Hancock thought Terry Scott stole his mannerisms, don't really think they had that much in common apart from fact they could both play pomposity well
Tony Hancock/Terry Scott
Hmm, that seems to be based on a couple of lines towards the end of the John Fisher biography.
Not seen it mentioned anywhere else to my knowledge and certainly I can't see many similarities.
Pomposity and a seeming inability to deal with authority maybe, but these are wide generalisations.
Their appearance wasn't entirely, shall we say, dissimilar. And as you say, they could both do a good pompous character. But if that was really Tony's opinion, I must say I think it a bit misguided, based on what I've seen of the career of each party.
Ah, but the real question is - would Tony Hancock have been any good as Penfold?
I saw a clip of the 60s comedy Hugh and I with former Hancock fall guy Hugh Lloyd and Scott looked exactly like a Hancock stand-in.
By the time he was a household name in Terry and June he had created his own persona.
If you scratch the surface of so many comedians and actors you can see the big stars of their day coming through.
Quote: youngian @ August 21 2009, 9:56 AM BSTI saw a clip of the 60s comedy Hugh and I with former Hancock fall guy Hugh Lloyd and Scott looked exactly like a Hancock stand-in.
Hmm. I suppose there is a little more Hancock-ness to that character, but I wouldn't go so far as saying that he looks just like a stand in. If that's all that Tony saw of Terry (can't check dates right now) then I suppose the view is a little more understandable. Interesting thought!
Watched an episode of Terry & June last night and couldn't have been more shocked at Terry Scott's legs. He was coming down the stairs with no trousers on and my God...he looks like two different people welded together. Big belly, fat face, and the emaciated legs of a concentration camp survivor. I'm not exaggerating. I showed my missus and she actually laughed and said "That's not real!". She assumed I was showing her a YouTube video where someone had digitally altered his legs.
Anyway, just thought I'd share. Does anyone know if he had some sort of wasting disease or something?
Very interesting to hear that's what Hancock thought, if it's true, and there's no reason to believe it wasn't, as the man was so in awe of himself and had enough mental problems to keep a personal psychiatrist in work for life.
That isn't to say that Scott may not have been inspired by his act, shall we say, as it is not uncommon for newcomers to be judged to adopt someone else's provenly popular act or elements of their persona. For instances let's say, Ben Elton - Alexei Sayle, Dennis Leary - Bill Hicks, Vic Reeves - Eric Morecambe, Russ Abbot - Tommy Cooper, Michael Barrymore - John Cleese, Jimmy Carr - Bob Monkhouse, Bob Monkhouse - Bob Hope, Russell Brand - Frankie Howerd, Bobby Davro - Freddie Starr and then Jim Davidson, to name but a few who have raised eyebrows with their acts.
So perhaps Hancock wasn't being merely paranoid after all... 
Quote: youngian @ August 21 2009, 12:56 PM GMTIf you scratch the surface of so many comedians and actors you can see the big stars of their day coming through.
Yes I agree.
Although there is a similarity with regard to mannerisms I think Tony Hancock was just being Hancock. He was a troubled genius and I think this was par for the course for him.
Stealing was nothing new, Benny Hill did it the whole time like, for instance, his wonderful character Chow Mein which he lifted from Buddy Hackett.
Terry Scott's stock in trade was his pompous dithering which might be seen as naff by today's standards but after catching up with 'Terry and June' on a Sunday morning, I reckon he carried it off with aplomb.
The paltry pins I mentioned earlier. Apologies for the shitty quality, I just snapped a pic on me mobile. Bizarre eh?
Why has someone made this? Whyyy?
Is it Jerry? Or Tune? 
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 7 2011, 9:11 PM GMTThe paltry pins I mentioned earlier. Apologies for the shitty quality, I just snapped a pic on me mobile. Bizarre eh?
That's what legs were like under Labour in the 1970s. Thank God for Thatcher.
Yes I remember them now from Carry On Up The Jungle, a really odd bit of casting even for Carry On films, a fat barell chested Tarzan with matchstick legs.
Quote: Will Cam @ March 7 2011, 11:01 PM GMTThat's what legs were like under Labour in the 1970s. Thank God for Thatcher.
So that's what privatised legs would look like.