Many people consider Tony Hancock to be the finest comic actor of them all. November 2004 sees the 50th anniversary of his best-loved work, Hancock's Half Hour, which began as a radio series, penned by the writers Galton and Simpson.

Two years later, the first of 58 TV instalments had been screened, and Hancock's genius, coupled with Galton and Simpson's brilliant scripts, ensured that the show soon became a yardstick against which all subsequent British sitcoms have since been measured.

Amazingly, no book has previously been written about the show. Fully authorised by Galton and Simpson, Fifty Years Of Hancock's Half-Hour is a full history of the show, including how the show came about, behind-the-scenes stories from Hancock's fellow artists and members of the crew and production team, and the story of its demise.

Incorporating extracts from the shows, the book also features photographs and a full listing of the radio and TV episodes.

First published: Thursday 3rd November 2005

• Book