Introduction:
The Bee Gees Walk Off Clive Anderson’s Talk Show in Infamous 1997 Interview
One of the most awkward moments in British television history occurred in 1997, when legendary pop group the Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb—walked off the set of Clive Anderson All Talk in the middle of an interview.
What began as a promotional appearance quickly spiraled into one of the most infamous clashes between host and guest on UK TV.
A Series of Jabs
From the outset, host Clive Anderson bombarded the Bee Gees with sarcastic remarks. Just moments into the segment, he compared their famous falsetto voices to Mickey Mouse and joked that the Bee Gees were “hit writers” who were “one letter shy.” He also quipped that the brothers were more like “sisters” and claimed that even “his dog” liked their high-pitched sound.
The interview continued with a thin veil of civility until Anderson made a comment that crossed the line:
“You’ll always be Les Tossers to me.”
At that point, Barry Gibb’s demeanor visibly changed. Though the discussion briefly returned to their early career and childhood, the tension remained. When Anderson jokingly claimed he couldn’t remember one of Barry’s early songs, Barry replied sarcastically:
“We’re getting on like a storm, aren’t we, Clive? In fact, I might just leave.”
He then stood up, pointed at the host, and said:
“And you’re the tosser, pal.”
The three brothers then walked off set, leaving Anderson stunned and the audience silent.
The Aftermath
In the years since, the interview has gained notoriety as one of the most uncomfortable talk show moments ever aired.
In a 2016 interview with The Sun, Barry Gibb reflected on the incident:
“Yes, I found the jokes hurtful. Interviews were often based on the negative, never the positive. And that’s one of the reasons we walked off Clive Anderson.”
He continued:
“It was just a barrage of inferred insults. And we were fans of Clive Anderson, so that made me sad. I just snapped.”
Maurice Gibb also spoke about the experience in an interview with Bernie Quayle:
“We expected actually to have a good time with Clive ’cause I’ve always liked him… and we were really disappointed.”
Even Clive Anderson has since admitted regret over the incident. In a later interview with the Express, he confessed:
“I think I got the pitch of that wrong. [It] went from the best to the worst in a few minutes.”