Hancock's Half Hour

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.

I first came across Hancock's half hour, when I listened to my Mother's LP's with some of the episodes on. The radio and television series were before my time. I can't quite explain why this series caught my imagination at such a young age. Maybe it was the brilliant characters, created by the masters of comedy Galton and Simpson. Maybe it was the hugely talented comedy legends, that lent their voices to the proceedings. Ironically it was in 2019, that I purchased the surviving episodes of the television series, they are as enjoyable today as when they were first broadcast. Some of the episodes were better on radio than the television, you were able to use your imagination. But it is great to see these comedy legends at the height of their careers.

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.

I gave this 8 for the support cast not Hancock. The writers were brilliant. Hancock I found was as troubled on screen or radio as he was off it.

The Support cast far outweighed his talent and alot went on to bigger greater legend of the carry on films.

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.