The Bee Gees Walk Off TV Show During Infamous 1996 Clash With Host

One of television’s most notorious celebrity walkouts occurred in 1996 when the Bee Gees abruptly left Clive Anderson’s BBC chat show. What began as a casual conversation quickly turned tense, with Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb taking offense to Anderson’s pointed remarks.

The interview, recorded on October 30, 1997, started like a typical late-night chat. Anderson, former host of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, used sarcasm and sharp humor that didn’t sit well with the British-born brothers, who had become global stars as the Bee Gees.

Anderson immediately mocked Barry’s signature high-pitched falsetto, jokingly asking if he had been “working with Mickey Mouse” or if it was due to “tight jeans.” Though Barry laughed at first, the comments began to irritate him.

Anderson then turned to their disco fame, labeling the 1970s “the decade which fashion forgot” and blaming the band for trends like tight trousers and flares. The brothers felt this focus ignored their decades-long contributions across genres.

Tensions escalated when Anderson belittled their songwriting, confused the brothers for sisters, and called them “Les Tossers.” Barry’s patience snapped when the host dismissed one of his early songs, prompting him to rise, declare, “You’re the tosser,” and walk off with Maurice and Robin following.

Years later, Barry described the jokes as hurtful, saying they felt more like humiliation than humor. Anderson has since admitted his approach went too far, calling some of his lines “poor” and acknowledging he misjudged the tone.

The Bee Gees’ walkout remains a defining example of a celebrity reaching their limit. Despite Anderson’s wit, the brothers reminded audiences that their legacy demanded respect, not ridicule.