When the Wind Changed: The Life and Death of Tony Hancock

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Using a wealth of previously unpublished new material, Cliff Goodwin reveals at last the man behind the myth.



‘Cliff Goodwin has written an excellent and unsparing biography’ - Sunday Independent

‘Goodwin gives us the full picture of Hancock’s life … in a serious, analytical way … this is not just a story about a comedian; it encompasses the universal themes of madness and mortality.’ - Scotland on Sunday

‘… everything you ever wanted to know about a comic genius’ - Irish Times

Cliff Goodwin has worked as a reporter, feature writer and sub-editor for various newspapers and magazines. His coverage of the 1988 Lockerbie air crash earned him a regional press award. In 1993, after 25 years in journalism, he decided it was time to concentrate on full-time writing. He is also the author of To Be A Lady – a biography of Catherine Cookson.