Tony Hancock

How a 'lost' Hancock script was brought back to live

A film script planned for - then rejected by - Tony Hancock has its first public reading. Christopher Stevens recounts his part in the rediscovery of a lost comedy masterpiece.

How Galton and Simpson revived their lost movie

They made TV history together and were planning their next film - until Tony Hancock rejected their script. Ray Galton and Alan Simpson reveal why "The Day Off" is now back on.

The good news is that David Suchet appears to be better at presenting documentaries than Sid Field. The bad news is that we didn't see much of Sid Field.

However, this is not Suchet's fault, as very little archive footage of him exists. He only made a handful of films, the most famous of which was London Town, a film panned by critics and which fails to show him at his best. Not only that, there is only one existing sound interview with him. Due to the lack of footage, very few people remember him, although he was one of the most popular comedians of his age.

Not only was he incredibly popular, he was an influence on both Tony Hancock and Spike Milligan. He invented character comedy and camp comedy. He was a popular singer and he could also do straight acting, starring in the lead role in the stage version of Harvey.

There was much to like with this show. My favourite titbit from it, mind, was the story of Field's wedding day. As his mother didn't approve of his marriage he got married on the quiet. His wedding day dinner was a cup of tea and some fish and chips from the local chip shop.

The best bit of news from this programme is that a previously lost feature film starring Field called That's The Ticket has been rediscovered, so we can see him perform in a more successful manner.

You're entitled to ask why you should be interested in a comedian you've never heard of who died 60-odd years ago. Bob Hope called Sid Field "probably the best comedian of them all". For Tony Hancock, Field was inspirational and David Suchet tells a good story with actorly flourishes. Tragically, scarcely a fragment of Field in action survives. Yet we get a glimmer of how Field created the character-based sketch comedy that's become the norm in British comedy. He also pioneered camp - "the original mince," observes Julian Clary, tartly.

Tony Hancock: The tragic downfall of a genuine one-off

Celebrated writers, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, talk to Suite 101 about the late actor and discuss why their 10-year association with him came to an end.

British sitcoms salute the labour force

Since the beginning of time, well, at least since 1946 when Pinwright's Progress premiered on the BBC, the British sitcom has always saluted the labor force. After Pinwright's Progress, the evolution of how the situation comedy dealt with the workforce really took off. Up next in the mid-50's was Hancock's Half Hour where Tony Hancock seemed to change jobs every episode.

Revealed: Tony Hancock screenplay that he turned down

The Day Off, by writing team Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, was unearthed during research for a new biography of the duo

Archie Andrews, the dummy loved by millions, is back

Ventriloquist dummy Archie Andrews, whose radio show Educating Archie attracted 15 million listeners and featured co-stars like Tony Hancock, is returning to the British stage after 50 years.

Death of Tony Hancock's brother leads to inquest

Roger Hancock, the brother and agent of the celebrated comedian Tony Hancock, is said to have died in 'unnatural circumstances'.

A pattern is emerging in this second series as it ruthlessly bumps off one key character per episode, but whose number is up tonight? A trip to a vintage toy emporium, Hoyti Toyti, takes warty Mr Lomax's obsession with Tony Hancock to another level. Homicidal David Sowerbutts makes a deadly pact à la Strangers on a Train, and misanthropic clown Mr Jelly walks into a gruesome Dirty Pretty Things scenario. Yes, the deft movie pastiches continue unabated. The newer characters see disturbing action, too. Librarian Jeremy (Reece Shearsmith) is still hung up on an overdue reference book and bedevilled by the freakish Silent Singer, while extreme fag hag Hattie gets her claws into gay Iranian Shahrouz. Is it just me or is Steve Pemberton channelling Corrie's Deirdre Barlow here?