Stephen Hancock
Stephen Hancock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Philip Stephen Hancock 24 November 1925 Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England |
| Died | 1 November 2015 (aged 89) |
| Education | Durham University |
| Occupations | Actor, musical director |
| Spouse | Jocelyne Page |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Christopher Hancock (brother) |
Philip Stephen Hancock (24 November 1925 – 1 November 2015) was a British television and stage actor, musical director and pianist.
He was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham and attended the Chorister School, Durham and the Darlington Grammar School before reading music at Durham University as a mature student.[1] He served as a radio engineer in the Royal Air Force during World War II.[2]
He was best known for his role as Ernest Bishop in Coronation Street. Introduced as wedding photographer Gordon Bishop in a 1967 episode dedicated to one of Elsie Tanner's marriages, he later re-emerged as the regular character Ernie and played the character from 1969 until being written out in a fatal shooting during a burglary at Mike Baldwin's factory in 1978.[2][3] In 1980, he portrayed Roche Lynch in an episode of the Granada Television series Lady Killers. Late minor TV roles included appearances in Victoria Wood as Seen on TV in 1985/1986.[4] He appeared as Mr Lillie in the Tales of the Unexpected (TV series) episode (9/6) "The Facts of Life" (1988).
He also acted in stage productions, and was musical director for others,[5] and composed music for radio.
His brother was the late Christopher Hancock who played Charlie Cotton in EastEnders.[6] In 2011 he appeared in a Coronation Street tribute programme.
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Dear Dotty | Ian Prenderghast | 4 episodes |
| The Three Musketeers | Jackson | ||
| 1959–1961 | Emergency Ward 10 | Dr. John Faulkner | Recurring role; 20 episodes |
| 1960 | Arthur's Treasured Volumes | Mr Bolton | |
| The Strange World of Gurney Slade | Businessman | ||
| 1961 | Coronation Street | Baby Shop assistant | |
| ITV Television Playhouse | Mr Matthews | ||
| Family Solicitor | Mr Boggis | ||
| 1962 | Z-Cars | Man | |
| Armchair Theatre | Journalist | ||
| Coronation Street | Mr Spinks | 4 episodes | |
| The Largest Theatre in the World: Heart to Heart | Technical Operations Manager | ||
| 1963 | Badger's Bond | Mr Price | |
| The Plane Makers | Mr Kershaw | ||
| The Avengers | Ralph | ||
| Story Box | The Professor | ||
| Comedy Playhouse | Scoutmaster | ||
| 1965 | The Wars of the Roses | Clerk of Chatham | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | United! | Bert | |
| The Wars of the Roses | Bassett | ||
| Crossroads | Warren Haycroft | 2 episodes | |
| North and South | Harry Carter | 3 episodes | |
| 1967 | The Newcomers | Travel Agent | |
| 1967; 1969–1978 | Coronation Street | Ernest Bishop | Regular role; 410 episodes |
| 1967 | Crossroads | Councillor Clewes | 4 episodes |
| City '68 | Greenaway | ||
| 1968 | Spindoe | Meths drinker | |
| For Amusement Only | Insurance Inspector | ||
| The Newcomers | Mr Maddocks | 2 episodes | |
| 1980 | Sounding Brass | Leonard Dukes | 6 episodes |
| Ladykillers | Roche Lynch | ||
| 1983 | The Gaffer | Police Sergeant | |
| Andy Robson | Kirkley | ||
| 1985 | Summer Season | Mr Hancock | |
| Big Deal | Doctor | ||
| 1986 | Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | All in Good Faith | Crematorium director | |
| Marjorie and the Preacherman | Bill | ||
| 1914 All Out | Norman Grant | ||
| 1988 | Tales of the Unexpected | Mr Lillie | |
| 1989 | The Return of Shelley | Frank | |
| The Heat of the Day | Blythe | ||
| 1990 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Mullings | |
| Chicago Joe and the Showgirl | Doctor | ||
| 1991 | Screen One | Mr Jackson | |
| 1993 | Side by Side | Alan | |
| Screen One | Peters | ||
| 1995 | Harry | Albert Hawkins | |
| 1997 | New Voices | Mr Cosgrove | |
| The Locksmith | Judge | ||
| 2008 | Heartbeat | John Harper | |
| Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles | The First Mate | Voice role |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Oblique". Palatinate (106): 5. 8 November 1957. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- 1 2 Hayward, Anthony (3 November 2015). "Stephen Hancock obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ↑ "Emily and Ernie argue when Ernie isn't complimentary enough - Still from Coronation Street". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
- ↑ "Stephen Hancock". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019.
- ↑ "Stephen Hancock". Theatricalia.com. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ "Christopher Hancock". The Independent. 19 November 2004. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
External links
[edit]
 | This article about a British television actor born in the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
- 1925 births
- 2015 deaths
- English male soap opera actors
- Male actors from County Durham
- People educated at the Chorister School, Durham
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
- Alumni of the College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham
- People from Bishop Auckland
- Actors from County Durham (district)
- British television actor, 1920s birth stubs