Hancock's Half Hour (1956)
Hancock's Half Hour is a BBC radio comedy, and later television comedy, series of the 1950s and 60s written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The series starred Tony Hancock, with Sid James; the radio version also co-starred, at various times, Moira Lister, Andrée Melly, Hattie Jacques, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams. The final television series, renamed simply Hancock, starred Hancock alone. Comedian Tony Hancock starred in the show, playing an exaggerated and much poorer version of his own character and lifestyle, Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock, a down-at-heel comedian living at the dilapidated 23 Railway Cuttings in East Cheam. The series was influential in the development of the situation comedy, with its move away from radio variety towards a focus on character development.
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Episode 1 - The Cold
Release Date: 1960-03-04Hancock has suffered from cold after cold during the winter and has tried all of the various medicines on the market. In desperation, he tries the local witch-doctor but she fails to 'draw out' the cold. Sid persuades Hancock that a keep-fit course is required, but with unexpected results.
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Episode 2 - The Missing Page
Release Date: 1960-03-11Hancock takes out a murder mystery book from the library. When he discovers that the last page is missing he is determined to deduce who the killer is. But when he finds that it's too complicated to decipher he decides to track down a copy of the complete book.
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Episode 3 - The Emigrant
Release Date: 1960-03-18Hancock decides that he will emigrate, but no-one will take him. Knowing Sid's past he asks for his assistance, but the 'luxury cruise liner' Sid arranges has a very short gang plank and a very unusual crew!
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Episode 4 - The Reunion Party
Release Date: 1960-03-25Hancock decides to hold a reunion with his wartime pals. But a lot of time has elapsed since he last saw them and people do change!
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Episode 5 - Sid in Love
Release Date: 1960-04-01Sid has fallen in love with the conductress of a 93 bus but he doesn't know how to approach her. Seeking Hancock's advice, Sid travels on the bus but his attempts cause chaos both with the conductress and the driver... who is her husband!
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Episode 6 - The Baby-Sitters
Release Date: 1960-04-08Hancock and Sid decide to earn some extra cash by signing on as babysitters. The pleasant evening is spoiled when they start arguing over the TV and the baby starts crying. But who are those two extra visitors?
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Episode 7 - The Ladies Man
Release Date: 1960-04-15Hancock has had no success with the ladies so he decides to enrol in a charm school course, and he dreams about the outcome. But when he leaves the school the reality is a little different!
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Episode 8 - The Photographer
Release Date: 1960-04-22Hancock has broken his ancient camera so he decides to invest in the latest technology. His attempts to take shots of diners in a restaurant end up with him being thrown out. With the first payment on the equipment due, he needs a photo of an incident to sell to the local papers... but Sid's idea involving Hancock as the subject goes badly wrong!
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Episode 9 - The East Cheam Centenary
Release Date: 1960-04-29It's the centenary of the Borough of East Cheam and Hancock has arranged for the BBC to have exclusive TV rights to the celebratory procession. Unfortunately, the Mayor has sold exclusive rights to ITV and the route of the procession doesn't go past Hancock's house where the BBC have set up. Hancock is forced to take drastic steps and provide his own procession at short notice!
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Episode 10 - The Poison Pen Letters
Release Date: 1960-05-06Hancock is upset by a steady stream of unpleasant letters. But when the police keep a watch on the post box where the letters are being posted, Sid discovers that Hancock has been writing the letters to himself... in his sleep!