The Missing Hancocks

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Comedy: Sitcoms

Long-lost, classic Tony Hancock comedies, freshly recorded and starring Kevin McNally.

Long-lost, classic Hancock's Half Hour comedies, freshly recorded. Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and starring Kevin McNally as The Lad Himself.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

The Missing Hancocks: Series 4: The Diamond Ring

The Diamond Ring

Series 4

BBC Radio 4 - The Missing Hancocks, Series 4, The Diamond Ring

Hancock finds a diamond ring - and a heap of trouble.

Hancock finds a diamond ring, but when Moira gets it into her head that marriage is in the air, Tony is forced to turn to Sid for help.

The Missing Hancocks recreates those episodes of the classic Hancock's Half Hour that have been wiped or lost from the archive.

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 as one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history. But 20 episodes of the show were missing from the BBC archives. Now, after four highly successful series, the final batch of those episodes have been lovingly re-recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre.

Tonight's episode: Hancock finds a diamond ring, but when Moira gets it into her head that marriage is in the air, Tony is forced to turn to Sid for help.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and with the classic score re-recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, the show stars Kevin McNally, Kevin Eldon, Simon Greenall, Robin Sebastian and Margaret Cabourn-Smith. The Diamond Ring was first broadcast on 9th November 1954.

Produced by Neil Pearson & Hayley Sterling.

Written by Ray Galton & Simpson

Music recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Levon Parikian.

A BBC Studios Production.

The Missing Hancocks: Series 4

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Missing Hancocks

Series 4

The Diamond Ring

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4