Smart man as well as funny. Giving the writers Galton and Simpson Half of his fee. 25 quid. I Still love listening and watching Hancock on RUclips. RIP Tony.
Sad, but good to be reminded of his genius. Pity that so many examples from his TV shows, which were shown in the original programme, have been cut, presumably for copyright reasons.
Oh for sure, excellent episodes..my fave has to be poison pen letters.(?) Or the one he and Sid think each are trying to kill the other.. so many great episodes.
As a boy, I only knew his radio 'Hancock's Half-Hour'. Now I listen to episodes at times, just to be cheered up; always works. The interesting dimension was the technical reason why Bill Kerr, Hattie Jaques and Kenneth Williams were not included in the TV series. It was a product of the script strictures; a radio script length could not be converted into a TV script without adding 15 minutes to the half-hour radio version. Something 'had to give', so the ensemble cast - the family if you like - was let go. In another portion, it was commented that Hancock was best at reacting to situations rather than creating them. You have to be a creative performer in front of an audience. He did poorly in front of the troops in Aden in 1967. I was one of them. I was so disappointed I did not risk the next entertainer, Bob Monkhouse (who really was a great success). He was a creative entertainer. A year later Hancock moved to and committed suicide in Australia. Just sad - but he still generates pleasure through his radio episodes!
These names are fast slipping into the mists of time, soon to be forgotten by all but a few devotees like all such media..tho people say these live forever about whatever star , show, song they love, the reality is each has a lifespan of around 100 years after which time , tho it remains in print and some documentaries , it's largely gone and forgotten..I mean look at these Tommy trinder etc..ask the normal man in the street and he won't have a clue who you on about. Shame but true.
My mother actually met him when he was in Australia in 1968 she worked for a bakery and part of the area she delivered bread was the suburb of Bellevue Hill. In Sydney he approached her for half a loaf of bread He was very polite but definitely looked lost True story no bull
As a lifelong admirer of Tony Hancock I think the constant analysis of the whys and wherefores of the great mans downfall has gone way too far. He fell victim to chronic alcoholism which ruined his life and ended in his premature death. At his best he was sublime and a star which shone as bright as his was bound to burn out faster than the others.
But...what was the underlying issue within him that fuelled his alcoholism that eventually killed him. I think it is important to understand this and in a way understand the man. How can someone so loved be so unhappy? Alcoholism is a very complex disorder. Understanding it is important, no?
Great documentary. Nice to have contributors who are not ancient. BBC did great documentaries in those days. Plenty of facts with time to tell stories. Shame about the VHS quality.
Wonderful upload thankyou, even though you presumably had to edit out the various clips but thankfully we now have these wonderful shows available to watch (and listen) by other means. Really poignant and fascinating, great to see all these legendary interviewees
Thanks for the feedback. The documentary was blocked with the clips left in, so I edited them out. It was the only way of uploading it to RUclips. Cheers.
The BBC did a pretty good job recently recreating the missing (wiped) episodes from the radio series, with Kevin McNally impersonating Hancock. I wish they would do the same with Galton & Simpson's unmade Hancock film script "The Day Off". I'm sure it could be adapted for radio...
The idea of a ventriloquist having a massively popular show on the radio still makes me wonder. Perhaps only in the melting post of post war Britain could such a thing happen.
@@Jeremy-y1t And 'Educating Archie 'ran on the radio from 1950 to 1960. People didn't have to listen in their millions to that particular radio programme whether they had a tv set or not - that's the point I'm making.
Do you have the Unknown Tony Hancock documentary from 2005? Might require a couple of snips here and there to get past copyright, but I'd love to see it again.
Quite sad when Galton and Simpson say how they were uninvolved for the last 7-8 years of his life and were somewhat glad - but like with Sid, Tony had drifted away. I saw some of the later series (such as Australia) and the chemistry was lacking
I love Tony Hancock so much. What an awfully tragic man. Up the bracket Tone...the face to face interview is like a cry for help. Difficult to watch. Nobody makes me laugh like Tony.
The clip is cut, unfortunately, but if you watch 'The Blood Donor' he is obviously reading lines, and at one point fluffs the reading and laughs at the mistake.
He should never have done the Face to Face interview, Freeman ruined his credibility he was putting words into his mouth and you can see Hancock denying such in saying he does spend money etc, Freeman ruined his reputation for the sake of his own rediculous show!
A worse Face to Face program was with Gilbert Harding, who had a reputation for being unpleasant and nasty on screen. He ended up weeping on the program
David - For copyright reasons the BBC has blocked clips of the show "Hancock" & "Hancock's Half Hour" from being shown on RUclips. "The Rebel" is also blocked. So these clips had to be edited out so that the documentary could be uploaded. Cheers.
It's not my fault so don't be rude or take things out on me tony I've got nothing to do with you . Alfred hitchcock is better than you he's not rude you are tony .I haven't got a alcohol addiction or problems with drink of alcohol.
Comic Genius? Tony Hancock? *NOT BLOODY LIKELY!* It was Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Aussie, Bill Kerr who had all the comedic talent and constantly put Hancock *in the shade!* Even though it was Hancock's show, Hancock contributed *ABSOLUTELY NOTHING* to the mix. He was *CARRIED* by the others!
@@paullynton-green6570 No, I'm not a comedian, but neither is, or was Tony Hancock. Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques, Sid James and Bill Kerr were the *real* comedic talent in Hancock's shows.
@@scottandrewbrass1931 He was good until he started drinking, then he went downhill rapidly..during his HHH TV series he was the highest paid performer on the telly..
Happy 100th Birthday Tony!!! You shall never be forgotten.
If only he could see us all watching and listening too him almost 70 years later
Yes sadly he was loved by so many but not himself
Perfectly put. He was so loved yet so awfully broken. The first real casualty of the 1960's. Absolute genius.
Nice to see Billers there. Took me a while to recognise him. If only Tone knew how much he was loved.
A man that brought happiness to so many but was deeply troubled. R.I.P.
He's my comic hero.
"Magna Carta. Does she mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?" best comedy lines ever.
Smart man as well as funny. Giving the writers Galton and Simpson Half of his fee. 25 quid. I Still love listening and watching Hancock on RUclips. RIP Tony.
Sad, but good to be reminded of his genius. Pity that so many examples from his TV shows, which were shown in the original programme, have been cut, presumably for copyright reasons.
Even in 2022 the Economy Drive makes me laugh out loud!! With Hattie, Sid & Bill they were a team that set the benchmark for years to come.
Oh for sure, excellent episodes..my fave has to be poison pen letters.(?) Or the one he and Sid think each are trying to kill the other.. so many great episodes.
Nearly all these greats are dead now...I already left a message..I'm going loose in my brain...seriously..lol
Eric Sykes was wonderful
A lovely kind documentary, he deserves such..
I've been looking for this documentary for years thanks for putting on here.
Very good comments from Patrick Cargill, Patricia Brake and Hugh Lloyd.
A sensational documentary.
Wonderful, thank you
As a boy, I only knew his radio 'Hancock's Half-Hour'. Now I listen to episodes at times, just to be cheered up; always works. The interesting dimension was the technical reason why Bill Kerr, Hattie Jaques and Kenneth Williams were not included in the TV series. It was a product of the script strictures; a radio script length could not be converted into a TV script without adding 15 minutes to the half-hour radio version. Something 'had to give', so the ensemble cast - the family if you like - was let go. In another portion, it was commented that Hancock was best at reacting to situations rather than creating them. You have to be a creative performer in front of an audience. He did poorly in front of the troops in Aden in 1967. I was one of them. I was so disappointed I did not risk the next entertainer, Bob Monkhouse (who really was a great success). He was a creative entertainer. A year later Hancock moved to and committed suicide in Australia. Just sad - but he still generates pleasure through his radio episodes!
💛 cannot beat listening to Hancocks half hour - always uplifting
excellent documentary! Thanks for this. Just love Hancock on radio and telly! Classic comedy!
One of the greatest tv stars of all time
I'm in my 77th year listen again andagain, my boys laugh out loud can quote the scripts, and even a couple of the grandchildren, loved him
Thanks for this!!
Thanks for the "Thanks".
Ironic that a man who gave laughter to so many people was so unhappy in real life.I hope he is happy in heaven.
These names are fast slipping into the mists of time, soon to be forgotten by all but a few devotees like all such media..tho people say these live forever about whatever star , show, song they love, the reality is each has a lifespan of around 100 years after which time , tho it remains in print and some documentaries , it's largely gone and forgotten..I mean look at these Tommy trinder etc..ask the normal man in the street and he won't have a clue who you on about. Shame but true.
My mother actually met him when he was in Australia in 1968 she worked for a bakery and part of the area she delivered bread was the suburb of Bellevue Hill. In Sydney he approached her for half a loaf of bread
He was very polite but definitely looked lost
True story no bull
As a lifelong admirer of Tony Hancock I think the constant analysis of the whys and wherefores of the great mans downfall has gone way too far. He fell victim to chronic alcoholism which ruined his life and ended in his premature death. At his best he was sublime and a star which shone as bright as his was bound to burn out faster than the others.
But...what was the underlying issue within him that fuelled his alcoholism that eventually killed him. I think it is important to understand this and in a way understand the man. How can someone so loved be so unhappy? Alcoholism is a very complex disorder. Understanding it is important, no?
Great documentary. Nice to have contributors who are not ancient. BBC did great documentaries in those days. Plenty of facts with time to tell stories. Shame about the VHS quality.
As of today June 25. Tony died 56 years ago. The year I was born. 😢We miss you Tub.
Just brilliant comedy, thanks Richard.
Great upload thanks
Galton and Simpson were extremely loyal to him.
Only up to a point, once Tony sacked them that was it, Alan was a friend to Tony but Ray always said he only ever had a working relationship with him
Ray does'nt seem to have quite forgiven him.
@@jrgboy you couldn't blame them after being mucked about over the scripts that they wrote.
We Loved you Tony. You Master of Pathos.
Still funny today!
Absolute legend
Wonderful upload thankyou, even though you presumably had to edit out the various clips but thankfully we now have these wonderful shows available to watch (and listen) by other means. Really poignant and fascinating, great to see all these legendary interviewees
Thanks for the feedback. The documentary was blocked with the clips left in, so I edited them out. It was the only way of uploading it to RUclips. Cheers.
Thanks for uploading, great watch 👍 I'm sure I've also seen a 'Heroes of Comedy' episode on RUclips, but can't find it now 🤔
The BBC did a pretty good job recently recreating the missing (wiped) episodes from the radio series, with Kevin McNally impersonating Hancock. I wish they would do the same with Galton & Simpson's unmade Hancock film script "The Day Off". I'm sure it could be adapted for radio...
rip🥰
The idea of a ventriloquist having a massively popular show on the radio still makes me wonder. Perhaps only in the melting post of post war Britain could such a thing happen.
There was no TV.
@@Jeremy-y1t That's an incorrect statement.
@@davidpollard4051 Most people did not buy a TV set until 1953.
@@Jeremy-y1t And 'Educating Archie 'ran on the radio from 1950 to 1960. People didn't have to listen in their millions to that particular radio programme whether they had a tv set or not - that's the point I'm making.
Do you have the Unknown Tony Hancock documentary from 2005? Might require a couple of snips here and there to get past copyright, but I'd love to see it again.
No, I'm afraid not.
Brilliant comedian. Unfortunately his addiction to alcohol insidiously undermined and eventually destroyed him. Anthony John Hancock, 1924 - 1968.
Quite sad when Galton and Simpson say how they were uninvolved for the last 7-8 years of his life and were somewhat glad - but like with Sid, Tony had drifted away. I saw some of the later series (such as Australia) and the chemistry was lacking
👍😊👍
I love Tony Hancock so much. What an awfully tragic man. Up the bracket Tone...the face to face interview is like a cry for help. Difficult to watch. Nobody makes me laugh like Tony.
Can you do Sir Roger de Coverley? Why has he upset you ?
The clip is cut, unfortunately, but if you watch 'The Blood Donor' he is obviously reading lines, and at one point fluffs the reading and laughs at the mistake.
So very sad.
Dead behind the eyes. 13:59 smoke 💨
He must have had a insecurity problem because everyone who made him great he got rid of! A terrible waste of talent
You're spot on. And it's a damn shame, he became his own worst enemy. Still love his shows.
He should never have done the Face to Face interview, Freeman ruined his credibility he was putting words into his mouth and you can see Hancock denying such in saying he does spend money etc, Freeman ruined his reputation for the sake of his own rediculous show!
A worse Face to Face program was with Gilbert Harding, who had a reputation for being unpleasant and nasty on screen. He ended up weeping on the program
Dam alcohol:(
Too much cut out.
this was heavily edited.
David - For copyright reasons the BBC has blocked clips of the show "Hancock" & "Hancock's Half Hour" from being shown on RUclips. "The Rebel" is also blocked. So these clips had to be edited out so that the documentary could be uploaded.
Cheers.
@@richardholmes nonetheless it was a very entertaining watch, thank you.
The BBC never like letting those of us who paid for productions to see them for free.
@@rdt6234 An excellent point!
load of pseudo nonsense..if you're funny. ..
leave it there...DONT take the back of the clock you'll ruin it!
He wasn't funny.
Yes he was..the humour is subtle
He was never funny.
He was so unfunny.
He was not funny.
It's not my fault so don't be rude or take things out on me tony I've got nothing to do with you . Alfred hitchcock is better than you he's not rude you are tony .I haven't got a alcohol addiction or problems with drink of alcohol.
Comic Genius? Tony Hancock? *NOT BLOODY LIKELY!* It was Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Aussie, Bill Kerr who had all the comedic talent and constantly put Hancock *in the shade!* Even though it was Hancock's show, Hancock contributed *ABSOLUTELY NOTHING* to the mix. He was *CARRIED* by the others!
You're a comedian yourself if you think that
@@paullynton-green6570 No, I'm not a comedian, but neither is, or was Tony Hancock. Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques, Sid James and Bill Kerr were the *real* comedic talent in Hancock's shows.
If that's what you think then Tony had the last laugh as he was getting a lot more money than all the rest put together..
@@paullynton-green6570 His best remember TV shows such as The Blood Donor & The Radio Ham had none of his radio cast ...
@@scottandrewbrass1931 He was good until he started drinking, then he went downhill rapidly..during his HHH TV series he was the highest paid performer on the telly..