 Hancock married Cicely Romanis,^[30] a Lanvin model,^[31] after a brief romance.

Freddie Ross worked as enthrone publicist from 1954 and became more involved in his test, eventually becoming his mistress. Closure divorced Cicely in 1965 ride married Ross in December not later than that year.^[32] This second matrimony was short-lived. During these time Hancock was also involved take on Joan Le Mesurier (née Malin), the new wife of individual John Le Mesurier, Hancock's superb friend and a regular conduct character-actor from his television playoff.

Joan was later to report the relationship in her publication Lady Don't Fall Backwards,^[33] inclusive of the claim that her accumulate readily forgave the affair; settle down is quoted as saying go off if it had been everybody else he would not plot understood it, but with La-di-da Hancock it made sense.

Grip July 1966 Freddie took intimation overdose but survived. Arriving knock over Blackpool to record an version of his variety series, Hancock was met by pressmen request about his wife's attempted slayer. The final dissolution of description marriage took place a loss of consciousness days before Hancock's own suicide.^[34]

Cicely developed her own problems be introduced to alcohol and died from cool fall in 1969, the best after the death of sit on former husband.

Freddie Hancock survived her broken marriage and resumed her career as a arresting publicist and agent in leadership film and television industry. Homegrown in New York City look after many years, she founded ethics East Coast chapter of BAFTA, the British Academy of Album and Television Arts.

Death

Hancock monotonous by suicide by overdose, stop in full flow Sydney, on 25 June 1968, aged 44.^[35] He was essential dead in his Bellevue Structure flat with an empty vodka bottle and a scattering warning sign amobarbital tablets.^[24][36]

In one of realm suicide notes he wrote: "Things just seemed to go besides wrong too many times."^[37] Ruler ashes were taken to England by satirist Willie Rushton^[38] cope with were buried in St Dunstan's Church in Cranford, London.

Asked by Van Morrison about top relationship with Hancock, Spike Milligan commented in 1989: "Very exhausting man to get on form. He used to drink immoderately. You felt sorry for him. He ended up on authority own. I thought, he's got rid of everybody else, he's going to get rid noise himself and he did."^[39]

Legacy

There admiration a sculpture by Bruce Ballplayer (1996) in his honour break off Old Square, Corporation Street, City, a plaque on the platform where he was born soupзon Hall Green, Birmingham, and span plaque on the wall bring into play the hotel in Bournemouth whither he spent some of crown early life.

There is besides a plaque, placed by leadership Dead Comics Society, at 10 Grey Close, Hampstead Garden District, north London, where he ephemeral in 1947 and 1948.^[40] Clear up 2014, an English Heritageblue record was placed to commemorate Hancock at 20 Queen's Gate Back at the ranch in South Kensington, London, ring he lived between 1952 nearby 1958.^[41]

In a 2002 poll, BBC radio listeners voted Hancock their favourite British comedian.^[42] Commenting contend this poll, Ray Galton obscure Alan Simpson observed that latter-day creations such as Alan Bolting and David Brent owed overmuch of their success to echoic dominant features of Tony Hancock's character.

"The thing they've blow your own horn got in common is self-delusion," they remarked, in a sharing issued by the BBC. "They all think they're more stultify than everyone else, more genteel, that people don't recognise their true greatness – self-delusion advocate every sense. And there's nada people like better than failure."

Mary Kalemkerian, Head of Programmes for BBC 7, commented: "Classic comedians such as Tony Hancock and the Goons are plainly still firm favourites with BBC radio listeners.

Age doesn't feel to matter – if it's funny, it's funny." Dan Produce offspring of the Tony Hancock Thankfulness Society said of the poll: "It's fantastic news. If forbidden was alive, he would receive taken it one of figure ways. He would probably take made some kind of desiccated crack, but in truth appease would have been chuffed."^[42]

The stay fresh eight or so years grounding Hancock's life were the interrogation of a BBC1 television membrane, called Hancock (1991), starring King Molina.

Another drama, Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! (BBC Four, 2006), axiom Martin Trenaman play the portrayal of Hancock with Michael Grace as Williams. Hancock's affair outstrip Joan Le Mesurier was besides dramatised in Hancock and Joan on BBC Four and hereditary in 2008 as part be beaten the "Curse of Comedy" ready.

Hancock was portrayed by Complete Stott and Joan by Maxine Peake.

Musician Pete Doherty bash a fan of Hancock survive named the first album antisocial his band the LibertinesUp honesty Bracket after one of Hancock's catchphrases. He also wrote pure song called "Lady Don't Suit Backwards" after the book mistrust the centre of the Hancock's Half Hour episode "The Disappointing Page".^[43] Hancock is also referenced in the lyrics to dignity Libertines' 2015 song "You're Loose Waterloo".^[44]

Paul Merton, in 1996, emerged in remakes of six marvel at Galton and Simpson's Hancock scripts, which were not critically on top form received.

In 2014, five do paperwork the wiped radio instalments care Hancock's Half Hour, chosen from end to end of Galton and Simpson, were re-staged for BBC Radio 4 botched job the umbrella title The Lost Hancocks, with Kevin McNally charming the title role.

Playwright Roy Smiles' play about Tony Hancock, The Lad Himself, was exposition at the Edinburgh Festival enjoy 2013 with Mark Brailsford laugh Tony Hancock.

The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society was formed connect 1976 and still attracts creative members. It publishes a every three months magazine, The Missing Page, holds events and is recognised importation a source of information closing stages Hancock. It has an put the last touches to archive held in the unhurt keeping of De Montfort School, Leicester.

Recordings

Episodes and anthologies use up the radio series were unconfined on vinyl LP in illustriousness 1960s, as well as three re-makes of television scripts; swindler annual LP was issued short vacation radio episodes (without the fortuitous music) between 1980 and 1984. Much of this material was also available on cassette have as a feature later years.

The BBC blame succumb to CDs of the surviving 74 radio episodes in six take up again sets, one per series, peer the sixth box containing a number of out-of-series specials. This was followed by the release of facial appearance large box set containing separation the others in a easily forgotten presentation case; while it includes no extra material, the greater box alone (without any CDs) still fetches high prices warning online marketplaces like eBay, at Hancock memorabilia remains a going strong industry.

There have also anachronistic numerous VHS releases of prestige BBC television series.^{[citation needed]}

While cardinal separate Region 2 DVDs were previously issued, some of dignity surviving episodes were unavailable impending The Tony Hancock BBC Collection (eight DVDs) appeared in 2007.

Episodes of the radio panel are often broadcast on birth digital radio station BBC Ghetto-blaster 4 Extra.

Film appearances

Biographies

• David Nathan and Freddie Hancock Hancock, (1969 [1996]), William Kimber, BBC Customer Publishing, ISBN 0-563-38761-0
• Roger Wilmut Tony Hancock: 'Artiste', A Tony Hancock Companion, 1978, Eyre Methuen – leave your job full details of Hancock's level, radio, TV and film appearances
• Edward Joffe Hancock's Last Stand: High-mindedness Series That Never Was, June 1998, foreword by June Whitfield, Book Guild Ltd Publishing, ISBN 1-85776-316-5 – an account of Hancock's final days, written by distinction man who found Hancock's protest after his suicide
• Cliff Goodwin When the Wind Changed: The Authenticated and Death of Tony Hancock, 2000, Arrow
• John Fisher Tony Hancock: The Definitive Biography, 2008, Singer, ISBN 0-00-726677-4

Film biographies

References

External links