Hancock's Half Hour

This 1950s series remains an affectionate milestone in television comedy, in its entertaining snippets of the life of egomaniac and resident moaner of Cheam, Anthony Aloysius Hancock. The very fact that Galton and Simpson wrote a character for Tony Hancock with more or less his own name (and perhaps, more or less his own personality) is key to the show's success. In the early episodes – which were much the best of them all – Hancock was usually supported by Sid James, and often people like Kenneth Williams, Hugh Lloyd and June Whitfield, but these collaborators were slowly weeded out until the series reached its often-quoted pinnacle with 'The Blood Donor'.

The best episodes were those which were both beautifully written and performed – 'The Missing Page'; 'Lord Byron Lived Here'; 'Twelve Angry Men'. Even in clunky black and white and as old as they are, what are left of the half-hours are superb. Tony Hancock's deadpan voice and hangdog looks gave the character and the situations an everyday quality that viewers could, and can, appreciate. Long may these episodes continue to be shown and made available to future generations.

Hancock was the first of a line of humorous but whingeing British males, a tradition that continues into the present. The Hancock persona is recognisable in, for example, Richard in 'One Foot in the Grave' and Basil in 'Fawlty Towers'.

It is a style of humour strictly for British and Commonwealth audiences. It does not export to the US although the US has tried to copy the genre, not particularly consistently or well (q.v. Archie Bunker).

By the time Hancock made the television series he had fallen out with the stalwarts of the radio show, Sid James, Kenneth Williams, and Hattie Jacques. He felt they were more loved by the audience than he was -- and perhaps the audience was right. They were missed and the TV series suffers from their absence. Hugh Lloyd and Patrick Cargill, although well-known light comedy actors, just weren't of the same calibre or popularity. Hattie Jacques was irreplaceable.

However, the scripts of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and Hancock's own undoubted talent almost save the day. The episode 'The Blood Donor' is still rated one of the top 10 comedy sketches of the century (in Britain) and deservedly so.

After the TV series Hancock's star waned rapidly -- he should have stuck to Sid James and crew -- but he was too much the egotistical star. He toured Australia and was booed off the stage -- staggeringly drunk -- at the Dendy Theatre, Brighton (Melbourne), Vic. The following week he suicided in his hotel room in Sydney (must be something about Sydney!)

The programs may appear extremely dated now but the influence of Hancock on British comedy is still considerable. As is so common in good comedy his character is a self deluding loser who places himself far higher up the social ladder than anyone else ever will (Steptoe, Rigsby, Fawlty, Blackadder and Partridge to name a few would later carry on this tradition)

So don't let the grainy pictures put you off, and there are plenty of the excellent radio shows availble, it's been nearly half a century, but they're definately still a worthwhile half hour.

Tony Hancock is a Comedy Icon and a personal favourite comedian of mine. While I'm disappointed that only 6 people have reviewed Hancock's Half Hour, I'm pleased that its still remembered positively. Of course as time passes this will change, less people will be around that remember it, and more people will relate it in relation to other comics.

Hancock'a Half Hour was a seminal radio show, that was key to the popularity of radio comedy especially for the BBC. So obviously auntie were keen to achieve the same level of success on TV.

It managed that and more besides, making simply unmissable television, people just couldn't wait to get home to watch it. Long before pubs had TV blaring out, people could only view it at home. Pubs and streets emptied because we were home watching Hancock. Really only people old enough will remember that, but its that popularity that really helped make the BBC.

Making a principle reason for wanting a television, and as I remember it I can't actually recall much else worth watching at that time. Even so its remarkable now how addictive TV became, with the Box quickly assuming its place in the corner of the living room. With chairs circled around it, we quickly came to miss it when anything happened to it, wondering what we'd done before we had one.

Typically the Beeb didn't appreciate the program, and treated it with the same disdain as with its other light entertainment programs. Really the only reason that any episodes survive today is courtesy of its fans in the Appreciation Society, certainly not to the BBC.

Tony Hancock has been unfairly criticised for his decisions, to leave out members of the radio series for the television show. To leave the BBC TV series behind to try something different. A current 'comic' even made the facetious comment about him that I paraphrase here, "He got rid of the radio crowd, got rid of Sid James, then he got rid of himself". A disgusting comment, especially as all current British comedians owe a complete debt to Tony Hancock, he was the first the trail blazer.

Today no one would consider saying of or to any current comic, "why do you want to make changes in your career?" When other comics decided to change channel or go in any different direction, who cares or complained? No one of course, but Hancock's decisions still prompt TV documentaries.

Today its not uncommon for comedians to appear in film and America doesn't seem too averse to British comedy.

Hancock's Half Hour became Hancock slimmed down to 25 minutes, we were told to possibly accommodate adverts, on American television. But it didn't happen, was it too British for the yanks tastes? Possibly for the comedies popular there in the late 1950/60s.

Tony Hancock was a master of timing, a great clown. He encapsulated the essence of the ordinary man struggling to cope with life. Unfortunately, life was a little too much for him. His humour is just as contemporary today as it was 40 years ago. It is quite appropriate that he was within the last few days honoured by the BBC as one of the 8 great British comics. I wish that I could have thanked him for the pleasure he gave me and my friends. It is probably true that his humour was not understood beyond the Commonwealth - certainly he has many admirers in Australia. I know that he enjoyed his visits to this country, and sadly he chose to end his life here. If you want humour, as distinct from comedy, with pathos and philosophy, Hancock's Half Hour is your show. Each character is a strong character, superbly cast. These shows are timeless.