Tony's mother, Lily, sought out George Fairweather at Beales department store (where he was signing with the resident Blue Orpheans band) and persuaded him, on behalf of her husband, Jack, to offer his help. Tony made his stage debut in the Summer of 1940 and on 18th July, a sixteen year old 'Anthony Hancock - the man who put the blue in blue pencil' took to the stage with an arsenal of risqué gags. (Credit to L M Evans, The Bournemouth Connection).