Hancock's Half Hour- Television scripts (BBC)

This material is held atV&A Theatre and Performance Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 71 THM/432/2
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1956-1961
  • Physical Description
    • 7 files

Scope and Content

Hancock's Half Hour was a BBC television comedy series starring Tony Hancock and written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and produced by Duncan Wood. The series began in 1956 and ended in 1961, by which time it had been renamed Hancock. A radio version had begun in 1954. Several of the radio scripts were re-written for the television series.

Hancock played a struggling comedian, an exaggerated version of himself, residing in reduced circumstances at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam. Sid James appeared in all seven series as Hancock's friend. Both characters used the actor's names. Both Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams appeared in series 2 playing a variety of characters. All four actors had appeared in the radio version. Patricia Hayes made occasional appearances in series 4 to 6 playing Hancock's maid.

These television scripts are predominantly photocopies, though there are also examples of original scripts.

Arrangement

The scripts are arranged by series and then by episode number, as annotated in their original use. This may be the order in which they were recorded or in accordance with the rehearsal schedule, rather than the order in which they were broadcast.