Very Nearly an Armful - A Tony Hancock Podcast

In this Summer Special, the three amigos are delighted to welcome comedy historian Robert Ross, following the publication of his book 'Best Sellers – Peter Sellers A Life in Comedy', to chat about all things Peter Sellers and his close connection with Tony Hancock.  In particular, we look at the films Orders are Orders and The Wrong Box and the Hancock’s Half Hour radio episode The Marriage Bureau. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast. And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk. We have an event planned for Solihull in September 2025 and an on-line Quiz event planned for November.  More events will be added to the calendar over the coming months. We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith with the next one scheduled for November. We’ll be back in the Autumn for a new series when we’ll be starting with a review of The Radio Ham from Hancock’s final series with the BBC.  We hope you’ll be able to join us then.

In the last podcast for this series, we look at the final television episode of Hancock’s Half Hour: The Poison Pen Letters. The gang of three look at the poignancy of this episode, being the final one with Tony and Sid, consider the brilliant supporting cast and, debate in detail, how froate should really be spelt.  The team discuss how good the lighting is in this episode and what inspired Ray and Alan to use Studholme Berkeley as the location for Hancock’s aunt’s farm. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast. And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk. We have an event planned for Solihull in September 2025 and more events will be added to the calendar over the coming months. We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. We’ll be back in a couple of months with a summer special.  We hope to see you then.

In this podcast we look at the radio episode The Chef That Died of Shame from the second radio series. The team consider how much of a departure from the usual format this episode represents, look at how, with hindsight, the episode can be seen as a reflection of Tony’s own life story and discuss the recurring character of Higgins in Hancock’s Half Hour. The gang of three go on to consider how brilliant the cast are in their different-from-usual roles and go on to compete to determine who can cook the best winkles’ feet on toast! Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast. And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk. We have an event planned for Solihull in September 2025 and more events will be added to the calendar over the coming months. We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. We’ll be back in two weeks time with a review of the sixth television series episode The Poison Pen Letters.  We hope to see you then.

In this podcast, we look at the episode Around the World in Eighty Days from the fifth radio series The episode, which was lost for many years, is a brilliant parody of Jules Verne’s 1872 novel.  The gang of three consider how the show encapsulates the atmosphere of 1950s Britain in the middle of the Cold War, discuss Kenneth Williams’s incredible nine different roles and Hattie Jacques’s six roles, and discuss in detail, how best to spend two and half months in Southend! Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast.  And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society – full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk   We have an event planned for Solihull in September 2025 and more events will be added to the calendar over the coming months.  We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith with the next one on the 7th June. We’ll be back in two weeks with a review of the second radio series episode The Chef That Died of Shame.  

In the first of our new series of podcasts, we look at the radio episode The Wild Man of the Woods from the fourth radio series. The episode, which was released on Hancock’s first LP This is Hancock, is considered by the Team as one of best of the radio episodes.  The gang look at the number of roles played by Kenneth Williams, discuss the great performances from all of the cast, consider the beautiful language used by Galton and Simpson in this episode and review probably the most well known fluff in all of the radio episodes!Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast.  And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society – full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk   We have an event planned for Solihull in September 2025 and more events will be added to the calendar over the coming months.  We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. We’ll be back in two weeks with a review of the fifth radio series Around the World in Eighty Days.  We hope to see you then.

In this episode, the team celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Punch and Judy Man with a detailed look at Hancock’s final film in a starring role.The four consider how the film is deeply biographical not only in its depiction of a failing marriage but also in its link to Tony's childhood days in Bournemouth. They discuss how many of the regular players in Hancock’s Half Hour have roles in the film; most notably Hugh LLoyd, John Le Mesurier and Mario Fabrizi and the mentor from Hancock's early years, George Fairweather.The Gang of Four  also look in detail at the gestation of the film and consider how Hancock not playing a character called Hancock may have impacted the public reception the film received.  The team get distracted as usual and get sidetracked by the Carry On films, Sykes, Sir Henry at Rawlinson End and they also spend some time discussing the intricacies of the Pinner left hand down feather reverse turn!Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk. In the next episode of the series we’ll review the brilliant radio episode The East Cheam Drama Festival. Hope that you’ll be able to join us then.

In this episode, James, Tom Tim and Martin don Christmas jumpers, put on reindeer antlers and start their review of the great festive radio episode Hancock’s Happy Christmas. The team consider how the performance from Hancock is in the very best traditions of Scrooge and are delighted to share memories of making the show received from Michael Anderson Junior, who played the role of orphan Michael in the episode.  They also look at the excellent performances of both Michael and Dorothy and how well they fitted into the cast and debate in detail just how far south the Christmas Pudding was likely to fly! The gang of four reflect on the BBC’s 100th anniversary documentary How the BBC Began, consider the book Jack Hylton Presents by Pamela Logan and get side-tracked once again, this time by the new Stephen Moffat BBC drama Inside Man. Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t  done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk.  In the final episode of the series we’ll conclude our review of the fantastic Christmas episode Hancock’s Happy Christmas.  Hope that you’ll be able to join us then.

In this our longest episode yet, James, Jon, Tim and Martin review the brilliantly surreal radio episode The 13th of the Series and its transcription services remake The 13th of the Month. The team consider how joyous the performances of all the cast are in this episode and how the script sparkles throughout. They also consider Ken’s fantastic performance as Snide (arguably his best appearance in this role) and consider, in detail, the practicalities of taking the Stonehenge stones home each night on a bike!  The Fab Four look at the recent  BBC radio documentary on the Norwegian version of Hancock’s Half Hour and compare this to the less successful German version; they also celebrate the return of Hancock’s Half Hour to BBC TV as part of their 100th anniversary celebrations.  The team get distracted by the role of Arnold’s Ridley in Dad’s Army and his connection with Bath and discuss in detail recent reel to reel tapes received by the Society and the chance of these containing a lost episode.  Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t  done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk.  In the next episode of the series we’ll start our review of the brilliant Christmas episode Hancock’s Happy Christmas.  Hope that you’ll be able to join us then.

And now for something completely different.  In this episode, James, Tim, Jon and Martin review The Death of a Duchess, the final episode in the 1956 ATV Series The Tony Hancock Show and are delighted to welcome Hancock’s great niece, Lucy Hancock to the podcast as our guest; Lucy gave permission for the entire series of the Tony Hancock Show to be released on DVD and this was made available commercially for the first time earlier this year.The team look at  how the programme showcased the physical side of Hancock’s comedy and consider the brilliant performance by Hattie Jacques and her onscreen chemistry with Hancock which ultimately led to her role in Hancock’s Half Hour. They also consider the similarity of Death of a Duchess with the Morecambe  and Wise ‘play what I wrote’ sketches including how forward looking the series is in that it frequently breaks the fourth wall.  The team reflects on the frenetic pace of the episode and how much fun everyone seems to be having.The gang of four get distracted as usual; this week they revert to their boyhood days and wax lyrical about Thunderbirds, Stingray, UFO, Joe 90, Captain Scarlet and all things Gerry Anderson. In Hancock updates, the team reveal the fantastic news that a new Hancock book: Tony Hancock: inside His Life in Words and Pictures, written by Lucy, Tim and Martin, is due for publication in Summer 2022.Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk. We’ll be back in two weeks when we will be looking at The Missing Hanccocks remake of The New Neighbour both on radio and TV with our very special guest, the Lad Himself, Kevin McNally  - hope to see you then.

In this episode, James, Tim, Jon and Martin join the beatnik movement to review the brilliant radio episode The Poetry Society, from the final radio series.The team consider the extra dynamic that using guest actors such as Warren Mitchell and Fenella Fielding bring to the episode and how this episode which is a satire on modern art, the coffee bar culture and Hancock’s own passion of philosophy, paved the way for Hancock’s first film The Rebel.  They also review in detail the avant garde poems featured in the episode and carefully consider whether turquoise vibrations are the ideal colour.The podcast also includes a rarely heard recording of Hancock’s friend Damaris Hayman’s reading of Plato which was intended for Hancock to take to Australia with him.The four musketeers, of course, get distracted and this time discuss how the early episodes of Steptoe and Son feature many of the same cast as Hancock’s Half Hour and consider the only appearance of the infamous Dolly Clackett on screen.  In Hancock updates, the team reveal the fantastic news that his 1963 series is scheduled for a DVD release in the Summer 2022.Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk. We’ll be back in two weeks when we will be looking at something completely different – the final episode of Hancock’s 1956 television series The Tony Hancock Show which is out now on DVD - hope to see you then!

In this episode, James, Tim, Jon and Martin look  at the brilliant radio episode Hancock in the Police. The episode is a frenetic half hour of classic comedy and the team consider the  incredible contribution of Kenneth Williams, who played no less than five parts in this episode, including arguably his best performance in the character of Snide.  They also look at Hattie Jacques’ vocal dexterity, consider Hancock’s performances in drag as part of his time in the Gang Shows and consider, in detail, how tall you have to be to be six foot two. The podcast also includes rarely heard extracts from the Apollo Theatre Company’s stage production of this episode where the complete uncut script was used. As usual, the dynamic four get side tracked, this time with two brilliant events taking place in London in April and the derivation of the term a Charlie! Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk. We’ll be back in two weeks when we will be looking at the radio episode The Poetry Society - Hope to see you then!

In this final episode of the first series, Martin, Tim and Jon talk about Tony’s infamous live episode There’s An Airfield At The Bottom of the Garden where the set didn’t quite perform as expected! The four fans discuss how the issues with the set led to changes to how Hancock’s Half Hour was broadcast with the gradual move to recorded episodes, consider in detail how the BBC used Ampex quadruplex 2 inch tape and take it in turns to test drive Sid’s motor torpedo boat. They also attempt to answer questions sent in by listeners on edited versions of radio shows, briefly consider BBC Transcription Services and, rather surprisingly, issue an appeal for a morse code expert! Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details on how to join are at tonyhancock.org.uk. We’ll be back in the Autumn with Series 2; the team of four will have six more opportunities to get sidetracked whilst they are discussing their favourite topic of Hancock’s Half Hour.  Hope to see you then!

In this episode Martin, Tim and Jon talk about how the audio soundtracks from two lost television episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour were discovered on reel to reel tape in 2016. Neither of the episodes had been broadcast since they were repeated in 1959 so this was a brilliant discovery. The four fans talk about The Horror Serial, which was a pastiche of Quatermass and the Pit, and consider in detail whether a Martian has a bracket that can be punched up; and in The Italian Maid they discover why making tea out of Best Navy Shag tobacco has never caught on! They also attempt to answer questions sent in by listeners on the changing character of Bill Kerr, how none of the original episodes were named and the difficulty this poses when trying to identify episodes on archive reel to reel tapes where episode names have been invented. As always, our intrepid four get side-tracked, this time into the brilliant One Foot in the Grave Podcast and they briefly consider the film The Ladykillers and how this reflects 1950s Britain. Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details on how to join are at tonyhancock.org.uk

n this episode Martin, Tim and Jon chat about the impact of the introduction of the new medium of television in the 1950s, consider the impact of the launch of ITV, and wax lyrical about the adverts of the time and how they were rudely interrupted by the programmes. The four fans talk about the radio episodes The Television Set and The Impersonator and look at the television episode The Set That Failed. They pretend to understand how to build a television set, get briefly sidetracked by a ‘What the Butler Saw’ machine and carefully consider how many times to kick the set in order to change the channel to ITV. They also take time to talk about the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society annual dinner and try very hard to answer questions raised by Podcast listeners on the availability of Hancock’s Half Hour scripts and how the Society’s archives are being managed for future generations.  They also get briefly distracted by Tony’s first film Orders are Orders. Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast.  And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details on how to join are at tonyhancock.org.uk

In this episode, Martin, Tim, Jon and James natter on about Hancock’s first major film, The Rebel. Celebrating its 60th anniversary and recently digitally remastered for DVD and Blu-ray, the film has achieved cult status with Hancock’s brilliant performance as a wannabe artist and a superb first film script by legendary writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The four Hancock fans pretend to understand what an existentialist is, discuss the merits of Aphrodite at the Water Hole, and wonder why a coffee with no froth isn’t just a flat white. They also take time to attempt to answer questions sent in by listeners of previous podcasts on such intellectually stimulating subjects as who was responsible for the annoying laugh in the audience on the TV episode The Train Journey, and who’s idea was it for Hancock to have the stuttering H-H-H. Sit back and enjoy but don’t forget to rate and subscribe. Oh yes, and if you haven’t done so already, do join us at the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society! We’ll be celebrating our 45th anniversary at our annual reunion dinner on 11 September with special guests and rare screenings just a few miles from Hancock’s birthplace in Birmingham. Full details on how to join at tonyhancock.org.uk

We chat about our week including finds for the THAS archives; photo’s of Tony playing Cricket and an original script for an episode of HHH which has been offered to us. In Hancock news, Martin discusses the donation from the estate of the late Alec Bregonzi who appeared in HHH and tapes sent to the society which we check over for lost or unedited recordings of episodes. James talks about the wolf whistle heard on tapes of Hancock in the Police, and James Hurn’s stage performance of this episode in 2019, which can be found on YouTube… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47YFc7MUE88 We introduce The First Night Party and we talk over the episode and creation of the show, edited lines from the original script, which runs to 10 pages longer than the episode. The Chef ‘Iggins is mentioned along with Alan Simpson’s cameo’s in HHH, how the cast came to work together and how Tony met Galton & Simpson. Jon continues to ‘channel’ Kenneth Williams with his daft impressions and brings up how satirical this episode is and its use of sound, whilst Tim mentions how unique the programme was with its use of timing and we talk about the excellent lines cut from existing recording of the show. Other topics include Angela Morley’s composition of the music and Adrian Waller; the original Announcer of the show. This episode also features clips from Hancock in the Police, Star Bill, Calling All Forces, The Sleepless Night, Hancock’s School, The Boxing Champion, Script readings of cut lines from the original script are performed by James Mickley, Helen Bridge and Andrew Swan.

We start this episode with Tim having purchased a new Microphone and Martin having technical difficulties and how Galton & Simpson disliked the episode Ericson The Viking compared to the other shows due to the location filming. We mention Tony’s Spitting Image Puppet and the Hancock News of the release of ‘The Missing Hancock’s on CD in March. We talk bout our main subject of The Blood Donor and the quality of the Telerecording and how it appears on todays modern HD screens, how the script is Circular and Galton & Simpson had thought of the ending before they started writing it, and how Videotape’s were wiped after use. In terms of performance, we chat about the now well-known use of Tele-Prompters in this show and watch along with it in real-time, so shove your DVD on to watch along with us. We talk about this episode’s supporting cast including June Whitfield and Frank Thornton, Peggy Ann Clifford, Patrick Cargill & Hugh Lloyd. Jon mentions the lost pilot re-make of The Economy Drive ‘Bunclarke with an E’ starring Arthur Lowe & James Beck, Tim praises the makeup artist Elizabeth Anderson and how the writers wrote differently for the visual medium. We also discuss some of the differences to the PYE LP recording of this episode and how that release came about. The restoration test we watched of this episode is available on YouTube… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niHr5jXEpNE

In our Christmas podcast this year we look at the radio episode Bill and Father Christmas which was broadcast between the fifth and sixth radio series.   The gang consider the roles of Hattie, Sid and Hancock in this episode and how they all appear in a role reversal of their usual characterisations.  They discuss the fantastic performance from Hattie Jacques in this, her final Hancock’s Half Hour and look at the brilliant contribution from Warren Mitchell. The team consider the deep philosophical references in this episode and discuss, in detail, the use of duck sound effects in Hancock’s Half Hour! Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast.  And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society – full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk   We have events planned – Steve Punt (subject to commitments) will be one of the guests at our event at Hancock’s local The Red Barn in the Spring and we are planning an event in Solihull in September 2025.  We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.   We’ll be back in the Spring with more Hancock reviews and special guest stars.  In the meantime, we wish all our listeners a merry Christmas and Happy New Year – do enjoy your turkey feet and chips.  We hope that you will be able to join us again next year.

In this episode, Tim, Jon and Martin look at the fifth television series episode The Two Murderers. The team consider how this episode takes on the feel of a film noir, especially with regards to the lighting, look at the quality of Sid and Tony’s acting throughout this episode and discuss the palpable sense of fear that both Hancock and James manage to portray. In a moment of light relief, the gang go on to practice how to eat egg and bacon with a spoon.   Tim, Jon and Martin are delighted to welcome Dick Fiddy, consultant with the British Film Institute (BFI) who discusses Hancock’s legacy, BFI’s Missing Believed Wiped campaign and considers what programmes have been influenced by Hancock, and the superb writing partnership of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast.  And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society – full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk   We have events planned – Steve Punt (subject to commitments) will be one of the guests at our event at Hancock’s local The Red Barn in the Spring and we are planning an event in Solihull in September 2025.   In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith; we’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. We’ll be back with our festive edition with a look at the radio episode Bill and Father Christmas soon.  We hope that you will be able to join us then.  

In this episode, Tim, Jon, James and Martin review the fourth series radio episode The Expresso Bar. The team consider how coffee shops provided a theme for many of the radio episodes and how this theme reflected contemporary developments in the High Street. The Gang of Four explore all of the many topical references in this episode, debate how the episode title should be spelt and consider the brilliant contribution of Kenneth Williams over his five different roles. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast. And if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at www.tonyhancock.org.uk We have events planned - Steve Punt (subject to commitments) will be one of the guests at our event at Hancock’s local The Red Barn in the Spring and we are planning an event in Solihull in September 2025. We’d love to welcome you as a member and see you at our events. In addition, screenings of Hancock’s TV episodes on the big screen continue at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. We’ll be back with a look at the television episode The Two Murderers with our guest Dick Fiddy from the BFI. We hope that you will be able to join us then.