Tony Hancock. His Life and Work Quiz

Answer: Birmingham

The second son of Jack and Lily Hancock, he arrived on May the 12th, 1924, and was only three when the family moved to Bournemouth, where his father ran a laundry and later a pub. Both parents had been performers on the club and masonic circuit. There is a large statue of Hancock in Birmingham, and he could slip into a cod Brummie accent at the drop of his trademark Homburg hat.
Both London and Liverpool have given us several comic sons and daughters over the years.

Answer: Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock

He was opinionated, childish, bombastic, and above all, very funny. Obviously; plain old Tony Hancock or Anthony John Hancock wasn't enough. A hint of an aristocratic dynasty, long since dormant, added another dimension. Several scripts made reference to a noble lineage, and it was clear that the character we knew and loved had come down in the world.
But we're running ahead of ourselves here.

Answer: Archie

"Educating Archie" (first broadcast in 1950) starred Peter Brough, and was written by Eric Sykes and Sid Colin. Hancock appeared in 1951, playing not only Archie's (the dummy) tutor, but a second character who varied from show to show. Hancock had, by this time, found fame onstage. From the infamous Windmill, he toured the country in Variety shows, working solo and performing the same act that he would retain for the next 18 years! It was in 1952 that he reached his full potential as a stage performer, in revues such as "London Laughs" (1952-1954) at the Adelphi, as well as numerous touring shows. Later, Hancock topped the bill at the Talk of the Town nightclub, London.

Answer: Cicely

Hancock met Cicely Romanis, a fashion model, whilst ice skating. They married very shortly afterwards. It lasted 14 years, then he divorced her and married his agent and mistress Freddie Ross, who represented several other top performers as well as Hancock. Chronic alcoholism, coupled with deep bouts of depression, made him a difficult person to love.

But in spite of treating those closest to him very badly at times, he was always well cared for by partners and colleagues alike. Hattie Jaques played his secretary, the imposing Miss Griselda Pugh, whilst Andre Melly - sister of jazz singer George - was for some time a member of the Hancock radio household.

Answer: Galton and Simpson

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson turned in the finest radio and television scripts for Hancock, in spite of being fired by him and then re-retained. We can also thank them for "Steptoe and Son", "The Glums", and many more.
Eric Sykes wrote the shows Hancock made for commercial television in 1956, with strictly anonymous contributions by Galton and Simpson, prior to returning fulltime to the BBC for radio and tv work. Spike Milligan also contributed to Hancock's material from time to time.
Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais brought us shows such as "The Likely Lads" and, much later, "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet". Jimmy Perry and David Croft are best known for "Dad's Army", as well as having written several other highly successful series.

Answer: No

East Cheam was a creation of Galton and Simpson. They both lived in the Sutton/Cheam area, on the borders of Surrey, so knew the genteel sort of place the ever-pretentious Hancock would feel at home in. The "East" was added to imply that it was a cut below Cheam proper - hence the rather seedy street name. This placed him in the very worst part of the neighbourhood.
After several series set here, there was a falling-out with certain cast members (notably Sid James) and the writers. When Hancock returned in 1961, Galton and Simpson moved his now solo domicile to a bed-sitter in Earl's Court, then as now a run-down district made up of flats and guesthouses.
In reality, Hancock lived for much of the time at Lingfield, in a large house called McConkey's.

Answer: GLK London

"This is GLK London", one of the most famous episodes ever, saw Hancock in his Earl's Court bedsit, grappling with amateur radio. The cast of oddball characters he conversed with over the air included a friend from Birmingham, a chess player from Moscow, and a lunatic Japanese operator ("It is are raining not here also"). Hancockīs skills were put to the test with a Mayday distress call from the skipper of a yacht.

But a broken radio valve, blunt pencil, complaining neighbours, and finally the police, all proved too much for him. Who rescued the stricken mariner? The Japanese operator, of course! This was one of several shows that was also re-recorded for release as an LP, and was issued on the same pressing as "The Blood Donor".

More anon.

Answer: He had to read the entire show off the teleprompter and idiot boards in the wings.

Rehearsals for the weekly shows were scheduled for Monday to Saturday, with recording on the Sunday. Hancock had had a car crash the previous week, and had suffered a minor concussion. He appeared on the Thursday, and demanded to continue with the episode, in spite of proposals to cancel.

By the Sunday, he had learned a fraction of the 43 page script. Watch the show carefully, and you will see Hancock's eyes wander off-camera. The show was, nevertheless, very well received, and it provided Hancock with a justification for not learning lines in future. No need to outline the plot here, if you know Hancock, you know this episode!

Answer: Sid got him a passage on a tramp steamer.

Determined to leave Britain, Hancock, armed with Polly, his stuffed bird, did the rounds of the embassies, assuring them of the benefits he will bring to the countries they represent. Not one took him. "As for the Friendly Islands; how they got their name I do not know!" he commented.

In desperation, he turned to the crooked Sid, played by South African born Sid James. Sid's character was on the fringes of criminality (most of the film and tv roles he played prior to the "Carry On" films, where lechery took over, were those of small-time villains), and passage on a "luxury" liner was promised. Blindfolded, Hancock boarded what turned out to be a tramp steamer crewed by a bunch of cut-throats, who put him off at the first bit of land they came to - minus belongings, of course.

This was Baffin Land - one of the many places to reject him earlier. The stuffed bird was a regular feature of the tawdry Railway Cuttings living room.

Answer: Backwards

The episode opened with Hancock and the librarian (played by Hugh Lloyd) arguing about books returned late and damaged. Hancock was shocked to see Sid in the library ("You've never read a book in your life. Run one, yes, but never read one."), and trouble ensued when Sid objected to being told to be quiet.

The book had the last page torn out, and after much agonising, Sid and Hancock attempted to solve the mystery themselves. They failed, as their initial suspect was killed in chapter three. The library didn't have another copy, and the last person to borrow the book experienced the same frustration. Finally, they decided to visit the author, Dīarcy Sarto. Unhappily, he died before completing his final novel. Hancock; "Dead? The fool!" In a classic Galton and Simpson "circular plot", Hancock turned to classical music, and Sid arrived with his first record - Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony".

This writing device was employed in many of the scripts delivered by Galton and Simpson, notably "The Blood Donor".

Answer: It was an entirely solo performance.

This was the first in the final BBC television series, and followed the bust-up referred to in Question Six. No other actors were involved, and even telephone conversations were conducted without a second voice. Opening gave us Hancock, on the bed, struggling with Bertrand Russell.

After a few minutes, he gave up, and attempted to watch television instead. But problems with reception made this impossible. The phone rang, and a lady asked for Fred, the previous occupant of the flat. Hancock talked her into inviting him to the party instead, and went to get ready.

He performed a Harold Macmillan impression when shaving, and other excellent bits of "business" whilst smartening himself up. Sadly, the lady cried off, having found Fred. Classic Galton and Simpson again, the episode closed with a renewed attempt to understand Bertrand Russell. It was suggested at the time that the writers gave him this script as a consequence of his actions in dismissing the Railway Cuttings cast - and Hancock rose to the challenge!

Answer: Art

Having appeared in the lamentable "Orders are Orders" in 1954, he found success with this one - screenplay by Galton and Simpson, of course - although not so in America, under the title "Call Me Genius". This was upsetting for Hancock, who always wanted a US blockbuster.
The story took him to Paris and Monte Carlo (two places he loved to visit in real life), and back to London.
Hancock co-wrote his next film, "The Punch and Judy Man", in 1962, as well as appearing in "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" (1965), and starring in his last foray onto the big screen, "The Wrong Box", a year later.

Answer: Face To Face

Freeman set up the interviews he did so that the viewer only saw the interviewee's face throughout the programme, thus really putting them on the spot. Hancock spoke openly about his income, beliefs, comedic talent, and life in general. There was much discussion within the BBC as to whether their biggest human investment would be tarnished by its transmission, but in the end, the show went out. John Freeman, in fact, was panned by the press, and Hancock praised for his honesty, integrity, and intelligence. Eamon Andrews hosted both "What's My Line?", and "This Is Your Life". I made the other title up!

Answer: No

He stated that he did not want the responsibility of fatherhood. He also claimed that Cicely did not want to give birth, as the ordeal frightened her. Freddie was advised not to try for a baby until Hancock had been off the booze for at least 18 months. This never came to pass.

Answer: 1968

Hancock was found lying on his bed, wearing nothing but his underpants and socks, by the wife of the director on the series he was making for Australia's Channel 7. Pills and an empty vodka bottle were found nearby, along with two notes addressed to the director, Eddie Joffe. Myrtle Joffe called to the flat on the morning of June the 25th, having last seen him the previous evening. She telephoned her husband, who then informed the police, adding "You'll know who he is when you see him".