A lost episode of the classic radio comedy & more

Hancock’s Half Hour: The Marriage Bureau

The first ever publication of a long-lost episode of Hancock's Half Hour, featuring Peter Sellers - plus bonus material 
 
Legendary sitcom Hancock's Half Hour ran for 102 episodes on BBC Radio between 1954 and 1959. Over 20 shows were subsequently lost - but now one of the funniest and most sought-after, 'The Marriage Bureau', has been rediscovered. The penultimate episode of Series 1, it features a unique appearance from Peter Sellers, standing in for Kenneth Williams. Available for the first time since its original broadcast in 1955, it sees Hancock looking for a job - and a wife... 
 
Alongside it is a fascinating documentary, Raiders of the Lost Archive, in which Keith Wickham - the Indiana Jones of archiving - and fellow treasure-hunters discuss the thrilling, complex work of locating and restoring missing radio classics. Plus, there's a surviving extract from the lost Hancock's Half Hour episode, 'The New Year Resolutions', and a previously unreleased documentary, H-H-H-Happy Birthday Hancock, in which Andrew Sachs presents an affectionate tribute to The Lad Himself with contributions from Denis Norden, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, John Freeman and Sid James. 
 
Credits 
Hancock's Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Produced by Dennis Main Wilson 
Thanks to Tessa Le Bars, Martin Gibbons, Keith Wickham, Richard Harrison, the Radio Circle and the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society. 
 
'The Marriage Bureau' 
Starring Tony Hancock, Bill Kerr, Moira Lister, Sidney James and Peter Sellers 
Announcer: Adrian Waller 
Theme and incidental music composed by Wally Stott. Recorded by the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz 
Sound restoration by Keith Wickham 
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 8 February 1955 
 
Raiders of the Lost Archive 
Presented by Keith Wickham 
Written and edited by Keith Wickham and James Peak 
With special thanks to the Radio Circle, Richard Harrison, Roger Bickerton, Mark Ayres, Steve Arnold, Tom Hercock, Hannah Ratford and all at BBC Archives in Caversham 
Produced by James Peak 
An Essential Radio production for BBC Radio 4 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 October 2022 
 
Extract from 'The New Year Resolutions' 
Starring Tony Hancock, Bill Kerr, Sidney James and Kenneth Williams 
Sound restoration by Jon Street 
First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 4 January 1956 
NB: Due to the age and off-air nature of this recording, the sound quality may vary 
 
H-H-H Happy Birthday Hancock 
Presented by Andrew Sachs 
With contributions from Denis Norden, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, John Freeman and Sid James, and excerpts from Hancock's Half Hour 
Produced by Richard Edis 
First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 11 May 1999 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

BBC Radio comedy from the writers of Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe & Son

Galton & Simpson: The Collection

A compendium of radio sitcoms and retrospectives celebrating the legendary duo 
 
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson were Britain's best-loved and most successful comedy writing partners. Together, they created two of the greatest sitcoms of all time, Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son. This compilation brings together some of the finest programmes from their 60-year career, as well as interviews with them both. 
 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour comprises four comedy dramas: You'll Never Walk Alone (starring Frank Skinner), Impasse (starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb), I Tell You It's Burt Reynolds (starring Rik Mayall and June Whitfield) and The Blood Donor (a remake of the famous Hancock's Half Hour episode starring Paul Merton). Originally written for BBC TV, all are specially adapted for radio by Galton and Simpson and introduced by Paul Merton. 
 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse features three more adaptations: Naught for Thy Comfort (starring Robert Daws and Nina Wadia), A Clerical Error (starring Keith Barron and June Whitfield) and The Offer, a reworking of the TV script that inspired Steptoe and Son, starring Freddie Jones and John Thomson. 
 
A fourth drama from Radio Playhouse - Clicquot et Fils, starring Richard Griffiths and Roger Lloyd Pack - can be heard in I Did It My Way: Galton and Simpson, in which the pair chat to Peter Reed and select some of their favourite work. Also included is Hancock's Half Hour: The Threatening Letters; 'Up Je T'Aime', Frankie Howerd and June Whitfield's parody of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's hit song; the 1963 Royal Variety performance Steptoe and Son at Buckingham Palace; Steptoe and Son: Porn Yesterday and the classic Hancock's Half Hour TV episode, The Radio Ham, recreated before a live audience for an album release in 1961. 
 
Topping off our collection is Very Nearly an Armful: The Galton and Simpson Story. Talking to Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, Stephen Merchant explores how their ground-breaking work brought social realism to British comedy, and helped lay the foundations for modern-day classics like The Office. Contributors include David Mitchell, Ben Elton, Denis Norden and Damaris Hayman, and among the archive interviewees are Tony Hancock, Sid James and Harry H Corbett. 
 
Credits 
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Thanks to Tessa Le Bars 
Collection compiled by Martin Gibbons 
 With thanks to the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society 
 
Contents 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: You'll Never Walk Alone 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: Impasse 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: I Tell You It's Burt Reynolds 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: The Blood Donor 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse: Naught for Thy Comfort 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse: A Clerical Error 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse: The Offer 
I Did It My Way: Galton &amp; Simpson 
Very Nearly An Armful: The Galton and Simpson Story 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A compendium of radio sitcoms and retrospectives celebrating the legendary duo 
 
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson were Britain's best-loved and most successful comedy writing partners. Together, they created two of the greatest sitcoms of all time, Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son. This compilation brings together some of the finest programmes from their 60-year career, as well as interviews with them both. 
 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour comprises four comedy dramas: You'll Never Walk Alone (starring Frank Skinner), Impasse (starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb), I Tell You It's Burt Reynolds (starring Rik Mayall and June Whitfield) and The Blood Donor (a remake of the famous Hancock's Half Hour episode starring Paul Merton). Originally written for BBC TV, all are specially adapted for radio by Galton and Simpson and introduced by Paul Merton. 
 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse features three more adaptations: Naught for Thy Comfort (starring Robert Daws and Nina Wadia), A Clerical Error (starring Keith Barron and June Whitfield) and The Offer, a reworking of the TV script that inspired Steptoe and Son, starring Freddie Jones and John Thomson. 
 
A fourth drama from Radio Playhouse - Clicquot et Fils, starring Richard Griffiths and Roger Lloyd Pack - can be heard in I Did It My Way: Galton and Simpson, in which the pair chat to Peter Reed and select some of their favourite work. Also included is Hancock's Half Hour: The Threatening Letters; 'Up Je T'Aime', Frankie Howerd and June Whitfield's parody of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's hit song; the 1963 Royal Variety performance Steptoe and Son at Buckingham Palace; Steptoe and Son: Porn Yesterday and the classic Hancock's Half Hour TV episode, The Radio Ham, recreated before a live audience for an album release in 1961. 
 
Topping off our collection is Very Nearly an Armful: The Galton and Simpson Story. Talking to Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, Stephen Merchant explores how their ground-breaking work brought social realism to British comedy, and helped lay the foundations for modern-day classics like The Office. Contributors include David Mitchell, Ben Elton, Denis Norden and Damaris Hayman, and among the archive interviewees are Tony Hancock, Sid James and Harry H Corbett. 
 
Credits 
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Thanks to Tessa Le Bars 
Collection compiled by Martin Gibbons 
 With thanks to the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society 
 
Contents 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: You'll Never Walk Alone 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: Impasse 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: I Tell You It's Burt Reynolds 
Galton &amp; Simpson's Half Hour: The Blood Donor 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse: Naught for Thy Comfort 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse: A Clerical Error 
The Galton and Simpson Radio Playhouse: The Offer 
I Did It My Way: Galton &amp; Simpson 
Very Nearly An Armful: The Galton and Simpson Story 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Classic Comedy Collection

Hancock’s Half Hour: Selected TV Soundtracks & more

Over 30 brilliant BBC recordings, including TV shows, radio highlights and a wealth of previously unreleased material 
 
Tony Hancock was one of Britain's best-loved and most influential postwar comedians. Collected here are some of the very best radio and TV episodes from Hancock's Half Hour, plus celebrations, compilations, interviews, original dramas and documentaries - many of which have never before been available on audio. 
 
There's the debut show from the radio series, The First Night Party, introduced by writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson; and the last ever BBC television show, The Succession - Son and Heir. Also included are four new-to-audio TV episodes - The Oak Tree, The Train Journey, The Tycoon and The Lift - as well as many other television favourites: The Flight of the Red Shadow, The Wrong Man, The Economy Drive, Lord Byron Lived Here, The Cold, The Emigrant, The Baby Sitters, The Poison Pen Letters, The Bedsitter, The Bowmans, The Radio Ham and The Blood Donor. 
 
Two programmes introduced by Galton and Simpson, The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) and The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (TV) showcase the show's finest moments, and more classic clips can be found in Unique Hancock, an extended version of the vintage 1973 vinyl LP complete with commentary and linking narration. And in Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings, included here for the first time on audio, the comedian and Tony Hancock fan presents a host of oddities and rarities featuring the lad himself. 
 
The life and wonderful work of Hancock, his writers, and fellow radio actor Kenneth Williams are commemorated in three never-before-released documentaries - The New Elizabethans: Tony Hancock, Celebration: Galton &amp; Simpson and Great Lives: Kenneth Williams. Also making their audio debut are two poignant radio dramas, Hancock's Last Half Hour (starring Richard Briers as Hancock) and Hancock's Ashes (starring Ewan Bailey as Willie Rushton). 
 
Finally, we go behind-the scenes with Galton and Simpson in a trio of insightful interviews - a fascinating 30-minute discussion, specially recorded for BBC Audio in 2003, and the radio programmes In Conversation with Galton and Simpson and The Complete and Utter History of Hancock's Half Hour, in which the duo chat to Paul Jackson and Paul Merton respectively. 
 
Please note: due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. 
 
Production credits 
Hancock's Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Produced by Dennis Main Wilson (radio) and Duncan Wood (TV) 
Theme and incidental music composed by, and orchestra conducted by, Wally Stott 
Collection compiled by Martin Gibbons 
With thanks to the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society 
 
Contents 
The First Night Party 
The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) 
The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (TV) 
The Succession: Son and Heir 
The Flight of the Red Shadow 
The Wrong Man 
The Oak Tree 
The Economy Drive 
Lord Byron Lived Here 
The Train Journey 
The Tycoon 
The Cold 
The Emigrant 
The Baby Sitters 
The Poison Pen Letters 
The Bedsitter 
The Bowmans 
The Radio Ham 
The Lift 
The Blood Donor 
Celebration: Galton and Simpson 
Unique Hancock 
Hancock's Last Half Hour 
In Conversation with... Galton and Simpson 
Interview with Galton and Simpson 
The Complete and Utter History of Hancock's Half Hour 
The New Elizabethans: Tony Hancock 
Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings 
Hancock's Ashes 
Great Lives: Kenneth Williams 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Over 30 brilliant BBC recordings, including TV shows, radio highlights and a wealth of previously unreleased material 
 
Tony Hancock was one of Britain's best-loved and most influential postwar comedians. Collected here are some of the very best radio and TV episodes from Hancock's Half Hour, plus celebrations, compilations, interviews, original dramas and documentaries - many of which have never before been available on audio. 
 
There's the debut show from the radio series, The First Night Party, introduced by writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson; and the last ever BBC television show, The Succession - Son and Heir. Also included are four new-to-audio TV episodes - The Oak Tree, The Train Journey, The Tycoon and The Lift - as well as many other television favourites: The Flight of the Red Shadow, The Wrong Man, The Economy Drive, Lord Byron Lived Here, The Cold, The Emigrant, The Baby Sitters, The Poison Pen Letters, The Bedsitter, The Bowmans, The Radio Ham and The Blood Donor. 
 
Two programmes introduced by Galton and Simpson, The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) and The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (TV) showcase the show's finest moments, and more classic clips can be found in Unique Hancock, an extended version of the vintage 1973 vinyl LP complete with commentary and linking narration. And in Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings, included here for the first time on audio, the comedian and Tony Hancock fan presents a host of oddities and rarities featuring the lad himself. 
 
The life and wonderful work of Hancock, his writers, and fellow radio actor Kenneth Williams are commemorated in three never-before-released documentaries - The New Elizabethans: Tony Hancock, Celebration: Galton &amp; Simpson and Great Lives: Kenneth Williams. Also making their audio debut are two poignant radio dramas, Hancock's Last Half Hour (starring Richard Briers as Hancock) and Hancock's Ashes (starring Ewan Bailey as Willie Rushton). 
 
Finally, we go behind-the scenes with Galton and Simpson in a trio of insightful interviews - a fascinating 30-minute discussion, specially recorded for BBC Audio in 2003, and the radio programmes In Conversation with Galton and Simpson and The Complete and Utter History of Hancock's Half Hour, in which the duo chat to Paul Jackson and Paul Merton respectively. 
 
Please note: due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. 
 
Production credits 
Hancock's Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Produced by Dennis Main Wilson (radio) and Duncan Wood (TV) 
Theme and incidental music composed by, and orchestra conducted by, Wally Stott 
Collection compiled by Martin Gibbons 
With thanks to the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society 
 
Contents 
The First Night Party 
The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) 
The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (TV) 
The Succession: Son and Heir 
The Flight of the Red Shadow 
The Wrong Man 
The Oak Tree 
The Economy Drive 
Lord Byron Lived Here 
The Train Journey 
The Tycoon 
The Cold 
The Emigrant 
The Baby Sitters 
The Poison Pen Letters 
The Bedsitter 
The Bowmans 
The Radio Ham 
The Lift 
The Blood Donor 
Celebration: Galton and Simpson 
Unique Hancock 
Hancock's Last Half Hour 
In Conversation with... Galton and Simpson 
Interview with Galton and Simpson 
The Complete and Utter History of Hancock's Half Hour 
The New Elizabethans: Tony Hancock 
Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings 
Hancock's Ashes 
Great Lives: Kenneth Williams 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

New recordings of classic ‘lost’ scripts

The Missing Hancocks: The Complete BBC Radio Series

Kevin McNally and Andy Secombe star in new recordings of original Hancock's Half Hour scripts by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. 
 
Between 1954 and 1959, BBC Radio recorded 102 episodes of the hugely popular comedy classic, Hancock's Half Hour. The first modern sitcom, Hancock's Half Hour made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams, and launched Ray Galton and Alan Simpson as one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history. 
 
Sadly, 22 episodes of the show went missing from the BBC archives, and have not been heard since their original transmission nearly 60 years ago - until Radio 4 lovingly recreated them over four highly-acclaimed series between 2014 and 2020. In a special treat for Hancock fans, Series 4 also premiered one episode - The Counterfeiter - that was never recorded by the original team. 
 
Complete with the classic score performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, these hilarious episodes were recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in front of a live audience. Kevin McNally stars as The Lad Himself, with Andy Secombe playing the role of his father Harry and a stellar cast including Simon Greenall, Kevin Eldon, Robin Sebastian, Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Susy Kane. 
 
Also featured is a bonus Director's Commentary for The Matador, in which Andy Hamilton chats to Kevin McNally and co-producer Neil Pearson about the joys, and challenges, of recreating a 1950s sitcom. In addition, we hear Kevin McNally and Robin Sebastian's riotous performance of 'The Test Pilot' sketch at the 2018 RAF centenary gala at the Royal Albert Hall, and the interview they gave afterwards. 
 
The episodes included in this collection are: 
The Matador 
The Newspaper 
The Hancock Festival 
The Breakfast Cereal 
The New Neighbour 
How Hancock Won the War 
The Red Planet 
The Marriage Bureau 
A Visit to Russia 
The Trial of Father Christmas 
A Holiday in France 
The Crown Jewels 
The Racehorse 
A Visit to Swansea 
The Three Sons 
The Winter Holiday 
Department Store Santa 
The Diamond Ring 
Prime Minister Hancock 
Christmas at Aldershot 
The Counterfeiter 
The Christmas Eve Party 
The New Year Resolutions 
 
 
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Produced by Ed Morrish, Neil Pearson, Paul Sheehan and Hayley Sterling 
Music composed by Wally Stott, and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Levon Parikian 
Thanks to Tessa Le Bars 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme between 1954 and 1959 
Recreated for broadcast by BBC Radio Comedy for BBC Radio 4, 31 October-28 November 2014 (Series 1), 23 November-21 December 2015 (Series 2), 14 March-11 April 2017 (Series 3), 6 December 2018-31 December 2020 (Series 4) 
 
Cast 
Tony Hancock - Kevin McNally 
Bill Kerr - Kevin Eldon 
Sid James - Simon Greenall 
Kenneth Williams - Robin Sebastian 
Andree Melly - Susy Kane 
Moira Lister - Margaret Cabourn-Smith 
Harry Secombe - Andy Secombe 
 
Director's Commentary 
Featuring Andy Hamilton, Kevin McNally and Neil Pearson 
 
'The Test Pilot' sketch 
Performed by Kevin McNally and Tim Sebastian as part of the RAF 100 Gala, first broadcast BBC Radio 2, 6 April 2018 and presented by Ken Bruce

Kevin McNally and Andy Secombe star in new recordings of original Hancock's Half Hour scripts by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. 
 
Between 1954 and 1959, BBC Radio recorded 102 episodes of the hugely popular comedy classic, Hancock's Half Hour. The first modern sitcom, Hancock's Half Hour made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams, and launched Ray Galton and Alan Simpson as one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history. 
 
Sadly, 22 episodes of the show went missing from the BBC archives, and have not been heard since their original transmission nearly 60 years ago - until Radio 4 lovingly recreated them over four highly-acclaimed series between 2014 and 2020. In a special treat for Hancock fans, Series 4 also premiered one episode - The Counterfeiter - that was never recorded by the original team. 
 
Complete with the classic score performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, these hilarious episodes were recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in front of a live audience. Kevin McNally stars as The Lad Himself, with Andy Secombe playing the role of his father Harry and a stellar cast including Simon Greenall, Kevin Eldon, Robin Sebastian, Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Susy Kane. 
 
Also featured is a bonus Director's Commentary for The Matador, in which Andy Hamilton chats to Kevin McNally and co-producer Neil Pearson about the joys, and challenges, of recreating a 1950s sitcom. In addition, we hear Kevin McNally and Robin Sebastian's riotous performance of 'The Test Pilot' sketch at the 2018 RAF centenary gala at the Royal Albert Hall, and the interview they gave afterwards. 
 
The episodes included in this collection are: 
The Matador 
The Newspaper 
The Hancock Festival 
The Breakfast Cereal 
The New Neighbour 
How Hancock Won the War 
The Red Planet 
The Marriage Bureau 
A Visit to Russia 
The Trial of Father Christmas 
A Holiday in France 
The Crown Jewels 
The Racehorse 
A Visit to Swansea 
The Three Sons 
The Winter Holiday 
Department Store Santa 
The Diamond Ring 
Prime Minister Hancock 
Christmas at Aldershot 
The Counterfeiter 
The Christmas Eve Party 
The New Year Resolutions 
 
 
Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 
Produced by Ed Morrish, Neil Pearson, Paul Sheehan and Hayley Sterling 
Music composed by Wally Stott, and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Levon Parikian 
Thanks to Tessa Le Bars 
A BBC Studios Production 
 
Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme between 1954 and 1959 
Recreated for broadcast by BBC Radio Comedy for BBC Radio 4, 31 October-28 November 2014 (Series 1), 23 November-21 December 2015 (Series 2), 14 March-11 April 2017 (Series 3), 6 December 2018-31 December 2020 (Series 4) 
 
Cast 
Tony Hancock - Kevin McNally 
Bill Kerr - Kevin Eldon 
Sid James - Simon Greenall 
Kenneth Williams - Robin Sebastian 
Andree Melly - Susy Kane 
Moira Lister - Margaret Cabourn-Smith 
Harry Secombe - Andy Secombe 
 
Director's Commentary 
Featuring Andy Hamilton, Kevin McNally and Neil Pearson 
 
'The Test Pilot' sketch 
Performed by Kevin McNally and Tim Sebastian as part of the RAF 100 Gala, first broadcast BBC Radio 2, 6 April 2018 and presented by Ken Bruce

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 4

Volume 4 of the Collectibles series, featuring rare and re-mastered material starring Tony Hancock, Sid James and others

Ray Galton (Author) 
 Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

A fascinating collection of rare and remastered radio &amp; TV material starring Tony Hancock 
 
In this fourth treasury of rare archive material, our irrepressible hero forms an association to save Fred’s Pie Stall, in a newly restored 1959 radio episode of Hancock’s Half Hour. From the BBC TV series comes The Italian Maid (1959) in which Tony and Sid are bowled over by the lovely Silvano. 
 
Two 1952 editions of Calling All Forces line up alongside a 1953 edition of Star Bill, and an extract from The National Radio Awards 1951 features Hancock in a rare Educating Archie sketch. 
 
In Hancock’s Helpers, from 2004, Russell Davies looks at Tony Hancock’s on-air and off-air relationship with his co-stars, whilst a 2009 edition of Great Lives examines the legacy of the lad ‘imself. Hancock and Son, from 1998, traces the writing partnership of Galton &amp; Simpson. 
 
In Briers on Hancock (1984) Richard Briers presents an affectionate tribute to Tony’s memory, with contributions from Dennis Main Wilson, Denis Norden, George Fairweather, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, John Lloyd, John Freeman, Sid James and Bill Kerr. 
 
Also included in this treasury are interviews with Paul Merton, Roger Wilmut and Freddie Hancock, who all talk about the life and career of Tony Hancock. A bonus PDF booklet looks at each item in the context 
of Hancock’s broadcasting career, with insights into how many of these lost or rare items were discovered. 
 
Marking the legacy of one of our greatest comedy entertainers, this collection is a must for fans of Tony Hancock and Hancock’s Half Hour. 
 
Produced by Tom Ronald 
A BBC Studios production

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 3

A fascinating collection of rare and remastered radio &amp; TV material starring Tony Hancock

A fascinating collection of rare and remastered radio &amp; TV material starring Tony Hancock 
 
This third treasury of rare archive material presents another four newly restored radio episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour: ‘The 13th of the Series’ (1957), ‘The Male Suffragettes’ (1958), ‘The Sleepless Night’ (1958) and ‘The Last Bus Home’ (1959). Starring once again alongside Tony Hancock are Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams. 
 
Three further editions of the radio hit Calling All Forces, from 1952, feature Hancock as co-compere with Charlie Chester, with a bill featuring Robb Wilton and many other light entertainment stars of the day. 
 
Hancock’s Other Half’s Hour, from 1997, sets Tony’s widow Freddie Hancock centre stage, from where she invites many of his former colleagues to reminisce about the man. Among them are Harry Secombe, Peter Goodwright, Liz Fraser, Bill Kerr, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, Stirling Moss, Sylvia Sims, Larry Gelbart, Patricia Hayes, Jim Dale, Bill Cotton Jnr and Frank Thornton. 
 
The lad speaks for 'imself in two rarely heard Tony Hancock interviews, first broadcast on Open House (1964) and Late Night Line-Up (1965). Elsewhere Robert Cushman and Denis Norden survey Hancock’s life and career in Turns of the Century (1995) and Stone Me, What a Life! (2004) respectively. 
 
A bonus PDF booklet looks at each item in the context of Hancock’s broadcasting career, with insights into how many of these lost or rare items were discovered. 
 
Marking the legacy of one of our greatest comedy entertainers, this collection is a must for fans of Tony Hancock and Hancock's Half Hour.

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 2

An exclusive collection of rare and re-mastered radio material starring Tony Hancock, Sid James and others

A fascinating collection of rare and remastered radio &amp; TV material starring Tony Hancock 
 
This second treasury of rare archive material is spearheaded by four newly-restored radio episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour, all from 1956: ‘The New Secretary’, ‘Anna and the King of Siam’, ‘The Stolen Petrol’ and ‘The Expresso Bar’. Starring alongside Tony Hancock are Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams. 
 
A number of fascinating extracts from the long-running 1950s variety show Calling All Forces feature Hancock performing alongside Charlie Chester and others, whilst the famous Budgerigar Sketch - with Hancock as the eponymous bird - is featured here from 1958’s Christmas Night With the Stars on BBC TV. 
 
In What Happened to Hancock? from 1971, Philip Oakes reflects upon the complex personality of his friend, and elicits personal recollections from those who knew him, including Ralph Reader, Beryl Vertue, Sylvia Sims, Sid James, Duncan Wood, Michael Wale, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. Heroes for a Time, from 1978, considers Hancock’s legacy ten years after his death, with contributions from Lyn Took, Barry Took, Arthur Askey and Billy Marsh. Freddie Ross Hancock recollects life as Tony’s second wife in a Woman’s Hour interview from 1979. 
 
Barry Cryer introduces Six Characters in Search of an Answer: Tony Hancock from 2003 and examines the man behind the character, with the help of Galton &amp; Simpson, Dennis Main Wilson and Richard Briers. Finally, in two editions of The Essay from 2015, Simon Heffer examines and compares the careers of both Tony Hancock and his stalwart co-star Sid James. 
 
Marking the legacy of one of our greatest comedy entertainers, this collection is a must for fans of Tony Hancock and Hancock's Half Hour. 
 
This release features a bonus PDF booklet alongside the audio, which looks at each item in the context of Hancock’s broadcasting career with insights into how many of these lost or rare items were discovered.

Rarities from the BBC radio archive

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 1

A fascinating collection of rare and remastered radio &amp; TV material starring Tony Hancock 
 
Tony Hancock’s broadcasting career began in the early 1950s with appearances in BBC radio programmes such as Variety Bandbox and Calling All Forces. Rare archive extracts of both are presented in this collection, along with an edition of Educating Archie, the radio comedy in which Hancock was a regular guest star. 
 
Soon he had his own radio series, Hancock’s Half Hour, which transferred to BBC television in 1956. This volume features four complete episodes: the recently discovered TV soundtrack of 'The Horror Serial', plus remastered and restored versions of 'The Blackboard Jungle', 'The Student Prince' and 'The Test Match’ from the radio series. 
 
Also rarely heard since first broadcast are soundtrack interviews with Tony Hancock - including the notorious edition of Face to Face from 1960 - and interviews with writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. A bonus PDF booklet looks at each item in the context of Hancock’s broadcasting career, with insights into how many of these lost or rare items were discovered. 
 
Marking the legacy of one our greatest comedy entertainers, this collection is a must for fans of Tony Hancock and Hancock's Half Hour.

15 episodes of the classic BBC radio sitcom

Steptoe & Son: Series 5 & 6

Collected together for the first time, 14 episodes of the radio episodes based on the TV series.

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

Series 5 and 6 of the vintage radio sitcom starring Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell, adapted from the much-loved TV series. 
 
Steptoe and Son was hugely successful, with eight series broadcast on BBC TV and two spin-off feature films. So popular was the show that many episodes were subsequently recorded for BBC radio. 
 
Collected together for the first time, here are all the episodes from the fifth and sixth radio series, scripted and adapted for radio by Hancock's Half Hour creators Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. In these classic episodes, Harold conquers his fear of ballroom dancing; falls for his drama society’s leading lady; plans a solo holiday and pens an article for the church magazine. Plus, Albert is startled by his son’s sleepwalking; tangles with the tax inspector; tackles some extortionists (with the help of his kung fu club) and becomes involved in spiritualism. 
 
The episodes included are The Desperate Hours; Come Dancing; A Star is Born; A Winter's Tale; Men of Property; Men of Letters; Loathe Story; Oh, What a Beautiful Mourning; Live Now, PAYE Later; Upstairs, Downstairs, Upstairs, Downstairs; And So To Bed; Porn Yesterday; The Seven Steptoerai; Seance in a Wet Rag and Bone Yard; and a Christmas special, first broadcast as part of David Jacobs' Crackers in 1976. Also included are two bonus Steptoe and Son sketches: Scotch on the Rocks, from the 1978 Radio 2 show Good Luck, Scotland and a special insert from BBC1’s Christmas Night with the Stars from 1967. Duration: 8 hours approx.

16 episodes of the classic BBC radio sitcom

Steptoe & Son: Series 3 & 4

Collected together for the first time, 16 episodes of the radio episodes based on the TV series.

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. 
 
Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. 
 
After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

The complete third and fourth series of the classic radio sitcom starring Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell, adapted from the much-loved TV series. 
 
Steptoe and Son ran for eight series on BBC TV and even spawned two feature films. Such was the series’ popularity in the mid-1960s that the cast specially recorded numerous episodes for BBC radio. 
 
Here, collected together for the first time, are all the episodes from the third and fourth radio series, scripted and adapted for radio by Hancock’s Half Hour creators Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. In these hilarious episodes, Harold breaks some sad news to Albert; introduces his fiancée to his father; meets his older half-brother and receives some unexpected news from a visitor. Plus, a group of card sharks fleece Albert; Harold and Albert argue over their lack of money; Harold’s wedding day doesn’t go quite to plan and Albert is worried about an offer made to Harold. 
 
The episodes included are A Death in the Family, Two’s Company, Tea for Two, TB or not TB, Without Prejudice, Cuckoo in the Nest, Steptoe and Son – and Son!, Robbery with Violence, Full House, Is That Your Horse Outside?, The Lodger, A Box in Town, The Three Feathers, The Colour Problem, And Afterwards At… and Any Old Iron. Also included is a selection of trailers prepared for overseas radio broadcast.

21 episodes of the classic BBC radio sitcom

Steptoe & Son: The BBC Radio Collection: Series 1 & 2

Collected together for the first time, 21 episodes of the radio series starring based on the TV episodes written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Series 1 and 2 of the classic radio sitcom starring Harry H. Corbett and Wilfred Brambell, adapted from the much-loved TV series. 
 
Steptoe and Son ran for eight series on BBC TV and even spawned two feature films. Such was the series' popularity in the mid-1960s that the cast specially recorded several episodes for BBC radio. 
 
Here, collected together for the first time, are all 21 episodes from the first and second radio series, scripted by Hancock's Half Hour creators Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and adapted by Gale Pedrick. Among the classic comic incidents in these timeless episodes, Albert's 65th birthday turns into a disaster; Harold finds love with a French girl; Albert is upset by Harold's plans for a proper bathroom; and the duo get an irresistible offer. Plus, Albert and Harold's creditors arrive seeking payment; two coffins lead to a burst of superstition; Harold regrets taking Albert to the cinema; and Albert disrupts Harold's Labour Party meeting. 
 
The episodes included are The Offer; The Bird; Sixty-Five Today; The Stepmother; The Economist; Wallah-Wallah Catsmeat; The Diploma; Steptoe à la Cart; The Holiday; The Bath; The Lead Man Cometh; A Musical Evening; The Bonds That Bind Us; The Siege of Steptoe Street; Pilgrim's Progress; The Wooden Overcoats; Sunday for Seven Days; The Piano; My Old Man's a Tory; Homes Fit for Heroes; Crossed Swords. Also included are two bonus features: a short 1966 Steptoe &amp; Son sketch from The Ken Dodd Show and a selection of trailers prepared for overseas broadcast.

19 episodes of the classic BBC Radio comedy series

Hancock's Half Hour: Series 6

Tony Hancock stars with Sid James and Kenneth Williams in the legendary BBC Radio comedy series.

Ray Galton (Author) 
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. 
 
Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. 
 
After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

The complete final series of the groundbreaking BBC Radio comedy starring Tony Hancock – plus five bonus episodes. 
 
Created by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in 1954, Hancock’s Half Hour was the radio vehicle that made Tony Hancock a household name. Each week listeners would be admitted to the sometimes fantastical, sometimes mundane life of 'the lad ‘imself'. Aided and abetted by Sid James, Bill Kerr Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques, Hancock would enter into the spirit of each episode with characteristic dolefulness. 
 
This volume contains all 14 shows from the sixth radio series, collected together for the first time, including previously unpublished restored versions of The Waxwork, The Fête and The Poetry Society. Also included is the 1958 Christmas Special episode and four re-recordings made for the BBC Transcription Service. Among these hilarious Half Hours, Hancock enters an eating competition; sets out to save a local landmark; becomes the director of Sid's guided tours company and enjoys an evening of abstract verse with his avant-garde friends. 
 
The episodes are: Bill and Father Christmas (1958 Christmas Special); The 13th of the Month (Transcription Services Episode One); The New Secretary (Transcription Services Episode Two); The Ballet Visit (Transcription Services Episode Three); The Election Candidate (Transcription Services Episode Four); The Smugglers; The Childhood Sweetheart; The Last Bus Home; The Picnic; The Gourmet; The Elopement; Fred's Pie Stall; The Waxwork; Sid's Mystery Tours; The Fête; The Poetry Society; Hancock in Hospital; The Christmas Club and The Impersonator. Duration: 9 hours 30 mins approx.

20 episodes of the classic BBC Radio comedy series

Hancock's Half Hour: Series 5

The complete fifth series of the legendary BBC Radio comedy series starring Tony Hancock. 
 
Created by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in 1954, Hancock’s Half Hour was the radio vehicle that made Tony Hancock a household name. Each week listeners would be admitted to the sometimes fantastical, sometimes mundane life of 'the lad ‘imself'. Aided and abetted by Sid James, Bill Kerr Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques, Hancock would enter into the spirit of each episode with characteristic dolefulness. 
 
This volume contains all 20 episodes from the fifth radio series, collected together for the first time. In these hilarious Half Hours, Hancock has a makeover; turns his home into a private school; stands in the East Cheam by-election; presents three short plays from the East Cheam Repertory Company; takes in a wrestling match with Miss Pugh and gets more than he bargains for when he wins a TV quiz show. The episodes are: The New Radio Series; The Scandal Magazine; The Male Suffragettes; The Insurance Policy; The Publicity Photograph;The Unexploded Bomb; Hancock's School; Around the World in Eighty Days; The Americans Hit Town; The Election Candidate; Hancock's Car; The East Cheam Drama Festival; The Foreign Legion; Sunday Afternoon at Home; The Grappling Game; The Junk Man; Hancock's War; The Prize Money; The Threatening Letters and The Sleepless Night. 
 
This new set includes improved audio quality and extended edits for five episodes, plus a previously unreleased 'mini-episode' recorded to coincide with the 1958 Commonwealth Games. Duration: 10 hours approx.

Hancock's Half Hour: Series 4

The fourth series of the legendary BBC Radio comedy series starring Tony Hancock

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. 
 
Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. 
 
After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

The fourth series of the legendary BBC Radio comedy series starring Tony Hancock 
 
Created by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in 1954, 'Hancock’s Half Hour' was the radio vehicle that made Tony Hancock a household name. Each week listeners would be admitted to the sometimes fantastical, sometimes mundane life of “the lad ‘imself”. Aided and abetted by Sid James, Bill Kerr Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques, Hancock would enter into the spirit of each episode with characteristic dolefulness. 
 
This volume contains all 20 episodes from the fourth radio series, collected together for the first time. In these hilarious Half Hours, Hancock moves from 23 Railway Cuttings to the dosshouse to a Scottish castle; acquires a secretary; visits the ballet and tries his hand at a multitude of professions including agricultural labourer, coffee bar owner and policeman... 
 
The episodes included are: 'Back from Holiday', 'The Bolshoi Ballet', 'Sid James' Dad', 'The Income Tax Demand', 'The New Secretary', 'Michelangelo 'Ancock', 'Anna and the King of Siam', 'Cyrano de Hancock', 'The Stolen Petrol', 'The Expresso Bar', 'Hancock's Happy Christmas', 'The Diary', 'The 13th of the Series', 'Almost a Gentleman', 'The Old School Reunion', 'The Wild Man of the Woods', 'Agricultural 'Ancock', 'Hancock in the Police', 'The Emigrant' and 'The Last of the McHancocks'.

Ten episodes of the classic BBC Radio comedy series

Hancock’s Half Hour: Series 3

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. 
Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. 
After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

Tony Hancock stars with Sid James and Kenneth Williams in the legendary BBC Radio comedy series. 
 
Created by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in 1954, Hancock’s Half Hour was the radio vehicle that made Tony Hancock a household name. Each week listeners would be admitted to the sometimes fantastical, sometimes mundane life of “the lad ‘imself”. Aided and abetted by Sid James, Andrée Melly, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams, Hancock would enter into the spirit of each episode with characteristic dolefulness. 
 
This collection of 10 episodes represents the surviving archive from the third radio series, along with PDF booklets featuring episode guides, series notes, cast biographies and specially written introductions by Galton and Simpson. Also included are two radio documentaries about Tony Hancock: Stone Me, What a Life! and The Complete and Utter History of Hancock. 
 
The episodes included are The Pet Dog; The Jewel Robbery; The Bequest; The Blackboard Jungle; The Diet; Hancock’s Heir; The Student Prince; The Greyhound Track; The Conjurer and The Test Match. 
 
Please note: due to the archive nature of the recordings, sound quality may vary.

Hancock’s Half Hour: Complete Series One & Two

Ray Galton (Author) Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. 
 
Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. 
 
After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

Tony Hancock stars with Sid James and Kenneth Williams in the legendary BBC Radio comedy series. 
 
Created by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in 1954, Hancock’s Half Hour was the radio vehicle that made Tony Hancock a household name. Each week listeners would be admitted to the sometimes fantastical, sometimes mundane life of “the lad ‘imself”. Aided and abetted by Sid James, Andrée Melly, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams, Hancock would enter into the spirit of each episode with characteristic dolefulness. 
 
This collection of 15 episodes represents the surviving archive from the first two radio series. The episodes included are The First Night Party; The Idol; The Boxing Champion; The New Car; Cinderella Hancock; A Trip to France; The Monte Carlo Rally; A House on the Cliff; The Sheikh; The End of the Series; The Holiday Camp; The Chef That Died of Shame; The Rail Strike; The Television Set and The Marrow Contest.

Ray Galton

Alan Simpson

Tony Hancock

Harry Secombe

Sidney James

Steve Punt

Bill Kerr

Andrée Melly

The very first publication of a legendary lost episode of Hancock’s Half Hour, featuring Harry Secombe – plus bonus materialOne of the most popular comedies of all time, Hancock’s Half Hour ran for 5 years on BBC Radio from 1954-1959. Sadly, many of the 102 shows were lost, including ‘A Visit to Swansea’ – but now, this piece of radio history has been rediscovered and gloriously restored.The show – Episode 4 from Series 2 – is the only one to feature both Tony Hancock and Harry Secombe. For the previous three episodes, Secombe had replaced Hancock while the latter took an unscheduled trip to Rome. Here, Tony returns, to begrudgingly make ‘A Visit to Swansea’ and thank Harry for filling his shoes.Also included is an interview with Harry Secombe’s son Andy, in which he chats to Colin Murray about his father, his memories of Tony Hancock, and the story behind ‘A Visit to Swansea’. And in Tony Hancock – From Bournemouth to East Cheam, comedian Steve Punt recounts how The Lad Himself became the first true sitcom star.Production creditsHancock’s Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan SimpsonProduced by Dennis Main WilsonThanks to Tessa Le Bars, Martin Gibbons, Keith Wickham, Richard Harrison, The Radio Circle and the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society‘A Visit to Swansea’Starring Tony HancockWith Harry Secombe, Bill Kerr, Sidney James, Andree Melly and Kenneth WilliamsTheme and incidental music composed by Wally StottRediscovered by Richard Harrison of The Radio Circle, with an introduction by Keith WickhamFirst broadcast BBC Light Programme, 10 May 1955NB: Due to the age and off-air nature of this recording, the sound quality may varyInterview with Andy Secombe from the Colin Murray ShowPresented by Colin MurrayWith Andy SecombeFirst broadcast BBC Radio 5 Live, 28 November 2022Tony Hancock – From Bournemouth To East CheamPresented by Steve PuntWith contributions from Ken Robins, Stephen Petty, Marjorie Dawson, Bruce Barnes, George Fairweather, Ray Galton and Alan SimpsonProduced by Richard LattoFirst broadcast BBC Radio Solent, 27 May 2013© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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