When John Thaw, star of The Sweeney and Inspector Morse, died from cancer in 2002, a nation lost one of its finest actors. Sheila Hancock lost a beloved husband. In this unique double biography she chronicles their lives - personal and professional, together and apart. John Thaw was born in Manchester, the son of a lorry driver. When he arrived at RADA on a scholarship he felt an outsider. In fact his timing was perfect: it was the sixties and television was beginning to make its mark. With his roles in Z-Cars and The Sweeney, fame came quickly. But it was John's role as Morse that made him an icon. In 1974 John married Sheila Hancock, with whom he shared a working-class background and a RADA education. Sheila was already the star of the TV series The Rag Trade and went on to become the first woman artistic director at the RSC. Theirs was a sometimes turbulent, always passionate relationship, and Sheila describes their love - weathering overwork and the pressures of celebrity, drink and cancer - with honesty and piercing intelligence. The Two of Us is a remarkable book - a biography of a born actor and a tender, often heartbreaking memoir of a marriage. Full of insight and vivid memories, it evokes two lives lived to the utmost.
The Two of Us: My Life with John Thaw
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Constructed with considerable skill … a book of exceptional emotional candour -- Charles Spencer, Sunday Telegraph
About the Author
Sheila Hancock was born in 1933 and attended RADA before embarking on a successful career in acting, both on stage and screen. She was awarded the OBE in 1974. Sheila Hancock lives in London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
78 of 78 people found the following review helpful
By S. Agnew
Format:Hardcover
I have bought many books over the years from Amazon but this is the first one that has compelled me to write a review. I found this book impossible to put down - tears several times. I have been a fan of John Thaw particularly from Morse and it was very interesting to read what the man was really like. Touching biography of both Sheila and John and a very honest description of their marriage, in times both good and bad. I was very sad when I came to the last page and I would recommend this book to any fan of John Thaw, written by the person who knew him best.
54 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Although not published until October last year, this apparently quickly became the best-selling biography of 2004. I got mine in my Christmas stocking, and if there should be anyone out there who wasn't so lucky, or who has not already bought it for themselves, I can recommend it wholeheartedly, but it's probably wise to keep the box of tissues handy; (though this is not to say that it is an overwrought or sentimental account of the lives of two of Britain's best-loved actors - far from it).
There are two tiers of narrative throughout the book. There is the straightforward chronological history of the childhood and development of Sheila Hancock and John Thaw, told in separate chapters up until their paths meet and, after the loss of Sheila's first husband and the break-up of John's first marriage, their wedding. Thereafter the story tends to concentrate on John's life - while it by no means neglects the successful part of his career, making Regan and Morse in particular characters that will never be forgotten, it does relate in candid detail his struggle to come to terms with being a celebrity, his difficulty in communicating in person with even his closest family, his moods and ultimately his drinking. We are spared the gory details but the relatively unemotional recounting of the events, and his eventual overcoming of them, juxtaposed with the occasional cards or letters he would write expressing his love, do make it gripping to read. Sheila's own career and personal difficulties (she had her own cancer scare) are covered but briefly at this time.
As if that weren't enough, the whole narrative is peppered with extracts from Sheila's diary, acting as a second tier to the story, starting from January 2001, three months before any inkling of John's illness, through his swift decline and then death in February 2002, and her struggle to come to terms with her loss. Again, we are spared the gory details but the process is no less harrowing for this; shining through it all is the undying love they had for each other, having survived the trials and tribulations of what had gone before. You do have to be disciplined and not just skip forward reading these diary notes alone - for example John's death is recorded at just about the point where they marry in the main narrative, - and you will miss a lot of relevant history if you do.
It's a story of life and love, of tears and happiness, of struggles and success, and almost none of the name-dropping that features in most auto/biographies. It is both sad and heart-warming, and that, coming from one relatively cold-hearted male, is acclaim indeed.
63 of 64 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A simply wonderful book ,reduced me to tears repeatedly.Clever format ,but not so clever that it leaves you lost.A great and glorious tribute to John Thaw and a total credit to Sheila Hancock.
I remember her in the Rag Trade when I was tiny ,had no idea of the depth and seriousness of her theatre background.
Read this book!
but keep hankies nearby.
I remember her in the Rag Trade when I was tiny ,had no idea of the depth and seriousness of her theatre background.
Read this book!
but keep hankies nearby.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Regarding book purchased as used.
Book in excellent condition. I did not expect to receive this at such a low price. I will definitely be ordering again in the future.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Norma Connor
5.0 out of 5 stars
five out of five
i promised myself when i got a kindle fire this would be the first book that i would download and i did and i was nt disapointed it is a great book a mixture of both their lifes of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by ann crdr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Therapy
I have always admired Sheila Hancok as an actresss, and loved John Thaw, in goodnight Mr Tom. I lost my own husband to the same horrid illness, which is why I read this book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by lyn obrien
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed this
I really enjoyed this frank and honest account of Sheila Hancock and John Thaws life together.
From his difficult childhood which was heart breaking to alcoholism, it was an... Read more
From his difficult childhood which was heart breaking to alcoholism, it was an... Read more
Published 2 months ago by J Dove
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Two of Us: My life with John Thaw
We love it. Have enjoyed listening to Sheila Hancock reading her story when we have been travelling long journeys in the car. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs Hazel L Quelch
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful Book
Well written, informative and so touching - I would highly recommend this book to anyone who rated John Thaw and his wife, Sheila Hhancock.
Published 3 months ago by PatriciaAnne
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Two of Us: My Life with John ThawSheila Hancock
I got bored of reading it within the first few chapters so passed it on to a friend she enjoyed it though
Published 4 months ago by Clare
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tender yet amusing review of a life and marriage sadly cut short
I found this book enthralling, laughed and cried with Sheila as she laid bare her life and love for John. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Celio
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Interesting to read background of the actor we all came to love as Inspector Morse. One of my widows books. Helpful reading after my husband died suddenly.
Published 5 months ago by MRS D J BERRIDGE
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well done Sheila!
I enjoyed this. Honest and open with many personal insights along the way. Not too steeped in name dropping celeb hype.
Published 6 months ago by Pastispast
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