Nicholas John Hancock[1](born 25 October 1962)[2][3]is an English actor and television presenter. He hosted the sports quizThey Think It's All Overfor 10 years. He also formerly presentedRoom 101(1994–1999) on TV, as well as its earlierradio version(1992–1994).
Nick Hancock | |
|---|---|
 Hancock atBridgewater Hallin 2013 | |
| Born | Nicholas John Hancock 25 October 1962 |
| Education | Homerton College, Cambridge(BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor,TV presenter |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | PresentingRoom 101 HostingThey Think It's All Over |
| Spouse |
Shari Eftekhari (m.1997) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editHancock grew up with three elder sisters and his father Ken. He was educated atYarlet SchoolinStaffordshireand laterShrewsbury School.[4]He was awarded a third-class degree in education byHomerton College, Cambridge.[5]While he was at Cambridge Hancock was a member of theFootlights,where he first collaborated withHugh DennisandSteve Punt,and became president in 1983, with Punt as vice president. He was also a founding member of the Homerton College Blaggards.
After graduating Hancock became aPEteacher and practised stand-up comedy as a hobby. He formed adouble actwithNeil Mullarkey,another former member of the Footlights, and they mostly did satirical spoofs of the title sequences of television shows to accompanying music, several times on television, including onAfter Ten with Tarbuckin 1988. The shows includedDoctor Who,Kojak,andDad's Army.One of Hancock's earliest TV breaks was presentingLa Triviatta,a comedy/chat show about trivia for the short-lived stationBritish Satellite Broadcasting.
Hancock appeared in an advertisement for Datapost in 1988, and in a series of advertisements for Randall's beer in 1990. They were shown only inJersey,but were later lampooned byAngus Deaytonin his TV showBefore They Were Famous.
Career
editHancock appeared in two episodes ofMr. Bean,first as a thief who stole Mr. Bean's camera, and later as a ticket inspector on a train. His early television credits also includeMe, You and HimandThe Mary Whitehouse Experience.
Hancock's comedy idol isPeter Cookand he got the chance to meet him when Cook appeared onRoom 101.Hancock enjoyed hostingThey Think It's All Over,especially when guests got in hot water: "Chris Eubankwas slagging off Kiwi rugby starJonah Lomu,who's 6 ft 5 in and about 18½ stone. I knew Jonah was backstage, about to come on for our 'feel the sportsman' round. It was a very pleasing moment! "[citation needed]
In 1998 Hancock starred (alongside Andy Smart) in a documentary/comedy about theIranian national football team,"The Outsiders". In 1999 he also appeared inGreat Railway Journeys of the World,travelling from Guantanamo to Pinar del Rio.
In 1998 Hancock also provided the narration for a six-part BBC documentaryPleasure Beach,following the running ofthe Blackpool amusement park.
After passing on the host's duties for bothRoom 101andThey Think It's All Over,Hancock took a sabbatical to spend more time with his family. He has made one-off appearances, including onRed Nose Day'sThe Ultimate Makeover,in which Hancock,Anna Ryder Richardson,Phil Tufnelland TV gardenerJoe Swifttransformed aLiverpoolplay centre for children whose parents could not afford child-care.
In 2006 Hancock appeared onTV Heaven, Telly Hell,discussing his TV likes and dislikes, withTrinnyandSusannahbeing his number one hate.
Hancock filmed a series forSTVandDiscovery Real TimecalledNick Hancock's Fishing School,where he teaches a number of students the art of fly fishing. The show, made bySMG Productions,began broadcasting in January 2007.
In 2007 he presented a new game show calledWin My WageforChannel 4.The show aired inDeal or No Deal's usual slot during the latter's summer break.
In 2007 it was announced that Hancock would host a new show onITV1in 2008 calledDuel.The show was not recommissioned after its initial run.
In 2009 he became the host of a daytime cookery competition series,Taste the Nation,on ITV1.
In 2010 he stood in forDanny BakerandColin Murrayon the radio.
He appeared in a celebrity special edition of theITV1gameshowThe Chasein 2011.
In 2011 he was asked byBBC Americato join the panel of theNPRquiz showWait Wait... Don't Tell Me!for a year-end special, "A Royal Pain in the News". Hancock won the game.[6]
In 2012 he became the host of a newBBC Twoshow,Breakaway,which began on 12 March.
In June 2015 Hancock guest-hosted the breakfast show for Stoke-on-Trent radio stationSignal 1.[7]
In October 2021 he competed on Scott Mills and Chris Stark's "Upside Down Quiz" on their Weekend Show for BBC Radio 5.[8]Hancock's podcast, "The Famous Sloping Pitch"[9]is hosted on Apple.
In December 2022, Hancock's barn conversion home and contents, featured in season 2/episode 4 ofCelebrity Yorkshire Auction House,he submitted 15 quirky items to auction, including a club fender that made £400 and a retro lava lamp, which went for £30. In total, 14 items sold, raising £1,123, the unsold item, a cherished oil painting, returned home with him.[10][11]
In April 2023 he appeared as a fictionalised version of himself in an episode of series 4 ofMeet the Richardsons,having been tracked down byJon Richardsonto discuss life after showbusiness.[12]
Personal life
editHancock met his wife,Iranian-bornShari Eftekhari, during aGeorge BestandRodney Marshfootball roadshow inStaines,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 inStaffordshirein 1997, two years after they first met, and have two children.
Hancock is a lifelong supporter ofStoke City.In September 2001, he paid £20,000 atSotheby'sFootball Memorabilia auction in London for theFA Cupwinner's medal awarded toSir Stanley Matthewsin1953.Hancock sold the medal in November 2014 for £220,000.[13]In 2007, he made an appearance on an edition ofAntiques Roadshowrecorded in Stoke-on-Trent, talking about some of the items in his collection of football memorabilia. He is also acricketfan. He was interviewed by6 Towns Radioabout the 40th anniversary of Stoke's 1972 League Cup win.[14]
He lives with his wife and their two children inShrewsbury.[4]
Television credits
edit- Damned
- Bostock's Cup
- Breakaway
- Duel
- Fantasy Football League
- Great Railway Journeys – Cuba
- Hancock's Half Time
- Holding the Baby
- MAC
- Me, You and Him
- Midsomer Murders'Till death do us part'
- Mr. Bean
- Nick Hancock's Fishing School
- Nights
- Paul Merton: The Series
- Pleasure Beach (Narrator)
- Punt and Dennis
- Room 101
- Swot or Wot
- The Danny Baker Show
- The Mary Whitehouse Experience
- The Pall Bearer's RevuestarringJerry Sadowitz
- They Think It's All Over
- TV Heaven, Telly Hell
- Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
- Who's Doing the Dishes?
- Win, Lose or Draw
- Win My Wage
Hancock recorded an hour-long compilation video release of footballingbloopers,dubbedFootball Nightmares.This was released on VHS which was succeeded by two follow-up videos:Football HellandFootball Doctor.These three were later released on a one-disc DVD.
Radio credits
edit- Room 101
- Fish on Five
- Fighting Talk
- Back End of Next Week
- Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
References
edit- ^"Nicholas John Hancock".find-and-update pany-information.service.gov.uk.Retrieved22 September2023.
- ^"Nick Hancock".BFI.Archived fromthe originalon 9 April 2018.
- ^Greenstreet, Compiled by Rosanna (29 July 2000)."Nick Hancock".The Guardian.
- ^ab"TV star Nick Hancock delighted by move to Shrewsbury".Shropshire Star.28 September 2018.Retrieved24 October2018.
- ^Biography for Nick HancockatIMDb
- ^"2011-12-24 | Shows | Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! Stats Page".stats.wwdt.me.Retrieved12 June2023.
- ^comicus."Nick Hancock · Hire For Events · Comedian, Host / Compere".Comicus.Retrieved16 October2021.
- ^Harris, Duncan; Smith, Andy; Turner, Alwyn W.; Wright, Jonathan; Murray, Robert; Ogg, Alex; Ives, Simon; McCaghy, Maxine; Dale, Nick (2004),"M",Rock,Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, pp. 461–536,doi:10.1007/978-3-476-04446-4_13,ISBN978-3-476-01891-5,retrieved16 October2021
- ^"The Famous Sloping Pitch on Apple Podcasts".Apple Podcasts.Retrieved16 October2021.
- ^"Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House" Helen Skelton and Nick Hancock "S2E4 5 December 2022 on Really – TV Regular".4 December 2022.Retrieved5 December2022.
- ^"Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House Season 2".Radio Times.Retrieved5 December2022.
- ^Guide, British Comedy."Meet The Richardsons Series 4, Episode 6".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved2 June2023.
- ^"Sir Stanley Matthews FA Cup medal sells for £220,000".BBC News. 11 November 2014.
- ^6TownsTV (5 March 2012)."Nick Hancock interview on 6 Towns Radio – Stoke City League Cup".Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2018 – viaYouTube.
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