Hancock's Half Hour was arguably the point in his career where Tony became a household name. Breaking with the variety tradition that dominated radio comedy, this radio sitcom shelved the traditional mix of sketches, guests, and musical interludes instead deriving its humour from the characters and the situatins they found themselves in.

Each story was self-contained in its half-hour slot, originating the name of the show, and was essentially a single thirty minute sketch. Novel for the time, but not unheard of (A Life of Bliss by Godfrey Harrison, who later wrote for the ATV series, and Life with the Lyons), it was a refreshing change for the listening public. It was a more relaxed and borderline theatrical affair, with slow and measured performances at odds with the more common fast-paced delivery from comperes and performers fighting to pack content in at all costs.

The show featured no concrete settings, altering to the location and characters to fit the comedy required. The various addresses, eventually 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam, have been a council or private rental or Hancock's own owned home. Miss Pugh sometimes co-habits, for example. In an era where home-recording and commercial releases were uncommon, so the listener relied on their own memory for the details, which gave Galton & Simpson leeway in their writing.

Tony Hancock was joined by Sid James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams (in his first comedic role), Moira Lister, Andrée Melly, and Hattie Jacques.

While Galton and Simpson never titled their scripts, a task left to the lady who filed the scripts in their office, Roger Wilmut has given many a title for easy reference. These have become the titles accepted at large, not only by fans but also by the BBC and Galton & Simpson.

Colin Cowdrey

Actor

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