Tony Hancock features
Hancock and The Girl
Sunday 12th May 2024
Whilst the 1963 Hancock series is not well-known today, one episode in particular has stand-out quality to it that offers a tantalising glimpse of Tony Hancock's genius.
Hancock's Half Hour on the stage at 70
Thursday 9th May 2024
Ahead of comedian Tony Hancock's centenary and the 70th anniversary of sitcom Hancock's Half Hour on radio, actor and producer John Hewer discusses his new stage production of three scripts from lost television episodes.
Three shows missing from the archives
Monday 1st April 2024
A look back at three lost shows: Morecambe & Wise's Running Wild; Tony Hancock performing H.G. Wells; and Hugh Lloyd and Terry Scott in Jimmy Perry's sitcom The Gnomes Of Dulwich.
Steam radio: a Baby Boomer's personal memory of post-war wireless comedy
Thursday 7th March 2024
With ever-more BBC radio archival treats now available to buy and enjoy again, self-identified Baby Boomer Hercules Grytpype-Thynne shares his personal memories and pays tribute to some of the biggest shows of the post-war era in this ode to brilliant comedy on the wireless.
Comics in comics
Sunday 17th September 2023
Julian Dutton looks at the comic strips that have featured comedians. Tony Hancock, Terry-Thomas, Harry Secombe and Ken Dodd were amongst those featured in publications like Film Fun - it's a rich history of how comedians were perceived.
Tony Hancock Quiz
Wednesday 10th May 2023
To link in with the 12th May birthday of Tony Hancock, here is a set of questions about the star of many a Half Hour.
Comedy Chronicles: Fraternally Yours - The Brotherhood of British comedy
Sunday 9th April 2023
Graham McCann looks at the formation and membership of show business clubs The Grand Order of Water Rats and Masonic Chelsea Lodge No 3098.
Comedy Rewind: Enter the surreal with The Tony Hancock Show
Saturday 13th August 2022
Tony Hancock, with his deadpan, hang-dog expression, is rarely a comedian associated with the word 'surreal'. Yet surreal he was, and his earliest television series - sketch show The Tony Hancock Show - has recently been released on DVD, proving testament to exactly that fact.
Comedy Chronicles: The ITV Job - The day when the BBC almost lost British comedy
Sunday 26th June 2022
Graham McCann's column charts a fascinating 'what if' moment in British television comedy history: a fork in the road that had consequences of epic proportions in either direction.
Comedy Chronicles: Tony don't fall backwards - Hancock at the Royal Festival Hall
Sunday 19th September 2021
Tony Hancock was one of the most successful comedians of his generation, but a combination of personal problems and increasingly erratic professional decisions turned his 1966 'comeback' at the Royal Festival Hall into an unfortunate night to forget...
Novelty Jukebox: Tony Hancock - From East Cheam to the Pop Charts
Monday 6th September 2021
Tony Hancock's work is much-celebrated amongst comedy aficionados, but long before complete CD releases were ever dreamt of, a series of re-recorded episodes of his and Galton & Simpson's iconic series were released on vinyl.
Comedy Chronicles: When Hancock met Steptoe
Sunday 22nd March 2020
Graham McCann reveals the fascinating true story of a very unlikely meeting between Tony Hancock and Harold & Albert Steptoe.