Old Rage: 'One of our best-loved actor's powerful riposte to a world driving her mad' - DAILY MAIL

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Her analysis of the political environment in the UK as well as the rest of the world is thoughtful and passionate.

So refreshing to read a book with a person's views and opinions written down exactly how they said them and felt them - she wrote the book as herself and didn't try to be anything or anyone else - loved it! As Billie was in a ward of her own Sheila sat with Billie day and night singing to her and saying a childhood prayer to her, one that I truly loved, that was one my favourite parts in the book for loving the prayer. Today is particularly piercing on this score, the death of Denis Waterman, Thaw’s co-star in The Sweeney, having just been announced.She remembers the war, she has direct memory of how people behaved and cause that we, as a human condition, caused one another and how long it took to rebuild bridges. Some topics I didn't know, like her late husband actor John Thaw, her daughters, her bolt-hole home in France, and many luvvie friends (her words) mentioned in lively anecdotes. But six months later I went to a place where I used to get my nails done, and there it was, hanging on the peg, as if to say: how dare you leave me behind? There are references to the aches and pains of aging, falls and other illnesses, but above all this is the journal of a woman fiercely engaged with life.

In December 2017 in the Diary entry Sheila’s Aunt Billie had been moved into a hospital and was apparently fading fast.I find it interesting to see Hancock's point of view on a great many recent events from a perspective somewhere less Americentric. In Old Rage, she asserts that The Wildcats of St Trinian’s, in which she starred in 1980, is one of the worst films ever made, and that appearances as Senna Pod in Carry on Cleo and as a version of Margaret Thatcher in a “weird” episode of Doctor Who will “not get me listed on anyone’s roster of great performances”.

She is irreverent and funny when she refers to politicians and entertaining when she looks back at different actors that she has worked with over the years.I really enjoyed Sheila Hancock’s latest book - this lady us such an inspiration for me, I recently saw her talk as part of Falmouth’s book festival with a friend. During The Sweeney, John began to make a bit of money, and at that time we went to Rome, and we went to Gucci, and we bought this jacket for him. In 2019 she was starring with James Nesbitt in Tim Firth’s musical comedy This Is My Family in Chichester when she fell in the bathroom of her digs, and had to have 10 stitches in her head. For actors, however, retirement is rarely on the cards: most want (and need) to keep working, and Hancock is no exception.

Its pages would, she hoped, describe fulfilment and contentment as well as how best to keep your aching back straight (believe me when I tell you that her spine would induce awe in even the sternest pilates teacher). Whilst I’m sure she’s a very nice lady to be commended for her many and varied accomplishments including mountain climbing aged 83, raising 3 daughters whilst maintaining a career and a marriage to an alcoholic but the incessant opinionated ranting and disparaging remarks about public figures she doesn’t approve of or like is tiresome.

As raindrops plopped on Hancock’s umbrella, Pinter turned and asked her: “Are you still angry, Sheila? Big Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for a digital copy of this book this book was a real treat and I loved it. She is brave although fearful and sometimes tearful but still interested in people, hugely engaged with the world and keen to promote change. However, I didn't enjoy the ramblings about famous people that I don't know and repetitive references to her war upbringing. An excellent book which is good therapy if you need a good rant along with some interesting stories and anecdotes about her past and present.