Tony Hancock by Cliff Goodwin

More than 30 years after his death Tony Hancock is still celebrated as one of the greats of British comedy.

He has the distinction of being known simply by his surname — Hancock. The word defined not only the man but his art.

The huge fame which Hancock enjoyed — and abhorred — was as short-lived as his own success.

After seven years on radio and television there was nowhere left for him to go. A form of megalomania took over.

One of the great sadnesses of Hancock’s life was that he could not enjoy the ups and downs of show business. To be accepted, and to be loved, and give such happiness to people and still repeatedly turn the dagger on himself was a real tragedy.

In this in-depth biography, Cliff Goodwin explores Hancock’s desperation to achieve perfection in comedy and his depression as a result of his perceived failure. Hancock’s career slowly spirals in a whirl of alcoholism, womanising and scandal.

Using a wealth of previously unpublished new material, Cliff Goodwin reveals at last the man behind the myth.