1973: DAVID NIVEN Interview | Nationwide | Classic Celebrity Interviews | BBC Archive

Hollywood legend David Niven sits down for a chat with Nationwide's Sue Lawley about life, luck, laughter and drugs. He also recalls his younger days, from his boozy house share with Errol Flynn, to his time as an impish schoolboy organ bellow blower with a penchant for mischief.
Originally broadcast 30 April, 1973.
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[@maxbeale8186]

David Niven; actor, storyteller, writer and soldier. A true British institution 🇬🇧🇬🇧👌🏻👌🏻

[@JonTheComputerDoctor]

73 when he died which is no age at all, greatly missed as he had so much more to give. A truly great gentleman and a superb actor.

[@LookatmeimSandraDee]

I could listen to him all day.

[@nadiazahroon6573]

Me too ❤

[@davidlee6720]

Brave soldier as well - survived the war. English gentlemen, the type we seem to have lost, unassuming, never lost his cool, Americans loved him too.

[@tinakev4022]

What a wonderfully urbane and witty raconteur, David Niven was. So glad this popped up in my recommendations.

[@jimjiminy5836]

Sure was. A lovely man also.

[@alexandradane3672]

Absolutely . Added to which I think he was far too sophisticated for the interviewer - the fine and finer points of his humour being lost on her ?

[@geoffjoffy]

He was 73 when he died in 1983. I didn't realise how 'not that old' it was until I turned 60 this year.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

No kidding. I'm 73 now and mom is 96. I doubt I'll hit that milestone, but David was such a big part of my life and an inspiration. Read both of his books/bio's.

[@benjaminclasper9355]

I love how well spoken he is

[@jimjiminy5836]

I bloody love him. A wonderful man. Up there with the best.

[@jimjiminy5836]

“Tea is a drug, you know” “Are u addicted?” “No” C’mon, as a fellow Brit, we’re all addicted to that socially acceptable drug🤣😂

[@jeremypearson6852]

I was about eleven when this aired and I think I had a huge crush on Sue Lawley. I’m guessing most boys of that age did. Actors like David Niven don’t exist today because the type of movies aren’t produced anymore for his kind of character. We’ll never see actors like Niven, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Laurence Oliver, Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando and others again.

[@sarahlouise7163]

dapper David and lovely Sue ☺

[@kvk1960]

One word: CLASS!!!!

[@davedogge2280]

His name comes up when I looked up the word 'suave' in the Oxford English dicctionary.

[@rodneyclarke6477]

Yes Niven was all class and a witty & intelligent guest.

[@vanessahawarden9028]

David Niven ….hero on so many fronts

[@Greenwillow]

I adore this man. My earliest memory is of him doing a coffee commercial. Such a brilliant actor love him in Separate Tables🥰

[@Prospero812]

I was born in 1965 and when I asked my smart speaker question about David Niven, my smart speaker tried to corrected me and said it’s not Niven it’s NIven with the ‘I’ sound for pronunciation, and I just laughed 😂

[@stevemaynards.g.t]

Great actor & gentleman.

[@mollyfilms]

Love love love David Niven. What a life he had. The Moons a Balloon is a must read as the story of his life is unreal. I think from this interview Sue Lawley was just starting out maybe? Taking over answers are an editors worst nightmare.

[@markbumford8076]

A wonderful gentleman and a superb actor and I could listen to him all day even if it involved him reciting ingredients of tinned food!

[@philipsteerment2826]

What a humble gentleman he was 🙏 thank you sir.

[@joncrawford3485]

They don't make blokes like that anymore...

[@jimjiminy5836]

They sure don’t. He’s a wonderful man. His autobiography “the moon is a ballon.” Is a delight.

[@ScottishOutlaw]

@@jimjiminy5836 I thank you. that's a new audiobook on the list. Read by the man himself no less.

[@jimjiminy5836]

@@ScottishOutlaw you’re welcome! Read by him also? I’ll be listening also! Cheers

[@davidhamm7909]

I love that shirt and tie.

[@denizmehmed971]

A very young Sue Lawley! Brings back memories of Nationwide.

[@tb-cg6vd]

As a child I heard that The Police did a version of 'So Lonely' singing 'Sue Lawley'. However my elder brother is a big bullshitter.

[@buxycat]

@@tb-cg6vd what is true is that many people at the time thought The Police were genuinely singing Sue Lawley. It's possible The Police did sing Sue Lawley as a joke at some point.

[@traceya9615]

@@tb-cg6vd I remember Sue Lawley referring to the song when it had recently come out. I think it was on Nationwide. She looked very unamused and made me laugh (I was 12) as she described The Police as a "punk" group.

[@sporkfindus4777]

Wonderful David Niven. That shirt and tie combo is really cool. I hope it's not disrespectful to say that he reminds me a little of Graham Hill and vice versa. Certainly the humour.

[@dnorfed]

I wish David had been my father, a wonderful man he was, a captivating voice as well

[@seankayll9017]

A star-struck Sue Lawley giggling away in the background during the organ story.

[@gavin4513]

More more more!!!

[@Hysteria98]

How do you like it? How do you like it?

[@NoosaHeads]

An actual gentleman.

[@zulfiqarali9808]

Greatness doesn’t come walking to you It’s created by such intelligent and talented people Great Niven !

[@ZootZinBootZ]

I'm only 40 really appreciate my grandmother's collection of such considered interviewed stars such as Sir David Niven she encouraged me to read in the 80'90's to keep recognising what transitioning from centuries, senses of past social construct and balance of the real life estimates of some people who have vision or communication skills to enterprise advance ideas on into inspiration that is timeless. I don't know what playing bellows is but David Niven makes it important regular knowledge.. He knew the kids were going to be alright 😋

[@thebat7048]

Playing the bellows is either playing the bagpipes or the accordion but way he's talking I think it was the bagpipes..Bellows are something with air in them to make a noise i.e the bagpipes, accordion,etc...

[@ZootZinBootZ]

@@thebat7048 many thanks and some 🍒🍇🍐🍏🍑fruit for such a wise Bat...

[@thebat7048]

@@ZootZinBootZ Lol why thank you kind lady 🤗🤗🤗 and here's some 💐 for the kind lady ☺️

[@Philmoscowitz]

This is vintage Niven!

[@heathsavage4852]

Back when movie stars had some class and style.

[@1969Kismet]

Being canned for "lack of wind and over-blowing", that's not something I heard before 🤣

[@scotttait2197]

One of my favourite actors when I was growing up despite the plummy way he pronounces off as owf

[@hanseekhoff1093]

Sue fancies him - quite clearly!

[@johnaldred6864]

They don't make them like that anymore. . what a class act. 👍

[@adam_meek]

He was great in A Matter of Life and Deth. A proper British jent.

[@craig869]

As classy a lady as Sue Lawley has always been, i can't help but think she's like putty in his hands in this interview, if he were so inclined. Saying that, i could sit and listen to him all day too.

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

sue lawley interview

[@betsyrocks]

Wow, Sue Lawley was pretty hot back then.

[@888ssss]

a lot of people dont know david niven is an uncle of paul daniels the magician.

[@lordnevets9184]

The Quintessential, You want someone to look up to? Here's not a bad place to start. More David Niven and less Lawrence Fox is what this world needs.

[@benjaminclasper9355]

Classic English gentleman.

[@grahamstewart615]

Sadly had serious problems with alcohol 😢

[@scottfoster3548]

Wonderful AND what I always say EVERY generation thinks they were the lucky ones SO throw away my traditions we throw away yours. AND smoking weed with David Niven WHOA.

[@davidlittle7182]

I love David Niven but you've got to laugh how many posh people get fantastically 'lucky' in acting. Seems even more obvious today

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Indeed, and today there are more "posh" actors than ever - Cumberpatch, Redmayne, etc - but the difference is that they're arrogant and believe themselves to be *great* actors, while David Niven was very modest about his acting ability, as befits a proper gentleman. Today's lot may be posh, but they'll never have Niven's sheer class.

[@davidlittle7182]

@@Kevin-mx1vi I think this is a very good distinction

[@paulmasterson386]

Niven had the courage to abandon a career in the army and take a chance on success in Hollywood. People who are successful often have the courage to make leaps into the unknown,so I would say he made his own luck.

[@davidlittle7182]

@@paulmasterson386 he was born in Belgravia, went to Stowe School (because he'd misbehaved too much to get to Eton), and walked into Sandhurst (officer) college because of his privileged upbringing. He treated the whole thing exactly like a toff does: a wheeze