Editing Nick Hancock

{{short description|British actor and television presenter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Nick Hancock
| image              = Nick Hancock at Bridgewater Hall.jpg
| caption            = Hancock in 2013
| birth_name         = Nicholas John Hancock
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1962|10|25|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[England]]
| education          = [[Homerton College, Cambridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation         = [[Actor]], [[TV presenter]]
| years active       = 1983–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Shari Eftekhari|1997}}
| children           = 2
| known_for          = Presenting ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]''<br>Hosting ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]''
}}
'''Nicholas John Hancock<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/brYjDaX6bbPQYwykxnCC-_r1pN8/appointments|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk|access-date=2023-09-22|title=Nicholas John Hancock}}</ref>''' (born 25 October 1962)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bab81e28c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409215726/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bab81e28c|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2018|title=Nick Hancock|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/jul/29/weekend7.weekend5|title=Nick Hancock|first=Compiled by Rosanna|last=Greenstreet|date=29 July 2000|work=The Guardian}}</ref> is an English actor and television presenter. He hosted the sports quiz ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'' for 10 years. He also formerly presented ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]'' (1994–1999) on TV, as well as its earlier [[Room 101 (radio series)|radio version]] (1992–1994).

==Early life==
Hancock grew up with three elder sisters and his father Ken. He was educated at [[Yarlet School]] in [[Staffordshire]] and later [[Shrewsbury School]].<ref name="shropshirestar">{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/2018/09/28/tv-star-nick-hancock-delighted-by-move-to-shrewsbury|work=[[Shropshire Star]]|title=TV star Nick Hancock delighted by move to Shrewsbury|date=28 September 2018|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> He was awarded a third-class degree in education by [[Homerton College, Cambridge]].<ref>{{IMDb name|nm0359409|Nick Hancock|section=bio}}</ref> While he was at Cambridge Hancock was a member of the [[Footlights]], where he first collaborated with [[Hugh Dennis]] and [[Steve Punt]], and became president in 1983, with Punt as vice president. He was also a founding member of the Homerton College Blaggards.<ref name="homerton">{{Cite web|title= Homerton: Cambridge’s friendliest college |url= https://articlebiz.com/article/1051278845-homerton-cambridges-friendliest-college |author= Rhia Chohan |work= articlebiz.com |date= July 13, 2010}}</ref>

After graduating Hancock became a [[Physical education|PE]] teacher and practised stand-up comedy as a hobby. He formed a [[double act]] with [[Neil 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 on ''After Ten with Tarbuck'' in 1988.<ref name="Mullarkey"/> The shows included ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[Kojak]]'', and ''[[Dad's Army]]''.<ref name="Mullarkey">{{cite web|url= https://allthatmullarkey.com/nick.html |work=allthatmullarkey.com |title= Nick |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref> 

==Career==
His early television credits also include working with [[Jasper Carrott]] in ''[[Jasper Carrott|Carrott Confidential]]'' (1989), and ''[[The Mary Whitehouse Experience]]'' (1989-1992),<ref name="comicus"/><ref name="comedy"/> and ''[[Me, You and Him]]''.<ref name="comicus"/> In 1990, Hancock presented a comedy/chat show about trivia for [[British Satellite Broadcasting]] called ''La Triviatta'' (1990).<ref name="comedy">{{cite web|url= https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/nick_hancock/ |work=comedy.co.uk |title= Nick Hancock  |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref> The same year 1990, Hancock appeared in two episodes of ''[[Mr. Bean]]'',<ref name="comedy"/> first as a thief who stole Mr. Bean's camera, and later as a ticket inspector on a train.<ref name="comedy"/> 

In 1992, Hancock was chosen as the host presenter of ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]'',<ref name="comicus"/> remaining in the role until 1999.<ref name="comedy"/> 

In 1995, he became as the host presenter of ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'',<ref name="comicus"/> A great example of the show's humour was when [[Chris Eubank]] was slating Kiwi rugby star [[Jonah Lomu]], who's 6 ft 5 in and about 18½ stone, Hancock knowing Lomu was backstage as a mystery guest, and about to come on, was very comedic in the moment.<ref name="comedians">{{cite web|url= https://comedians.co.uk/profiles/nick-hancock/ |work=comedians.co.uk |title= Nick Hancock |access-date=15 January 2025}}</ref>

In 1998 Hancock starred (alongside Andy Smart) in a documentary/comedy about the [[Iranian national football team]], "The Outsiders".<ref name="comicus"/> In 1999 he also appeared in ''[[Great Railway Journeys|Great Railway Journeys of the World]]'', travelling from Guantanamo to Pinar del Rio.<ref name="comicus"/> In 1998 Hancock also provided the narration for a six-part BBC documentary ''Pleasure Beach'',<ref name="comicus"/> following the running of [[Blackpool Pleasure Beach|the Blackpool amusement park]].<ref name="comicus"/>

In 2006 Hancock was discussing his TV likes and dislikes on ''[[TV Heaven, Telly Hell]]''.<ref name="comedy"/> In 2007, Hancock filmed a series for [[STV (TV network)|STV]] and [[Discovery Real Time]] called ''Nick Hancock's Fishing School'', where he teaches a number of students the art of fly fishing.<ref name="fishing">{{cite web|url=https://player.stv.tv/summary/nick-hancocks-fishing-school/ |work=player.stv.tv |title= Nick Hancock's Fishing School |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref>  

In 2011, He appeared in a celebrity special edition of the [[ITV1]] gameshow ''[[The Chase (British game show)|The Chase]]''.<ref name="tv">{{cite web|url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nick-hancock/credits/3030011652/ |work=tvguide.com |title= Nick Hancock Credits |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> In 2011 he was asked by [[BBC America]] to join the panel of the [[National Public Radio|NPR]] quiz show ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]'' for a year-end special, "A Royal Pain in the News". Hancock won the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011-12-24 {{!}} Shows {{!}} Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! Stats Page |url=https://stats.wwdt.me/shows/2011/12/24 |website=stats.wwdt.me |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref>

In June 2015 Hancock guest-hosted the breakfast show for Stoke-on-Trent radio station [[Signal 1]].<ref name="comicus">{{Cite web|title=Nick Hancock · Hire For Events · Comedian, Host / Compere|url= https://comicus.co.uk/hire-talent/comedian/nick-hancock/|access-date=2021-10-16|website=Comicus}}</ref>

In October 2021 he competed on Scott Mills and Chris Stark's "Upside Down Quiz" on their Weekend Show for BBC Radio 5.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Harris |first1= Duncan|title= M|date=2004|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-04446-4_13|work=Rock|pages=461–536|place=Stuttgart|publisher=J.B. Metzler|access-date=2021-10-16|last2= Smith|first2=Andy|last3=Turner|first3=Alwyn W.|last4=Wright|first4=Jonathan |last5=Murray|first5=Robert |last6=Ogg|first6= Alex|last7= Ives|first7= Simon|last8=McCaghy|first8= Maxine|last9=Dale|first9=Nick|doi=10.1007/978-3-476-04446-4_13 |doi-broken-date=1 January 2025 |isbn=978-3-476-01891-5 }}</ref> Hancock's podcast, "The Famous Sloping Pitch"<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Famous Sloping Pitch on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-famous-sloping-pitch/id1581433476|access-date=2021-10-16|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-GB}}</ref> is hosted on Apple.

In December 2022, Hancock's barn conversion home and contents, featured in season 2/episode 4 of ''Celebrity 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-04 |title=Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House "Helen Skelton and Nick Hancock" S2E4 5 December 2022 on Really – TV Regular |url=https://tvregular.com/2022/12/04/celebrity-yorkshire-auction-house-helen-skelton-and-nick-hancock-s2e4-5-december-2022-on-really/ |access-date=2022-12-05 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House Season 2 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-t4xl6k/celebrity-yorkshire-auction-house-season-2/ |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2023 he appeared as a fictionalised version of himself in an episode of series 4 of ''[[Meet the Richardsons]]'', having been tracked down by [[Jon Richardson]] to discuss life after showbusiness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |title=Meet The Richardsons Series 4, Episode 6 |url= https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/meet_the_richardsons/episodes/4/6/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Hancock met his wife, [[Iran|Iranian-born]] Shari Eftekhari, during a [[George Best]] and [[Rodney Marsh (footballer)|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]] in 1997, two years after they first met, and have two children.<ref name="shropshirestar"/>

Hancock is a lifelong supporter of [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]. 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 FA Cup Final|1953]]. Hancock sold the medal in November 2014 for £220,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29993650|publisher=BBC News|title=Sir Stanley Matthews FA Cup medal sells for £220,000|date=11 November 2014}}</ref> 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. He is also a [[cricket]] fan. He was interviewed by [[6 Towns Radio]] about the 40th anniversary of Stoke's 1972 League Cup win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h42ppScS6VI&list=UUG9JYaCyrJYwmi-_Kcjoqow&index=13&feature=plcp| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003072441/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h42ppScS6VI&list=UUG9JYaCyrJYwmi-_Kcjoqow&index=13&feature=plcp| archive-date=2018-10-03 | url-status=dead|title=Nick Hancock interview on 6 Towns Radio – Stoke City League Cup|author=6TownsTV|date=5 March 2012|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

He lives with his wife and their two children in [[Shrewsbury]].<ref name="shropshirestar"/>

==Television credits==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Damned (TV series)|Damned]]''
*''[[Bostock's Cup]]''
*''Breakaway''
*''[[Duel (British game show)|Duel]]''
*''[[Fantasy Football League (TV series)|Fantasy Football League]]''
*''[[Great Railway Journeys|Great Railway Journeys – Cuba]]''
*''Hancock's Half Time''
*''[[Holding the Baby (British TV series)|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 (British TV series)|Room 101]]''
*''Swot or Wot''
*''The Danny Baker Show''
*''[[The Mary Whitehouse Experience]]''
*''[[The Pall Bearer's Revue]]'' starring [[Jerry Sadowitz]]
*''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|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 (British game show)|Win, Lose or Draw]]''
*''[[Win My Wage]]''
{{div col end}}

Hancock recorded an hour-long compilation video release of footballing [[blooper]]s, dubbed ''Football Nightmares''. This was released on VHS which was succeeded by two follow-up videos: ''Football Hell'' and ''Football Doctor''. These three were later released on a one-disc DVD.

==Radio credits==
*''[[Room 101 (radio series)|Room 101]]''
*''Fish on Five''
*''[[Fighting Talk]]''
*''Back End of Next Week''
*''Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0359409|name=Nick Hancock}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, Nick}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Homerton College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Comedians from Staffordshire]]
[[Category:English game show hosts]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English radio personalities]]
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:Male actors from Stoke-on-Trent]]
[[Category:People educated at Shrewsbury School]]