Nick Hancock - Television Career

Television Career

Hancock appeared in two episodes of Mr. Bean, first as a thief who stole Mr. Bean's camera, and later as a ticket inspector in a train. His early television credits also include Me, You and Him and The Mary Whitehouse Experience.

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 6 ft 5 in 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 (alongside Andy Smart) 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.

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 could not 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 would host a new show on ITV1 in 2008 called Duel. The show was not recommissioned after its initial run. In 2009, he became the host of the daytime cookery competition series Taste the Nation on ITV1.

In 2010 he stood in for Danny Baker and Colin Murray on the radio, and has appeared in a celebrity special of hit ITV1 gameshow The Chase in 2011, in which he came just 1 second from winning a half share of £64,000 for this favorite charity.

In 2011, he was asked by BBC America to join the panel of the popular NPR quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! for their year-end special on BBC America, "A Royal Pain in the News." Hancock won the game.

In 2012, he became the host of the new BBC Two show, Breakaway, which began screening on March 12.