Quentin Crisp interview | Good Afternoon | 1975 

Imagine having interviews of this quality in the afternoon. The 1970s was a golden age for TV.

I absolutely love him, he is so poised, so wise, so humorous, so human, so real.

I see a lot of kindness in his soul. May your spirit soar.

His intellect is off the scale. He doesn't put a foot wrong. Unbelievable viewing.

Amazing fella and more balls than most straight men would ever had.You were a great guy Quentin.

Mavis was such an intelligent interviewer. Note how the show doesn’t speak down to its audience. Imagine the dreadful spectacle that would be made today by Loose Women or the like.

An absolutely wonderful person and also a delightful dandy as well!! I love the way he dressed!! He really stood out, in a way people don’t nowadays. A rare treasure of a human being.

"Either it's a man in drag, or it's a woman who hasn't been happy since 1926." He was amazing

Mavis Nicholson sadly died on Sept 8th, R.I.P. Mavis, you were as fascinating as the characters you interviewed with such genuine curiosity, tolerance and a wonderful humility as well as being a top drawer writer! Love you forever!!! X

I have known 'military' men who didn't have this kind of bravery, he faces the world with a clever comment & face powder, not a machine gun, a truly outstanding person & one of his best interviews.

This is fascinating. Mavis Nicholson's questions on the one hand belong to 1975. They represent the culture of the time, enquiring of the phenomenon that was Quentin Crisp. At the same time Mavis interviews Quentin with such warmth, kindness, grace and empathy and it is impossible to miss that Quentin liked her for it. I love the conspiratorial moment..."A vamp!" Mavis Nicholson was possibly the best interviewer of that time. And Quentin Crisp was a pioneer and a genius. With nearly 50 years of hindsight we can see how prophetic and prescient many of his statements were (TV, technology and the surveillance state for instance) and how far ahead of the crowd he was in terms of existentialism, post-modernity and the courageous drive for self-authenticity. An inspiration and a hero. And an absolute treat to see Mavis and Quentin together!

Love him or hate him just listen to him, educated and what a voice he has, a legend.

He had the balls to piss off anti-gay bigots AND to oppose many aspects of gay liberation. When bigots or gays called to threaten to kill him , his standard answer was , "Would you like to make an appointment. " The guy had class.

He helped change the world , brave guy .

2023 and this is the second interview I’ve seen with Crisp. I just want to say and emphasise this man is a genuinely good example of how to be a man for all men of any proclivity.

I am in awe at his intelligence and the beauty of his English

Quentin inspires me, I’m a white straight man. He was a man who was true to himself. You can’t ask for more than that.

What an extraordinarily brave and intelligent human being. We should all be so courageous as to walk our own paths.

a superb interview by Mavis and the most wonderful guest, a golden age of television interview.

I read The Naked Civil Servant when I was 17. This man was an incredible human being. His bravery and utter defiance of society was astonishing. When I was a young man I had lots of heroes ( as all young people do ). As an older man I have very few. Quentin Crisp SHOULD be on most people’s lists.

Incredible natural philosopher .. A hero to me .. RIP Mr Crisp.

The thing that stuck with me for decades was what he said about housework. After 7 years the dust doesn't get any thicker. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Breaks my heart when he described himself as “mad” He was before his time and such a lovely warm and spirited man. God bless you Quentin your missed. 🙏🏻

great interview, RIP Mavis, died Sept 2022 aged 92.

Mavis Nicholson, a Welsh presenter, was a bohemian example of native British Isles beauty. I see aunts in her, and the woman who gave me life. RIP.

I remember watching this when it first aired. I was a very naive 16 year old and the only experience of homosexuality I had was watching the comedic personalities of Ken Williams in the carry ons and the role of John Inman as Mr Humphries. I’d watched The naked civil servant the evening before with amazement. It affected me deeply that this incredible, sensitive and clever man had been treated so dreadfully throughout his life. It was my first real experience of being able to discuss the subject of real homosexuality with my parents. I am so proud of the both as they were so accepting of ‘difference’ in others, which wasn’t usual even in the 70’s. Imagine my amazement even more then when I discovered ladies could also be gay! I’m not gay or even curious but I’m happy the world is finally beginning to accept people for who they are and not what we want or expect them to be.

I first saw this interview in late August of 1976 (it was a repeat)...later in a conversation over the telephone with Quentin Crisp, when he lived in New York, he revealed that he liked Mavis Nicholson saying that she was cosy and that she was his favourite interviewer...

I count myself fortunate to have had dinner with Quintin at Charlie's in Seattle WA back in the 80's and later to have become friends with friends of his... in LA. He really was a hero... and shall be remembered as a hero in the gay community for ages to come. Thank you dear Quintin.

A lesson to us all. Be yourself. Thankyou Quentin.

immensely kind person

No canned audience reactions, in depth questions, interesting, and quiet, well-modulated voices.....

Clearly a guy with more balls and bravery than the inadequate morons that made his life difficult.

Quentin Crisp a legend, interviewed by a legend. Mavis Nicholson had never been bettered.

Such a wise and insightful man. Mavis Nicholson is wonderful too, listening respectfully.

That was funny what Quentin Crisp said, to people who would ask; was he supposed to be a man or woman? "Why do you ask, what are you going to suggest we should do".

I just discovered this man! What an amazing human being. "Would you feel better if I got off, but even people like me can't walk everywhere" wow!

I was so very lucky to have seen him,while living in NYC, in a small theater. Pursuing two books. He was a wonderful witty person.

If your going to have relations with Men, you've got to, at any moment, be passed off as somebody's nephew. ..." He was so witty and brilliant.

The casting of John Hurt was spot on.

As I've grown older I have started to realise just how fortunate we were to witness TV in the 70's and 80's where we enjoyed interviews like this. The likes of Mavis, Russell Harty, Parkinson etc who always let their guests speak unhindered. We're lucky to enjoy such an archive of wonderful interviews with such glorious characters like Crisp, Williams and Everett.

He lived in my hood in the East Village. I saw him all the time just walking on the street. What a sight he was!

I had always Loved the Good Afternoon Programme from time to time throughout the 1970's and 1980's when i was off school through illness and unemployment while looking for work. But i can remember this interview i remember being of school due to circumstances possibly illness, we watched the Naked Civil Servant at the same time on that previous night. I have always Loved Highly Honoured Quentin Crisp, myself being gay for the past 56 years of my entire life, while my own early childhood years which i myself was very feminine throughout my childhood years, which i have always can relate to Quentin Crisp. He's Absolutely Genuine Genius LEGENDARY. Thank you for sharing this Wonderful Remarkable Interview ☕💝💖🌠🌟

Amazing trail blazer and living protestor! While others talked about rights (and hated effeminate gays, esp him), he, Quentin Crisp, lived openly and in so doing, demanded and found his place and acceptance, without compromise! I have revered him since I read his books, saw met and spoke with him, many times. 💜

1st Class interview. Thank you Mavis.

Good old Quentin, always a joy to watch. An admirable man.

A brave man in better times

He is an extraordinary person - intelligent , well spoken , outspoken and full of insights - insights worth sharing to all !!

Mavis Nicholson was one of the few British presenters/interviewers capable of relating both to the viewing public by asking their questions thus enlightening them in the process as well as empathizing with the interviewee.

Quentin was a rare and colourful bird, but an incredibly decent person who was at all times true to himself. He thankfully lived to a ripe old age and allowed us to share in his remarkable journey. Even as a child I remember people being hung up on his looks and failing to listen to those elegant, thoughtful and artfully considered words. Quentin's dare to rare attitude has left an indelibly positive mark on my life. Be true to yourself and the rest will fall into place.

I could listen to this man all day long. What an amazing person he was.

Would loved to have met this fascinating man in this time.

This person was fearless. Called it like is lived it.

This is one of the best and most truthful interview I have ever seen.

What a wonderfully errudite and intelligent, insightful inspiration you were and are Quentin Crisp. Mavis Nicholson is an excellent interviewer too!

Imagine having quality tv like this on a regular basis.

I love listening to this remarkable man, so much wisdom, so much to offer, sad that he is now gone. He stood his ground with dignity ... good for him, he never stooped to the low level of his verbal and physical abusers. Just brilliant

This interviewer is outstanding. Wish more were like her today.

What a superb person. Excellent interviewer, too.

This man spoke his truth, met him at a gallery and the conversation was incredible! God bless the queen!

Thank you so much for posting this interview. What a thrill to see Quentin the very day after The Naked Civil Servant was first broadcast in Great Britain. He had such a positive influence on my life. The most "Punk Rock" person I ever saw. :o)

He was amazing and could talk with great clarity about his life with his mask off always! He was honest to the world And completely honest with himself! How really refreshing in a world has lost its honesty about almost everything!

He was so brave, and so true to himself. Incredibly ahead of his time.

The lesson that Quentin Crisp's life taught all of us is less about sexuality and more about individuality. It is OK to be different and we should all dare to be so. I admire the courage with which he lived his life for "merely being who he was".

I could hear him speak for hours on end.

One of the bravest men in history.

It's amazing how modern the things he said then applies now. He eloquently articulates everything that people still don't understand now.

Mavis Nicholson… by far the best interviewer ever

Gosh! What a personality ❤

A wonderful human being. I wish I had met him.

Wonderful interview. What a brave man ... intelligent, witty, funny, as well as articulate and visionary. And I’m straight !

It's wonderful to see such an icon being remembered.🏆💕

What a great interview. Her style was just to have a very interesting and probing conversation. Quentin appeared on the Late Show several times and was always asked exactly the same questions each time.

No doubt, a wonderful human being.

I discovered this lovely human today and I keep watching more and more interviews of him. I just discovered him and I already miss him without even knowing him. I feel that it's a big loss that he's not here with us today. I would love to have a conversation with him but I feel too stupid to reach his level of intelligence and my questions would not be enough smart to extract the wonderful wise thoughts he would give, plus even if I have an interesting question I don't have unfortunately the ability to express it with a beautiful and rich vocabulary. I love Quentin Crisp.

R. I. P. Mavis. 😢

An incredibly courageous human being. So intelligent, articulate and compassionate. There are no words to describe the courage he must have shown to survive the hostility he faced every day. He blazed a trail.

Wonderful interview! High quality questions and answers. If only tv could be as good as this now!

That man had more guts than most men I have ever met

Strange to think television dropped the single interview for fear of losing ratings.

One of the most prescient philosophers of the 20th Century...

Quentin was extremely intelligent, fascinating and fluent. Interesting I think to observe this interview as the time capsule it is. I personally think he transcended his appearance.

Fantastic interview! What a charming, convivial man of grace and humor! We could use more like him, gay or straight.

Such a lovely, humble and intelligent man.

QC speaks all knowingly, never boring, never ! To think I was looking up David Selby and experienced this master, what a gem.

What a bloody awesome person. I don’t care if you liked his way of living, or not....he was extremely bright, and warm, and brutally honest. I’d have loved to have tea with him and just talk about life!

Ultimate respect for this guy, I struggled with the deception of pretending to be other than who I was, Knowing that many would reject me if they knew I was gay.

A beautiful man.. a beautiful soul... R.i.p. Quentin xx

Mavis Nicholson is a good interviewer.

5:06 "I couldn't do otherwise. I never had any feeling of making a choice. Once my existence was in question, I felt it has to be stated."

If only QC had played himself across all the ages in The Naked Civil Servant - he's so wonderful to look at - and listen to. Those eyes!

How wonderful was Mavis

Mr Crisp, Mr Mackie, Mr Gold and the extroadinary performance by Mr Hurt all changed my life and I shall be forever grateful.

Quentin looks like Marc Almond's father.

Incredible man. I read 'The Naked Civil Servant' in my teens (mid-90s) and loved it - I recommend it to everyone :)

Quentin Crisp (born Denis Charles Pratt; 25 December 1908 - 21 November 1999) was an English writer, raconteur and actor.

The forerunner of gay rights. He made us gays feel not only that we wanted to be seen but that we had a right to be seen. God bless him.

I always remember a bit from that film (The naked civil servant) where he explains that what he really wants is a 'a real man'...and then adds "but of course if he wanted to go with me...he wouldn't be a 'real' man"" So it's an impossible paradox. I always thought that was so deep and so sad.

The interviewer is simply amazing & so caniid & open in her views, what happened to her 🤔

The most beautiful interview. 🙏🏻

she interviewed him again later in life after he had moved to NY. A good matching bookend to this interview.