Tony Hancock Face to Face Interview Part 03

First Broadcast - June 1960. Hancock appears on the BBC's Face to Face, a half-hour in-depth interview programme conducted by John Freeman. Freeman asks Hancock many searching questions about his life and work.

[@LULZCREW]

From a sufferer of depression myself, after watching all 3 parts of this interview it was hard to watch Tony Hancock being asked some difficult and emotional driven questions very quickly and then at the end basically the interviewer said one last question... then unleashed a load of stuff which he didn't admit too and what the interviewer thought all along. I've been lucky enough to have my parents record collection of Tony Hancock radio collection and always has been one of the most funniest series of comedy I ever listened to. Makes me sad though that some of the story lines that he made us laugh too, was some of the sad times of his life.

[@stellaboulton9531]

Indeed - I thought very much the same, xLuLzNicKx. Journalists for you..... What an insensitive, devious, conceited prig the interviewer was whereas Tony Hancock appeared frank, intelligent, sensitive and restrained, but under-confident given his vast capacities as a humorist, writer, performer and so on. What a nasty trick pulled at the end. It is quite conceivable this kind of intrusive questioning and barbed insult from the journalist (and other media at times) contributed to a decline in Tony Hancock's mental health and to his decision to end his life.

[@spmoran4703]

Yes, this interviewer was as tactile as a thump in the jaw.

[@billsamuls7620]

dont like as a man i have my own reasons

[@ellataylor6178]

Why did he agree to an interview with that man?

[@McSynth]

We all live and we all die. The best we can do is leave a legacy of some sort. I think it's safe to say that the Lad Himself, left an extraordinary legacy.

[@alexdavies7394]

Hancock doesn't look too comfortable during the interview. Questions about him as a person, his childhood etc. The loss of his father and brother left Hancock devastated. Happy birthday to a British comedy legend 🥳🍻🎁🎂 Where ever you are Tony, I hope you have found some happiness and fulfillment.

[@TheCervelo100]

A great talent , an icon of British Comedy ....

[@sandrastone7019]

Classicfilm, understandable that it is fascinating. He was so loved and a major part of my teenage years, to see his inner sadness in this interview is so sad. I had the rare opportunity of entering the room where Tony Hancock died here in Sydney Australia when the house was on the market. The address was publicly known and bedroom location clearly identifiable. It was a nostalgic way of feeling close to his spirit if such a thing is possible. Deeply loved and missed.

[@ChrisWrightOM1]

I find this very interesting. Tony Hancock was clearly intelligent and articulate. I think he gives great answers to the questions and, so far at least, seems quite positive.

[@rentaghostokish5628]

Quite a sad, foreboding end to this interview, given what happened in 1968...RIP Tony, I hope you did indeed finally find happiness on the other side.

[@McSynth]

Indeed. I can't bear to view the Oz stuff...such as it is.

[@derby1884]

I've always thought the key relationship in Hancock's career was between him and Ray Galton & Alan Simpson. Key even after he'd discarded them. Ultimately, they understood Tony Hancock better than he understood himself. A fact that he came to realise only when it was too late to resurrect any kind of professional relationship with his former writers.

[@love-bulldogs]

Tony bought so much to British comedy, and seeing some of the videos bring back so much laughter that only he can " A Gem of a man , thank you Tony you made life better for us all " Brian Margolis

[@RICKD790]

Thank you Clovestep, it was really great to hear what he had to say. I have been listening to the Half Hour episodes on Four Extra from 1955 which are a welcomr break to the usual drivel that is entertainment today.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

A genius. A flawed genius, of course, but still a genius.

[@feemercurymoon]

He was a genius, but after getting to know more about him, I realised that he was on a self-destruct course no one could save him from. Spike Milligan commented in 1989: "Very difficult man to get on with. He used to drink excessively. You felt sorry for him. He ended up on his own. I thought, he's got rid of everybody else, he's going to get rid of himself and he did.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

True. When someone like Spike Milligan comes across as the voice of reason you know you're dealing with a very troubled soul indeed!

[@feemercurymoon]

LOL that is so true. :-)

[@sandrastone7019]

That we still talk about and think of him is testament to the influence he had on us. Ironically, Dirk Bogarde is another actor who is still being discussed and admired on KZbin with similar reverence to his memory.

[@markharrison2544]

Hancock and Bogarde were both gay.

[@equaliser2265]

Great man very sad ending to his life, rest in peace Sir, thank you for what you have left us.

[@bighairydel]

what a talent, such a shame we lost him too young. still find his comedy funny after all these years!!!

[@MarkHarrison733]

He had no talent. It's why his career fizzled out after he fired the writers in 1961.

[@BF1GUN]

Thanks to internet radio channels such as British Comedy Radio, we're able to enjoy Hancock's Half Hour as regularly as we wish. He was brilliant, just so sad that he felt the need to end his life so soon.

[@grahamblack1961]

Despite the bad decisions he made, Hancock's legacy is in tact. He will be remembered and loved for the comedy he gave the world, and also for the immeasurable influence he had on the generations of comedians who came after him. His influence is still felt to this day. John Freeman will be remembered for one thing, and one thing only. He was a total cunt to Tony Hancock, and contributed to the downward spiral and eventual suicide of a genius. Well done Freeman, we will never forget you.

[@BritishRaceCaller]

Three years too late. But John Freeman was a very good journalist and later the savior of London Weekend Television from a programme standpoint after the David Frost consortium debacle at its outset.

[@johanna2059]

The poor man was suffering from untreated alcoholism in an era when the disease of alcoholism and mental health were considered taboo subjects. That smug interviewer embodied those toxic attitudes, based on ignorance and fear. It's sad to watch. How he must've suffered, culminating in his suicide. Thank God attitudes are changing, albeit slowly. May he Rest In Peace

[@josephamego1528]

A tortured genius, Why doesn't someone over here get hold of his Australian episodes and show them over here, We to my knowledge have never seen any of his Australian shows.

[@teddy1066]

Brutal interview. Just wasn’t necessary. I don’t blame John Freeman, because it was producer Hugh Burnett’s format, but it was a relentless and hounding Interviewing style and while it irked Evelyn Waugh, it was perhaps the catalyst for the scathing self-reflection that ultimately killed Tony Hancock.

[@spmoran4703]

He was for years the funniest man on the television and radio But, he had depression, very badly and he ended his own life in a small theatre changing room, in Australia. Please if you have this disability, seek help . I can be cured . You are a precious human life and people do care .

[@julesthemadman]

This interview is credited by some as being the beginning of the end for Tony Hancock. Certainly throughout he seems uncomfortable and on occasions close either to tears or to exploding in anger. However, it is easy to project what we would like to see on someone with Hancock's subsequent history. A difficult thing to judge...

[@mjb4983]

If the truth to behold...this truly upset me

[@mjb4983]

Is to behold

[@kenpudsey6435]

His biggest mistakes was getting rid of Galton and Simson..and then of course discarding Sid James and Hattie Jaques etc..he thought he could do it alone,he couldn't..such a shame,he was an incredible talent,and his memory will live on..R.I.P. Tony.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

He wasn't even funny.

[@lkeeble]

"Are you happy" was a good question at the end. That's a yes or no question and the answer wasn't yes.

[@daftlad]

Certainly shows that certain interviewers never pulled their punches in the 60s- I can only think of Jeremy Paxman nowadays who might have the audacity to be so bolshy. Still, found it a bit uncomfortable that he kept going back to issues of money and earnings, was it really that important?

[@kitt3813]

I know Tony thought this interview went well, but my God I can hardly bare to watch it. So uncomfortable to watch for anyone who loves him and his work.

[@mashamorgan]

Sad he said it was his life but if he couldn't develop it anymore he wouldn't want to do it anymore, seems life and his career were inextricably linked for Tone

[@BelatedCommiseration]

I think the interview was interesting although I do agree that Freeman seemed to dwell a bit on money...it almost sounds like he is jealous or something...but I suppose in the context of the time Hancock was one of the highest paid TV stars ever so I can understand the question being asked, but not continually harped on...of course I could say Freeman was a bit impertinant towards the end but then events show he obviously picked up on something about poor Tony Hancock...

[@shadowshow701]

Beginning to see why Waugh was so rude to Freeman. This interview with Hancock is actually very condescending and slyly nasty

[@davidglow3]

I don,t agree.Freeman pushed a lot because they knew each other personally.Hancock usually copped out of his 8nterviews with fake humour and Freeman was determined to get some deeper information out of Hancock

[@loonylinda]

my God what an interrogation..that interviewer annoyed me

[@SDSen]

Hancock or Robert Newton, the bigger drinker?

[@Theslavedrivers]

Big mistake for Hancock to do this - Should have been cautioned against 'letting daylight in on magic' ...

[@haroldjameson7348]

Surely it was due to heavy smoking and drinking?

[@christopherhan3347]

The interviewer was very tough. Later, the likes of Michael Parkinson and Dick Cavett would force celebrities to say something honest. You don't see that so much on TV anymore though. It's all flattery and superficiality now.

[@pix046]

Whoever that interviewer was he should have cut the interview early on and handed himself in to the police as an harassment merchant.

[@davidmathews7941]

Why don't you grow up Mr. Freeman was trying to find the truth about his subjects He like Tony Hancock a lot In fact he was trying To help Tony Hancock Sadly it wasn't to be Very sad indeed

[@HHM706]

He should have stopped. It was his life and it ended up killing him helped along the way by booze.

[@superseagoat]

"Is your health a bit ropey?" Awful questioning from those days.