1973: DAVID NIVEN Interview | Nationwide | Classic Celebrity Interviews | BBC Archive

Hollywood legend David Niven sits down for a chat with Nationwide's Sue Lawley about life, luck, laughter and drugs. He also recalls his younger days, from his boozy house share with Errol Flynn, to his time as an impish schoolboy organ bellow blower with a penchant for mischief.

Originally broadcast 30 April, 1973.

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[davidlee]

Brave soldier as well - survived the war. English gentlemen, the type we seem to have lost, unassuming, never lost his cool, Americans loved him too.

[maxbeale]

David Niven; actor, storyteller, writer and soldier. A true British institution 🇬🇧🇬🇧👌🏻👌🏻

[JonTheComputerDoctor]

73 when he died which is no age at all, greatly missed as he had so much more to give.
A truly great gentleman and a superb actor.

[tinakev]

What a wonderfully urbane and witty raconteur, David Niven was. So glad this popped up in my recommendations.

[geoffjoffy]

He was 73 when he died in 1983. I didn't realise how 'not that old' it was until I turned 60 this year.

[Prospero]

I was born in 1965 and when I asked my smart speaker question about David Niven, my smart speaker tried to corrected me and said it’s not Niven it’s NIven with the ‘I’ sound for pronunciation, and I just laughed 😂

[rodneyclarke]

Yes Niven was all class and a witty & intelligent guest.

[jeremypearson]

I was about eleven when this aired and I think I had a huge crush on Sue Lawley. I’m guessing most boys of that age did. Actors like David Niven don’t exist today because the type of movies aren’t produced anymore for his kind of character. We’ll never see actors like Niven, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Laurence Oliver, Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando and others again.

[jimjiminy]

I bloody love him. A wonderful man. Up there with the best.

[davedogge]

His name comes up when I looked up the word 'suave' in the Oxford English dicctionary.

[Greenwillow]

I adore this man. My earliest memory is of him doing a coffee commercial. Such a brilliant actor love him in Separate Tables🥰

[mollyfilms]

Love love love David Niven. What a life he had. The Moons a Balloon is a must read as the story of his life is unreal.
I think from this interview Sue Lawley was just starting out maybe? Taking over answers are an editors worst nightmare.

[philipsteerment]

What a humble gentleman he was 🙏 thank you sir.

[markbumford]

A wonderful gentleman and a superb actor and I could listen to him all day even if it involved him reciting ingredients of tinned food!

[dnorfed]

I wish David had been my father, a wonderful man he was, a captivating voice as well

[sporkfindus]

Wonderful David Niven. That shirt and tie combo is really cool. I hope it's not disrespectful to say that he reminds me a little of Graham Hill and vice versa. Certainly the humour.

[zulfiqarali]

Greatness doesn’t come walking to you
It’s created by such intelligent and talented people
Great Niven !

[seankayll]

A star-struck Sue Lawley giggling away in the background during the organ story.

[joncrawford]

They don't make blokes like that anymore...

[ZootZinBootZ]

I'm only 40 really appreciate my grandmother's collection of such considered interviewed stars such as Sir David Niven she encouraged me to read in the 80'90's to keep recognising what transitioning from centuries, senses of past social construct and balance of the real life estimates of some people who have vision or communication skills to enterprise advance ideas on into inspiration that is timeless. I don't know what playing bellows is but David Niven makes it important regular knowledge.. He knew the kids were going to be alright 😋