Galton & Simpson

Galton & Simpson - Our favourite Hancock: Part 1

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first broadcast of Hancock's Half Hour on BBC Radio, comedy scriptwriting legends Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are presenting a very special series of posts, in which they share their personal favourite episodes from their work on TV and Radio with Tony Hancock.

Anyone casually inferring that the title of this 90-minute documentary might shed light on the inner workings of knowing music-hall surrealist Frankie Howerd is likely to be mildly disappointed. The Lost Tapes is far more interested in his stage-and-screen career than his occasionally tumultuous private life. That said, the plethora of footage unearthed here is an absolute treat for any fan of British comedy. Bruce Forsyth, Tim Vine, Ross Noble, Roy Hudd, Galton & Simpson and the eternally youthful Barry Cryer guide us through clips ranging from Frankie's stint at Peter Cook's Establishment Club to his scenes - sadly left on the cutting-room floor - with Wendy Richard and Paul McCartney in The Beatles' Help! to footage of another musical misfire in his role opposite The Bee Gees in the regrettable promotional movie that accompanied their Cucumber Castle LP. Other nuggets include clips from 1973 Up Pompeii! rehash Whoops Baghdad and a 1976 sitcom made for Canadian TV.

Life after Steptoe: What Galton & Simpson did next

The writers of Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe & Son reveal their biggest influences and talk about some of their lesser-known projects.

Comedy legends Galton & Simpson to visit Milton Keynes

Comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are to visit Milton Keynes to see a stage version of one of their classic shows, Steptoe & Son.

They will be at the opening night at the Chrysalis Theatre in Willen Park after working on the adaptation with David Pibworth from the Milton Keynes Theatre of Comedy.

Hancock's Half Hour: Galton & Simpson reflect

Suite 101 gets the lowdown on the situation comedy that started it all from Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, the men responsible for it.