Stephen Hancock

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. He served as a radio engineer in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

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. 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. 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, and composed music for radio.

His brother was the late Christopher Hancock who played Charlie Cotton in EastEnders. In 2011 he appeared in a Coronation Street tribute programme.

Filmography 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