R2OK!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

On Radio 4

With the much (imo) underrated Kevin McNally playing the lad himself!

Between 1954 and 1959, BBC Radio recorded 102 episodes of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's comedy classic Hancock's Half Hour. The first modern sitcom, it made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams, and launched Galton and Simpson on one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history. But 20 episodes of the show are missing from the BBC archives, and have not been heard since their original transmission nearly sixty years ago. Now, five of those episodes have been lovingly re-recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre, featuring a stellar cast led by Kevin McNally as The Lad Himself

Tonight's episode: The Matador. Tony uses Sid's travel agency to book a holiday in Spain, little knowing that Sid also runs a bullfighting business....

Lots of chuckles to be had listening to this first episode . Laughing

The Matador was last broadcast in October 1955.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04ly3xv

With the listening time extended for radio programmes I am also hoping to catch up with these two dramas associated with Tony Hancock

Hancock's Ashes

Based on a real event. In 1968 Willie Rushton brought Tony Hancock's ashes back to Britain from Australia. This play imagines what might have happened behind the scenes...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04mgxtg

Hancock's Last Half Hour

An imagining of the comedy legend alone in a Sydney hotel room on the day he died, with a book of newspaper cuttings, a telephone and a bottle of vodka for company. In a tour de force performance Richard Briers plays his great comedy hero, Tony Hancock, looking back over the highs and lows of his career. Heathcote Williams's play reveals a comedy genius, tormented by his own desire to improve himself. A desire which overwhelmed him, when he tragically took his own life in June 1968.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01glrp3

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:28 pm Post subject:

The Matador is really rather brilliant - well-cast, cleverly done and - above all- very funny. A classic episode. I hope the rest hold up.

Not listened to the rest of last week's Hancock stuff, although I caught some of the three hours of oddities on 4 Extra on Saturday morning and it was fascinating stuff.

While I'm here - people should also check out The Frequency of Laughter on Radio 4 and hear tales of life behind-the-scenes on radio back in the day. It's focus is on comedy but I'm sure many here would be interested.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04n20tw

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815