Well known broadcaster Hancock, the political editor of the BBC in the North West between 1998 and 2006, has touched down at the paper to write a weekly column that, he told How-Do, “will cover the whole panoply of national and local politics as it affects Merseyside.”

Although Hancock is well known throughout the region for his broadcast work – having enjoyed a lengthy stint at Granada prior to the BBC – he is less associated with print journalism and appears to be relishing this new challenge.

“Throughout my professional career I’ve never really been a written journalist,” he confirmed. “I wrote for the North West Enquirer for about three weeks and then that was pretty much that until this opportunity came along.

“It’s always been something that’s interested me though.”

Hancock revealed that the new job pretty much found him, following on from a long-forgotten speculative inquiry he made some years back.

“I contacted the Manchester Evening News and The Daily Post and let them know that if there was ever a chance to write for them I’d be interested.”

Hancock: in demand

“Merseyside’s a great area to be writing about in this context,” he continued.

“In terms of politics there’s an active interest from the public and, of course, the area’s produced some real personalities over the years.”

Hancock says his column should be slightly broader in scope than Neild’s popular ‘In the Council Chamber’ dispatches, reaching beyond the immediate Merseyside environs in an effort “not to be labelled as too parochial.”

He added that he found writing for print liberating after years in the broadcast media as “you can add more colour – dwelling on issues or going off at tangents to help make your point.”

How-Do’ers interested in finding out more about Hancock’s prose can check out The Daily Post every Monday.

His first 500-word piece, published this week, can be viewed here.

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