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A Visit to Swansea

Tony, Bill, Andree and Sid head to Swansea in search of Harry Secombe. Stars Kevin McNally. From April 2017.

The Missing Hancocks recreates those episodes of the classic Hancock's Half Hour that have been wiped or lost from the archive. Something else had gone missing at the start of this series - The Lad Himself, who had absconded to Rome. In 1955, he was replaced for the first three episodes by the Goon Show's Harry Secombe, who in this recreation has been replaced by Andy Secombe - Harry's son. After Tony returned from his jaunt the writers Galton and Simpson ensured he wasn't allowed to forget who had saved his bacon, so in this episode, for one show only, both Tony and Harry appeared together in Hancock's Half Hour. Not heard since then, this is a real piece of comedy history.

The first modern sitcom, Hancock's Half Hour made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams and launched Ray Galton and Alan Simpson on one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history. But 20 episodes of the show are missing from the 大象传媒 archives. Now, after two highly successful series, another five of those episodes have been lovingly re-recorded in front of a live audience at the 大象传媒 Radio Theatre.

A Visit to Swansea.

This episode was first broadcast on the 10th May 1955.

Tony, Bill, Andree and Sid head to Swansea in search of Harry Secombe. This episode was first broadcast on the 10th May 1955.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and with the classic score newly recorded by the 大象传媒 Concert Orchestra, the show stars Kevin McNally, Andy Secombe, Kevin Eldon, Simon Greenall, Robin Sebastian and Susy Kane. A Visit to Swansea.

Produced by Neil Pearson & Paul Sheehan.

Written by Ray Galton & Simpson

Music recorded by the 大象传媒 Concert Orchestra, conducted by Levon Parikian.

A 大象传媒 Studios Production.

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in 2017.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 10 Feb 2021 19:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Tony Hancock Kevin McNally
Harry Secombe Andy Secombe
Bill Kerr Kevin Eldon
Sid James Simon Greenall
Kenneth Williams Robin Sebastian
Andree Melly Susy Kane
Writer Ray Galton
Writer Alan Simpson
Producer Neil Pearson
Producer Paul Sheehan

Broadcasts

  • Tue 4 Apr 2017 18:30
  • Tue 11 Apr 2017 07:30
  • Tue 11 Apr 2017 17:30
  • Tue 11 Apr 2017 22:00
  • Wed 12 Apr 2017 05:30
  • Thu 2 Aug 2018 23:00
  • Wed 10 Feb 2021 08:00
  • Wed 10 Feb 2021 12:00
  • Wed 10 Feb 2021 19:00

Classic Hancock Clips

A selection of memorable moments from the surviving episodes of Hancock's Half Hour.