Audiobooks narrated by Bill Kerr

Hancock’s Half Hour: A Visit to Swansea: A lost episode of the classic radio comedy & more

"The very first publication of a legendary lost episode of Hancock’s Half Hour, featuring Harry Secombe – plus bonus material One of the most popular comedies of all time, Hancock’s Half Hour ran for 5 years on BBC Radio from 1954-1959. Sadly, many of the 102 shows were lost, including ‘A Visit to Swansea’ – but now, this piece of radio history has been rediscovered and gloriously restored. The show – Episode 4 from Series 2 – is the only one to feature both Tony Hancock and Harry Secombe. For the previous three episodes, Secombe had replaced Hancock while the latter took an unscheduled trip to Rome. Here, Tony returns, to begrudgingly make ‘A Visit to Swansea’ and thank Harry for filling his shoes. Also included is an interview with Harry Secombe’s son Andy, in which he chats to Colin Murray about his father, his memories of Tony Hancock, and the story behind ‘A Visit to Swansea’. And in Tony Hancock – From Bournemouth to East Cheam, comedian Steve Punt recounts how The Lad Himself became the first true sitcom star. Production credits Hancock’s Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson Produced by Dennis Main Wilson Thanks to Tessa Le Bars, Martin Gibbons, Keith Wickham, Richard Harrison, The Radio Circle and the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society ‘A Visit to Swansea’ Starring Tony Hancock With Harry Secombe, Bill Kerr, Sidney James, Andree Melly and Kenneth Williams Theme and incidental music composed by Wally Stott Rediscovered by Richard Harrison of The Radio Circle, with an introduction by Keith Wickham First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 10 May 1955 NB: Due to the age and off-air nature of this recording, the sound quality may vary Interview with Andy Secombe from the Colin Murray Show Presented by Colin Murray With Andy Secombe First broadcast BBC Radio 5 Live, 28 November 2022 Tony Hancock – From Bournemouth To East Cheam Presented by Steve Punt With contributions from Ken Robins, Stephen Petty, Marjorie Dawson, Bruce Barnes, George Fairweather, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson Produced by Richard Latto First broadcast BBC Radio Solent, 27 May 2013 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alan Simpson, Ray Galton (Author), Andrée Melly, Bill Kerr, Harry Secombe, Sidney James, Steve Punt, Tony Hancock (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hancock’s Half Hour: The Marriage Bureau: A lost episode of the classic radio comedy & more

"The first ever publication of a long-lost episode of Hancock's Half Hour, featuring Peter Sellers - plus bonus material Legendary sitcom Hancock's Half Hour ran for 102 episodes on BBC Radio between 1954 and 1959. Over 20 shows were subsequently lost - but now one of the funniest and most sought-after, 'The Marriage Bureau', has been rediscovered. The penultimate episode of Series 1, it features a unique appearance from Peter Sellers, standing in for Kenneth Williams. Available for the first time since its original broadcast in 1955, it sees Hancock looking for a job - and a wife... Alongside it is a fascinating documentary, Raiders of the Lost Archive, in which Keith Wickham - the Indiana Jones of archiving - and fellow treasure-hunters discuss the thrilling, complex work of locating and restoring missing radio classics. Plus, there's a surviving extract from the lost Hancock's Half Hour episode, 'The New Year Resolutions', and a previously unreleased documentary, H-H-H-Happy Birthday Hancock, in which Andrew Sachs presents an affectionate tribute to The Lad Himself with contributions from Denis Norden, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, John Freeman and Sid James. Credits Hancock's Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson Produced by Dennis Main Wilson Thanks to Tessa Le Bars, Martin Gibbons, Keith Wickham, Richard Harrison, the Radio Circle and the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society. 'The Marriage Bureau' Starring Tony Hancock, Bill Kerr, Moira Lister, Sidney James and Peter Sellers Announcer: Adrian Waller Theme and incidental music composed by Wally Stott. Recorded by the BBC Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz Sound restoration by Keith Wickham First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 8 February 1955 Raiders of the Lost Archive Presented by Keith Wickham Written and edited by Keith Wickham and James Peak With special thanks to the Radio Circle, Richard Harrison, Roger Bickerton, Mark Ayres, Steve Arnold, Tom Hercock, Hannah Ratford and all at BBC Archives in Caversham Produced by James Peak An Essential Radio production for BBC Radio 4 First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 October 2022 Extract from 'The New Year Resolutions' Starring Tony Hancock, Bill Kerr, Sidney James and Kenneth Williams Sound restoration by Jon Street First broadcast BBC Light Programme, 4 January 1956 NB: Due to the age and off-air nature of this recording, the sound quality may vary H-H-H Happy Birthday Hancock Presented by Andrew Sachs With contributions from Denis Norden, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, John Freeman and Sid James, and excerpts from Hancock's Half Hour Produced by Richard Edis First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 11 May 1999 ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alan Simpson, Ray Galton (Author), Andrew Sachs, Bill Kerr, Full Cast, Kenneth Williams, Moira Lister, Peter Sellers, Sidney James, Tony Hancock (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hancock’s Half Hour: Selected TV Soundtracks & more: A BBC Classic Comedy Collection

"Over 30 brilliant BBC recordings, including TV shows, radio highlights and a wealth of previously unreleased material Tony Hancock was one of Britain's best-loved and most influential postwar comedians. Collected here are some of the very best radio and TV episodes from Hancock's Half Hour, plus celebrations, compilations, interviews, original dramas and documentaries - many of which have never before been available on audio. There's the debut show from the radio series, The First Night Party, introduced by writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson; and the last ever BBC television show, The Succession - Son and Heir. Also included are four new-to-audio TV episodes - The Oak Tree, The Train Journey, The Tycoon and The Lift - as well as many other television favourites: The Flight of the Red Shadow, The Wrong Man, The Economy Drive, Lord Byron Lived Here, The Cold, The Emigrant, The Baby Sitters, The Poison Pen Letters, The Bedsitter, The Bowmans, The Radio Ham and The Blood Donor. Two programmes introduced by Galton and Simpson, The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) and The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (TV) showcase the show's finest moments, and more classic clips can be found in Unique Hancock, an extended version of the vintage 1973 vinyl LP complete with commentary and linking narration. And in Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings, included here for the first time on audio, the comedian and Tony Hancock fan presents a host of oddities and rarities featuring the lad himself. The life and wonderful work of Hancock, his writers, and fellow radio actor Kenneth Williams are commemorated in three never-before-released documentaries - The New Elizabethans: Tony Hancock, Celebration: Galton & Simpson and Great Lives: Kenneth Williams. Also making their audio debut are two poignant radio dramas, Hancock's Last Half Hour (starring Richard Briers as Hancock) and Hancock's Ashes (starring Ewan Bailey as Willie Rushton). Finally, we go behind-the scenes with Galton and Simpson in a trio of insightful interviews - a fascinating 30-minute discussion, specially recorded for BBC Audio in 2003, and the radio programmes In Conversation with Galton and Simpson and The Complete and Utter History of Hancock's Half Hour, in which the duo chat to Paul Jackson and Paul Merton respectively. Please note: due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. Production credits Hancock's Half Hour written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson Produced by Dennis Main Wilson (radio) and Duncan Wood (TV) Theme and incidental music composed by, and orchestra conducted by, Wally Stott Collection compiled by Martin Gibbons With thanks to the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society Contents The First Night Party The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) The Best of Hancock's Half Hour (TV) The Succession: Son and Heir The Flight of the Red Shadow The Wrong Man The Oak Tree The Economy Drive Lord Byron Lived Here The Train Journey The Tycoon The Cold The Emigrant The Baby Sitters The Poison Pen Letters The Bedsitter The Bowmans The Radio Ham The Lift The Blood Donor Celebration: Galton and Simpson Unique Hancock Hancock's Last Half Hour In Conversation with... Galton and Simpson Interview with Galton and Simpson The Complete and Utter History of Hancock's Half Hour The New Elizabethans: Tony Hancock Steve Punt's Hancock Cuttings Hancock's Ashes Great Lives: Kenneth Williams © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alan Simpson, Ray Galton (Author), Bill Kerr, Full Cast, June Whitfield, Kenneth Williams, Moira Lister, Paul Merton, Richard Briers, Sid James, Steve Punt, Tony Hancock (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Bill Kerr