In 1996, the Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb—staged an iconic walkout during an interview on Clive Anderson’s BBC chat show. The situation deteriorated due to the host’s persistent sarcastic and personal remarks.
Anderson immediately targeted Barry Gibb’s famous falsetto voice, asking if he had been “working with Mickey Mouse.” He then blamed the band for the 1970s fashion he called “the decade which fashion forgot,” focusing narrowly on their disco era.
The tension escalated when Anderson repeatedly interrupted the brothers. He made a joke that they were “hit writers,” implying they were just “one letter shy” of being “shit writers.” He also remarked that he thought they were “sisters” and that his dog enjoyed their high-pitched music.
The breaking point came when Anderson quipped, “You’ll always be Les Tossers to me,” using a British slang insult. Barry Gibb’s expression darkened, and it was clear a line had been crossed.
Although the conversation continued briefly, Barry eventually had enough. After a dismissive comment from Anderson about one of their songs, Barry sarcastically noted, “We’re getting on like a storm, aren’t we, Clive?” He then announced, “I might just leave,” and called Anderson “the tosser” before walking off. His brothers followed immediately.
Reflecting later, Barry stated the jokes were not humorous but “humiliation,” calling it a “barrage of inferred insults.” He explained they walked off because interviews were often negative, and he simply “snapped.”
Anderson has since expressed regret, admitting he “got the pitch of that wrong” and that his “hit writers” line was “a bad line.” The incident remains a famous example of a celebrity interview going severely wrong, demonstrating that even legendary entertainers have their limits.
