The Missing Hancocks: The Complete BBC Radio Series

Sep 20, 2024 10:57 PM

Author:Ray Galton & Alan Simpson,Susy Kane,Simon Greenall,Kevin Eldon,Andy Secombe,Kevin McNally,Robin Sebastian,Margaret Cabourn-Smith

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

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