Nick Hancock (actor)
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| Nick Hancock | |
| Born | 25 October 1962  Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actor TV Presenter Comedian |
Nick Hancock (born 25 October 1962, Stoke-on-Trent) is an English actor, comedian and television presenter.
Probably TV's most well known Stoke City supporter, he hosted the "laddish" sports quiz They Think It's All Over for 10 years. He also formerly presented Room 101 (1994-1999) on TV, as well as its earlier radio version (1992-1994).
Taking a sabbatical from show business, from 2005 he began working for a friend's mortgage brokerage.[1]
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[edit] Early Life
Hancock grew up with three elder sisters, with father Ken, a builder. Educated at Shrewsbury School, Hancock won a place at Cambridge University - at Homerton College . While studying Hancock performed with Cambridge Footlights, becoming President in 1984.
After graduation, Hancock became a PE teacher and practised stand-up comedy as a hobby. He formed Hancock & Mullarkey with Neil Mullarkey at Cambridge, an act which consisted of spoofing television shows' title sequences to accompanying music, several times on television. This included Doctor Who, Kojak, and Dad's Army. One of his earliest TV breaks was presenting La Triviatta, a comedy/chat show about trivia for the short lived British Satellite Broadcasting station.
[edit] Television Career
Hancock was on an episode of Mr. Bean, as a thief who stole Rowan Atkinson's character's camera. Hancock's biggest break was when he replaced Mike Myers, who had gone to work in Canada. Hancock’s comedy idol is Peter Cook and he got the chance to meet him when Cook appeared on Room 101. Hancock enjoyed hosting They Think It's All Over - especially when guests got in hot water: "Chris Eubank was slagging off Kiwi rugby star Jonah Lomu, who's 6ft 5in and about 18 1/2 stone. I knew Jonah was backstage, about to come on for our 'feel the sportsman' round. It was a very pleasing moment!" In 1998 he starred in a documentary/comedy about the Iranian national football team called "The Outsiders". In 1999 he also appeared in Great Railway Journeys of the World, travelling from Guantanamo to Pinar del Rio.[2]
After passing on the hosts duties for both Room 101 and They Think It's All Over, Hancock took a sabbatical to enjoy family life and his children. He has made one-off appearances, including on Red Nose Day's The Ultimate Makeover, where Hancock, Anna Ryder Richardson, Phil Tufnell and TV gardener Joe Swift transformed a Liverpool play centre for children whose parents couldn’t afford child-care.
Hancock has said that if he was ever invited to guest on a chat show, he would refuse. There isn't that much of himself to give, he has insisted: "I can’t think of anything I’ve ever done that would be of interest to anybody." However, in 2006 he appeared on TV Heaven, Telly Hell, discussing his TV likes and dislikes, with Trinny and Susannah being his number one hate.
Nick has filmed a series for STV and Discovery Real Time called Nick Hancock's Fishing School, where he teaches a number of students the art of fly fishing. The show, made by SMG Productions, began broadcasting in January 2007.
In 2007, he presented a new game show called Win My Wage for Channel 4. The show aired in Deal or No Deal's usual slot during the latter's summer break.
In 2007 it was announced that Hancock will host a new show on ITV in 2008 called Duel.
[edit] Personal Life
Hancock met his wife, Iranian-born Shari Eftekhari, during a George Best and Rodney Marsh football roadshow in Staines, Surrey. Hancock proposed to Shari in a pub: "We were playing pool in the Nellie Dean. I said to Shari: 'Have I got something stuck between my teeth?' As she looked I stuck out my tongue - there was an engagement ring on it. She said: 'That's lovely, yes, I will - but can we change the ring?" The couple married in Staffordshire two years after they first met and have two young children – Dolores and Harvey.
Hancock is one of the most famous Stoke City F.C. fans. In September 2001, he paid £20,000 at Sotheby's Football Memorabilia auction in London for the FA Cup winner's medal awarded to Sir Stanley Matthews in 1953. In 2007 he made an appearance on an edition of Antiques Roadshow recorded in Stoke-on-Trent, talking about some of the items in his collection of football memorabilia.
[edit] Television credits
- Bostock's Cup
- Fantasy Football League
- Great Railway Journeys - Cuba
- They Think It's All Over
- Holding the Baby
- The Pall Bearers Revue starring Jerry Sadowitz
- MAC
- The Mary Whitehouse Experience
- Me, You and Him
- Mr. Bean
- Nights
- Punt and Dennis
- Room 101
- Swot or Wot
- The Danny Baker Show
- Lose or Draw
- You, Me and Him
- TV Heaven, Telly Hell
- Nick Hancock's Fishing School
- Hancock's Half Time
- Win My Wage
- Duel
Hancock also formed an hour long compilation video release of Footballing bloopers, dubbed "Football Nightmares". This was released on VHS which was succeeded by his two follow-up videos: "Football Hell" and "Football Doctor". Eventually all 3 were released on a one disc DVD.
[edit] Radio credits
- Room 101
- Fish on Five
| Preceded by Neil Mullarkey |
Footlights President 1983–1984 |
Succeeded by Kathryn Crew |
