Bob Hoskins exposes central London property scams, Omnibus 1982 Missing Believed Wiped Barry Norman

Bob Hoskins offers his unvarnished opinion on the architectural dilemmas facing the South Bank. Collection: Beautiful South.
Omnibus
1982 | 50m
Bob Hoskins offers his unvarnished opinion on the architectural dilemmas facing the South Bank.
Collection: Building the South Bank
Collection: Beautiful South
www.bfi.org.uk/...
Throwback: Bob Hoskins talks about urban planning in London’s South BankBy WILLIAM MENKING • Friday May 10, 2019The actor Bob Hoskins was the star of the 1980 film, The Long Good Friday, a London gangster movie that reflected on major anxieties, opportunities, and economic changes taking place in the U.K. In 1982 Hoskins led Barry Norman and the BBC on a riverside walk along the South Bank, and while pointing to new concrete office blocks he calls “Mars Bars” he confronts change in the guise of urban development along the Thames.The coming redevelopment Hoskins claims (and was he ever right) will make the 1960s “redevelopment epidemic look like a rash.” Next to a Coin Street vacant lot, once the site of row houses, but torn down for the 1951 Festival of Britain, he points to another Mars Bar. You see that (the BBC overlays outlines the proposed structures) is what happens if you “don’t consult with local people.” In 1970 “a big property group said they would build flats, shops, and a hotel if they could build a great tower for their staff. Once they got that tower the company brass pushed off down to Surrey and their building was sold off and the new owners are new doing up a bit to let and now they say they are moving out of the tower as well.” Now thanks to these planning decisions what we have is an area that “looks and feels completely dead.” Hoskins was not just a great actor but with deep understanding of culture implicitly understood bottom-up planning. We need planners with his insight and passion.
1982: Omnibus
#OnThisDay 1982: Bob Hoskins took Barry Norman on a riverside walk along the South Bank to illustrate his concerns about development in London....
'My dad was such a good actor he convinced The Krays he was a gangster' - Bob Hoskins' daughter on his gentle side
www.dailyrecor...
HOSKINS, who died in 2014, was often cast as a cockney hardman, but in a new book his daughter reveals that was as far removed as possible from his real personality.
By Rod McPhee 30 MAY 2016
WHEN Bob Hoskins lost his battle with Parkinson’s , a nation mourned the loss of the lovable movie hardman.
In reality, his family say he was a gentle soul who loved cookery and archaeology, not the underworld criminal like his characters in The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa.
But his performances were so convincing some gangland figures found it hard to distinguish between the actor and the mobsters he played.
Bob’s daughter Rosa, 32, said: “When I was going through all of dad’s stuff after he died, I found a letter. The contents of it are illegible because the handwriting is so poor. But I could read one sentence at the end which said, ‘From your friend Reggie Kray ’...

[@OliverHarper]

I love how Bob Hoskins refers to look of these new office blocks as 'Mars Bars'.

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

Ah good old Bob

[@pollardmark]

Bob Hoskins .... Total LEGEND in my eyes.. Such a decent fella. One of the Old School ;-)

[@shabbos-goy9407]

seconded

[@pollardmark]

@Joel WW Well said m8 :-)

[@antoniopintus8568]

@Joel WW well said!!!!

[@ChoobChoob]

This was exactly 40 years ago and it's as relevant today as it was when filmed in 1982.

[@antoniopintus8568]

One of the greatest interpreters of the UK cinema! And also a great person! RIP!

[@TheZ1A900]

If only people like Bob ran the Councils !

[@Hnw761]

Seriously thank you so much for this upload. It is amazing that what happened in London in the 1980's is/has happened to many US cities. In NYC you see this all over the place- blighted land held for speculation while developers get ridiculous tax write-offs for promises never kept. This has been happening for the past 50 years and destroyed our cities, communities and our sense of belonging to a culture and society. Please if you have any other clips like this upload- thanks again!

[@nickycotton6137]

Well said..

[@J1283-s1k]

It's my first time looking into this properly, and it's ludicrous to me how, this has been so intrinsic to how I view London. Every time I go through it or pass by it, I am absolutely astonished how there is so, so, so much supposed development going on, that never gets finished. It's just in perpetual construction. It always baffled me. I'd think 'Why on earth, wherever you look, is there endless construction and scaffoldings and tape, all the time?' And now I know why.

[@Electricfox]

Two TV legends, and so true, it's like a different planet looking at the old riverside and docklands compared to now.

[@nickycotton6137]

Aye, Barry Norman eh. Blimey! Ashamed didn't know he was a goner (Bless.😳) & RIP to Bob H of course. 🔥

[@gamegeekx]

RIP Mr. Hoskins. From your American fan. "Who framed Roger Rabbit" was my childhood. Your country legacy still lives on. A bunch of English people migrated to South Korea to become perfect English teachers to teach English to my people. You are forever respected sir. Wish I was old enough to attend your funeral, I was only 12 or younger.

[@vlloyd46]

I love old London. I live in Covent Garden. I get lost in the history. I can't stand property developers. New buildings. I love old pubs too. KEEP LONDON OLD!!!

[@Robblue55]

People say London has changed - the landscape always changes and nothing stays the same - but I know some great parts of London around Westminster that is still the same as it was 40-50 years ago

[@ChrisGrantMcPhail]

Bob Hoskins. The best ever.

[@71ibanez]

For more than ten years there’s been peace,everyone to their own patch,we’ve all had it sweet!

[@rm8409]

I wish today's celebrities cared about their cities like Hoskins did. They are too busy uploading lobster night pics to Instagram.

[@fatwalletboy2]

What i like is that bob was talking about the weslthy and greed. He was wealthy but he cared.......pity in 2022 we dont have CEOs and shareholders who think more about communities like Bob did.. world would be a better place for more people not the few

[@davidpowell9713]

Bob was a communist so were his family, that’s why he cares about the poor and less fortunate people

[@AnonymousAnarchyst]

I've never heard Bob Hoskins speaking in his natural English accent before. He had a spot on American accent in the roles he played (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Mermaids, etc)

[@GetToDaChoppa-k5r]

then you are missing out on some of his best films including The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa. Get on them as soon as mate, if you like Bob's work.

[@explorer806]

@@GetToDaChoppa-k5r The Long Good Friday.

[@hendo337]

In Hook he used his accent as Smee.

[@TimBrownTwo008]

I used to be down there at the time taking fotos, so I remember all of this, the filming of "The Elephant Man", "The French Lieutenant's Woman" etc.

[@silversurfermusicco5263]

You should publish them. Part of london history

[@kd84afc]

Living in wapping now, what he predicted came true. All those warehouses close to the Thames are now luxurious privately owned flats, then if you turn a corner you're in a area run by the council or housing associations

[@ChoobChoob]

To be fair, some the council estates in Wapping look well kempt and quite pretty. Particularly the 'Wapping Housing Estate' on Green Bank-Wapping Lane-Watts Street.

[@kd84afc]

@@ChoobChoob Some are private housing association which are kept better then others, Council stock is old. Some new builds are kept very well due to the cost to live in them.

[@ChoobChoob]

@@kd84afc The 'Wapping Housing Estate' is still Tower Hamlets Council (As Tower Hamlets Homes). Honestly, when you get a chance, have a bit of a walk around there. It really is nice!

[@kd84afc]

@@ChoobChoob I know live in Wapping lol, as I said some parts are nice and some are not.

[@grantbangkok]

1982, how relevant is this today?So true.

[@ChoobChoob]

40 years now!

[@wholovesyoubabywholovesyou1147]

I just can't believe Bob is no longer with us 😢

[@PeterBorenius]

What a bloke, salt of the Earth.

[@tomhamilton5261]

@@PeterBorenius he was a brilliant actor, always gave excellent performances, a very natural talented actor

[@tomhamilton5261]

@Stefano Pavonetotally agree- the likelihood is that his family will honour him and rightly so. Such a brilliant actor. Tremendous screen presence.

[@johndean7967]

My view is that the riverside has improved immensely since this was taken

[@ΑναστάσιοςΠαπαζαχαρίου]

Lookwise or community wise? I'm not familiar with the topic but it seems like he is talking about corporate sweeping in and replacing houses with condos and business development

[@anthonysmith9920]

Interesting video that has been uploaded......just to add a comment. 20 years later the same greedy bastards are fucking up Manchester, rest in peace Bob.....you made one of the best British gangster movies ever!

[@sauermaischeyahoo7834]

Coin St. car park... there used to be a campervan market in there. Australians desperately trying to flog off the vehicle they'd done their overseas experience in before the date on their airline ticket back down under arrived.

[@silversurfermusicco5263]

Bob hoskins was the real deal. I wonder what choice words he would have used for the shard.🤔

[@julianhawkins9423]

What a fantastic video of London history on the brink of change and who better to tell this story, one of our finest actors ever…

[@jasonedwards6870]

4:50 resurrection of the daleks

[@paulb6716]

Looked just like it....thankfully this was largely preserved!

[@gigteevee6118]

If only this was longer than 7mins, could have watched them for hours!

[@tariqlear5172]

Can't do hours but this is twice the length; kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYXKonupf5lnZ5I

[@heatsave1986]

Miles ahead of time with this 👏👏👏

[@kitharrison8799]

If Bob was your Dad, you'd be alright.

[@johnkennethwiseman682]

RIP Hoskins and Norman

[@eveningstar7048]

They don’t make em like that anymore

[@brianmorecombe2726]

I sort of like the wasteland look.The brownfield sites.It takes me back to the old days looking at cities,the back streets the diminishing industrial estates.Dirty old tracks,rickety old wooden fences the weed growth.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

I thought it was just me fascinated with that decaying history... I grew up in 60's 70s Liverpool, the dock estate was a true time capsule, with some fantastic architechture. The god awful mismanagement of the city's development by successive clueless labour councils has managed to have Liverpool's classic waterfront removed from the UN's world heritage sites list.

[@AngelWingzzz]

Lovely guy. It was the film script writer that predicted Canary Wharf and the docks. We watched Oxo and Coin street development. I tried to get a place in tge coin st dev. Taxi drivers had taken everything. Next Gen will not be taxi drivers 🤣

[@chickencharlie1992]

It's like he's interviewing the actual Harold Shand.

[@1spiteri]

This is wonderful.

[@jaseboon6282]

It's a fackin disgrace tha kants

[@lewisgreen2957]

Plenty of backhanders Bob. It always was and forever will be. Give ‘em a grand each to keep ‘em sweet, for expenses…

[@dazsmith610]

R I P BOB WE MISS YOU

[@davidh503]

Bob: "...He was so beautiful, he was so very special..."

[@alzeNL]

what a lovely video, two legends, in a legendy city. I wonder what they would make of it now..

[@Amp1771]

now they want to do it in Birmingham

[@pattate9636]

can't polish a turd

[@davidpowell9713]

Bob was a communist so were his family. He was truly a great man, and sadly missed. RIP

[@michaelohalloran5332]

Miss him

[@daveflick12]

I really enjoyed this thanks

[@Zlervo]

I wonder what Bob would think of London if he was here today.

[@PeteCswampy]

Hands across the ocean

[@drweetabix]

Good old thatcherite poison politics

[@71ibanez]

Harold Shand lives!!

[@sandozdelysid]

Oh the pain... GENTRIFICATION. Is not new.

[@alexmoody9259]

The wharfs along Shad Thames in the video are extremely nice looking now now days, very expensive but lovely to see the old brick buildings with new life

[@Bloxdio_God]

I used to manage Butlers Wharf when it when first converted to residential. A great scheme and thr buildings were preserved for the future by virtue of the development.

[@TheCannonface]

He was a true Londoner rip Bob.

[@TraitofSiNN727]

wow I never knew Bob was like this..just amazing that he's like me when I walk down the street with a friend and I'm telling him or her what use to be there and what was there and now just a slab of concrete with a wooden desk inside with little men and women looking at a screen all-day.

[@paulies5407]

South bank is a post modern blight. Have you seen the one Blackfriars building that went up last year? Hoskin’s would be spinning in his grave Cheers for uploading this BTW, been searching for this for ages 👍🏼

[@eddiemclaughlin-e2m]

he was talking about the Highway. It really does separate the rich and poor

[@ifcukin8mufc168]

Still happening today !

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

And surprising relevant still in London, what with property prices.

[@pojo1234567890]

I really have to say: I F''king loved this guy. He was so funny and such a nice guy! One in a million!

[@Anonymous-kq8oh]

It reminds me of an old scene from only fools and horses when uncle Albert goes to the docks and talks about how the landscapes have change, and about the good old days. 😂

[@brianmorecombe2726]

Bob Hoskins proper sounded rough east end London but he wasnt from London.Not a million miles away though.

[@MrEchoes1962]

Shame the full 50mins of it was not uploaded.😞

[@stretchclogg]

Amazing.

[@JJ-cf4gz]

You cant buy jellied eels anywhere now days.

[@PeterBorenius]

What about Bethnal Green Road?

[@funkyfresh6879]

Walthamstow?

[@lester9448]

Hoskins Winstone Caine stamp and McShane the best of British hardware

[@andykenny3425]

3rd world cess pit now

[@jeff_burton]

No wonder he thought Judge Doom’s plan to destroy Toontown and build a freeway was a lame brained idea

[@AdrianMendoza23]

Very interesting.

[@lester9448]

Bob Hoskins is funny especially in unleashed 2007

[@gazriley624]

Rat at 2.31

[@vo4068]

The Labour Council in Liverpool, under the name of Militant sold out property on Merseyside, in the 70s & 80s. The new Labour Party on Liverpool council under the name of momentum, have had the governance taken off them.

[@skintslots]

The money gained from the council houses that were sold in the right to buy scheme was not made available to the Council to build new social housing and all this came from the Tory central government. The council,even today,had it's budget slashed constantly and had to cut essential services. Militant were never the problem,the problem is always the Tory party and it's class war. Bob knew this as he spoke about greed often here. RIP Bob,you were a great actor and a good guy.

[@vo4068]

@@skintslots Hi, the properties on Merseyside were sold off at a low price, because there was no planning permission, but knowing that planning permission would be guaranteed when applied for. Michael Hesletine closed down the Militant Labour council & following the Maxwell report the govt. & cps , Sir Kier being in charge, closed down the momentum Labour council!

[@skintslots]

@@vo4068 The properties sold were council houses under the right to buy scheme and were never replaced because no council was allowed to spend the money raised from them to build replacement social housing. This applies country wide and is the main reason there is a property shortage of social housing now. It was a deliberate ploy to pay back tory donors,some of the largest are developers. And Momentum was a fine movement because it represented real socialism and was a real threat to the elite running this country. Starmer was terrified because they actually represented the principles of Socialism,unlike he ever will.

[@vo4068]

@@skintslots Hi Skin In the 70s & 80s Merseyside was the 2nd biggest port in the UK. We had a strong industrial base in our car industry. Two fantastic soccer teams & a thriving music base. Because we were predominately working class, we were also heavily unionised, with the wrong sorts getting a toe hold, the likes of Militant, who were not interested in the working man, just disruption & bring the workers out on strike. Along with some failed management decisions, & strikes our car industry fell away, along with the docks, which also had containerisation, which cost jobs. We became in investable. I’m probably a lot older than you, 70’s & witnessed all this socialist malarkey 1st hand. During this period, as I’ve pointed out, the heads of militant, the champagne socialists, were busy cashing in on the land sales on Merseyside. I’m amazed that all the countries that live under a socialist type regime, the people don’t like it & are oppressed, but the left want us to go there, knowing that it does not work, except for the corrupt at the top. Us Scousers have a tendency to blame every other bugger, but not to look at ourselves. At least we still have one decent team & it bugs me to say LFC not EFC.

[@AlteranAnciote]

"Dorset House". I worked in that building a few years ago. Heh.

[@benwherlock9869]

RIP Bob. A great actor and a wonderful human who realised all the problems that Thatcher's bullshit would create.

[@michaelohalloran5332]

Real deal

[@HHM706]

Shad Thames is unrecognisable from what it was.

[@2fallguy]

Saw him on anti-nazi demos.Bob was alright.

[@bunnystuart3808]

The long good sellout

[@biling7636]

How true this is how the working-class people were kicked out for the rich people to move in.

[@uksilverstacker413]

Have you ever been to Southwark

[@berlinocelot]

hehe property developers. I've shit'em.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Still, sound like he is on the set of Long Good Friday! Da Mafia I shat em!

[@jonh2469]

That’s butlers wharf know very very nice area

[@backedup39]

Something tells me Bob was not a Tory....

[@dawd29]

How the hell was Bob Hoskins speaking? Was it cockney?

[@paddymcginty1264]

Used his mouth. No...hes a cockney but he's not speaking it.

[@uksilverstacker413]

Plastic gangster