TheMISSING PAGE THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE TONY HANCOCK APPRECIATION SOCIETY FOUNDED IN 1976 Volume 6 Number 8 - October 2015

Tony Hancock performed in Exeter, both at the Theatre Royal and the Savoy/ABC. Above he poses for a photo with the manager of the ABC, Robert 'Bob' Parker,THE NEWSLETTER and OFa THEyoung TONY HANCOCK woman. APPRECIATION SOCIETY TFOUNDEDMISSI IN 1976 Special Believed to be in 1958. The above photo of Tony Hancok was taken for the TV Times and has lain unseen with photos of other stars for over 50 years. Tony Hancock's ATV Series

This photo of a youngish Tony Hancock appear in a BBC 4 Television programme BBC: the Secret Files, presented by Penelope Keith as she delved into the corporation's written Coming soon, The Missing Page archives, Included in the show was a handwritten letter from Tony Download special on the 1963 ATV about his first BBC audition. You might find it on BBC iplayer. Complied series - 50+ jampacked pages of Hancock. BID FOR THIS POSTER and A message from the Editor Tom Dommett Dear Reader, I sometimes wonder how I am going to fill up 12 empty pages each 3 months and then I have to wonder which bits I am going to have to leave out or edit down due to lack of space. I hope that while your Missing Page continues in the 12 page format, we will be able to make even more stuff available online and as special and supplementary issues. The first of these is about the series Tony made for ATV. I think we have put together the most comprehensive (50 + pages) collection of information about this series ever.

Mick Dawson has kindly donated an A3 Poster (poor copy left) that has been signed by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson (thanks to Tessa LeBars) to raise fund for the society. It depicts the front cover of the Time Out magazine and is printed on high quality art pper suitable for framing. It is offered exclusively to THAS members for the highest bid received (minimum £50.00) Bidding will close on 31st December 2015. Members should make their bid direct to Mick (for contact details see Audio Liberian on this page) the successful bidder will be announced in our January issue. Thank you to Henry Bull for letting me know the Radio 4 programme with recollections of someone who worked at the BBC Hancock recordings was Feedback on 14th Nov

Contacts - The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society 2014. It’s about 22 minutes in. You can find it on BBC PRESIDENT - Andrew Clayden iplayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04p204g. There are several Roydon Road, The Maltings Business Centre Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire SG12 8HQ very exciting Hancock projects underway I am not yet at liberty to T: 01920 870355 E:[email protected] divulge. Keep an eye on our website for all the latest news www.tonyhancock.org.uk. Your editor, Tom Dommett. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY - Steve King 76 Eversley Road, Benfleet, Essex SS7 4JH E: [email protected] More scripts for you to enjoy Editor of THE MISSING PAGE - Tom Dommett 24 Woodlands Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 Martin Gibbons has added some more scripts to the members only section 0HF E:[email protected] of the website. Pride of place goes to the film script for the unmade “The WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR - Martin Gibbons Day Off” as adapted for radio. The Narrator introduces it with: “It's 1962, 9 Shelley Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8NS ladies and gentlemen. The Queen is on the throne. An Old Etonian Prime E: [email protected] Minister is having a scrap with the French. There's Bruce Forsyth and AUDIO & VIDEO LIBRARIAN - Mick Dawson Come Dancing on the telly, the Rolling Stones are playing live in London, 84 Meadway, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 5LB E: [email protected] and there's a new James Bond film in the autumn. How things change.”

OFFICIAL RESEARCHER - Lyn Phillips Check out our website and you will also find a very rare special Hancock’s 10 Whitley Grange, Old Road, Liskeard, Cornwall (limit to 2 items per person) Half Hour Christmas script, Christmas at Aldershot - series 1 epsiode 8 PL14 6DQ (which originally appeared in Saga Magazine in December 2002) ARCHIVIST - Tristan Brittain-Dissont There are also many other scripts from Tony’s early career: Happy Go 31 Corcreeny Road, Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland BT26 6EH E: Lucky, Calling All Forces, Forces All Star Bill and Star Bill. [email protected]

LOCAL EVENTS ORGANIZER & BACK Hancock’s Half Hour Series 5 - 978-1785292651 ISSUES of The Missing Page, Piltdown Glory & Hancock’s Half Hour series 5 is scheduled for release on 3rd March 2016. The Railway Cuttings from Keith Fisher 26 French’s Well, Horsell, Woking, Surrey GU21 3AS synopsis states that the release contains all 20 episodes from the series but no

MERCHANDISING OFFICER further details (including artwork) are yet available. Dryden Pennington The Old Chapel, Redbridge The basic aim of the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society are to promote the works of Tony Hancock for the continued aware- Road, Nr. Crossways, Dorset DT2 8DY ness of and enjoyment of the general public and to collect and classify the recorded works of Tony Hancock for the benefit of E: [email protected] members. No active individual receives payment for services to the society, which is a voluntary organisation. All members de- tails and information are covered under the data protection Act and cannot be used other than by the THAS. All rights reserved. THAS/FACEBOOK ADMINISTRATOR No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electron- ic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the Tony Hancock Appreciation Lord Toby Jug 40 Landcliffe Close, St.Ives, Society. All views comments and letters reproduced in this publication are entirely those of the individual author concerned and Cambs. PE27 3JF W: https://www.facebook.com in no way reflect the views of the general membership of the THAS. 2 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 Volume 6 Number 8 The MISSING PAGE October 2015 It is not raining here also It’s obviously a sign of old age, that time seems to go quicker with each year! It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was writing my notes for our last issue back in July and now Anthony Aloysius St. John here we are, with our final Missing Page of Hancock 2015 and the first one from our new editor, The Lad Himself (1924 - 1968) “Stone Me, What A Life!” Tom Dommett. Let me start by wishing Tom all the best in his new position, he made an excellent job of the trial issue he compiled back in April and I’m sure he’ll steer the good ship Missing Page onward and upward in the future. He’s got some exciting plans up his sleeve for extra additional ‘download only' specials so keep an eye out for them over the coming months. The first of these is an ATV Special which I’ve been fortunate enough to have a look at and I can tell you that you’re in for a treat when it’s finally finished. It forms part of a new initiative to try to get all THAS members to opt for a download only copy of The Missing Page, as opposed to a printed copy being sent through the post. Full details will be included as part of your Sub-Renewal Form that goes out at the beginning of next year, but basically it introduces a slight rise in subs from £12.50 to £15.00 should you wish to continue receiving your printed copy through the post, or to remain at £12.50 if you’re happy not to have it posted each quarter, but have a full colour edition downloaded or emailed direct to your computer where you can print it off yourself. As you can imagine, this second option will save the Society money in printing and postage and enable us to carry out more research and investment in Archives. Along with Audio and Visual purchases and improve- ments, it will result in the THAS offering more value for money to you its’ members. Coupled with the fact that there will be additional ‘special’ editions from time to time (the first of which will be the ATV special referred to earlier). It has been the subject of much debate among the committee, but I think we’ve got it right, in giving you - our members - a chance to make a choice as to how you wish to receive your copy of The Missing Page in the future. Do let me know what you think. One thing I think we’re all agreed on is the excellent job that Kevin McNally and cast have done in bringing The Missing Hancocks back to our airwaves. I was fortunate enough to have been placed on the Production Guest List (by the series’ co-producer: Neil Pearson) and along with several other members of our Society enjoyed seeing the three recordings that took place at the BBC during the past few months. The last of these (The Marriage Bureau [Series 1-Episode 15]) only took place on the 15th of September and was attended by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, along with Tessa LeBars and many other celebrities, including (who I was fortunate enough to sit next to during the recording). What with this being the second series of The Missing Hancocks and having taken it to this years’ Edinburgh Fringe, the whole ensemble have really gelled into a tight company that really captures the spirit of the original cast. Keep an ear out for it when it goes to air. Before I go, I’m sorry to have to tell you that it looks like we may have to change the date of next year’s Bournemouth Reunion Dinner, owing to our venue undergoing extensive work prior to our original date of 1st May. It will only mean putting it back a week to the 8th May, but we are awaiting confirmation that our Honoured Guests (Sylvia Syms and Steve Delaney [AKA Count Arthur Strong]) can still make it. Once it’s been confirmed, we’ll let you know on our website and in our next issue. Let me know what you think of the suggested 40th Anniversary Logo (right) by Barry Barnes. In the meantime, as this is our last issue before the festivities (“I hate Christmas, stupid custom, I’m not having bits of coloured paper hanging from my ceiling matey. I spent 30 bob having this room done out and I’m not having pin ‘oles all over it!), may I take this opportunity in wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Chikity Snitch

Andrew Clayden - President THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 3 Dear Bighead I hate you and everybody down our street hates you! Letters for publication should be sent to the Editor at his address on page 2 From Paul Young - via Email From John Littlefield - via Letter Hello Dear Missing Page, Having looked at the new designs in The Missing Page I prefer the I have been listening and watching Homburg Hat with the Society Tony Hancock's work since I was 11 lettering around it. years old in 1991. I always turn to Hancock when I want cheering up and I do not like any of the 3 Hancock the modern world gets me down, and silhouettes because, to me, they the 1950’s world of East Cheam From Tom Dommett look too much like Winston always makes me better. We should all In the last Missing Page, Dave Churchill and Tony Hancock was be proud in the THAS that we are Johns was trying to track down the rarely seen with a cane that I can keeping Tony’s name alive for future episode in which Tony Hancock is recall. generations. involved with the East Cheam Cheers and thanks for all your and Morris Men. the committee members, past and present, hard work over the many I can shed some light on this, as years. my dad is an expert on Morris The Editor replies: Well said John. dancing. For years he has taught Paul Young Tony Hancock has got me through Morris Dancers a dance performed some tough times too From Mike Roberts via email by Tony Hancock and the East From Dene from Ballymena, Cheam Morris Men which he Hi Andrew, have you got used to Northern Ireland - via email remembered from a early Tony being retired from being Editor Big Hancock fan here, since the Hancock ITV broadcast. This yet? I`ll wager you are looking BBC1 repeats of 1986 - went to the makes sense as the early shows forward to it after being Editor for excellent 'Missing Hancocks' show often ended with a dance. Twiddley Umpty years of that in Enniskillen! erudite quarterly magazine enti- I looked into this and what I tled THE MISSING PAGE. If it is I'm a bit of a filming dates archi- believe is what he had seen was not not to late I would just like say vist as a hobby, and have been try- Tony Hancock but Harry Secombe `Thank You ` for the hard work ing to track down the shooting and the East Acton Morris Dancers you put into editing the magazine. dates, schedule, etc. for the film The Rebel. June to September (named after the BBC rehearsal regards 1960, roughly, is as specific as I studios in East Acton) Mike Roberts can currently find it. In Strawberries and Cheam Harry Eddie Joffe Appeal You can find bits and pieces Secombe writes about himself and thanks to magazines, newspapers, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan on Update books, online photograph archives tour together. The promoters of the Ed Joffe - i.e. a photo of TH on location in "The only piece of material we did Archive Appeal, the his office worker gear dated 5 July; together was a skit on Morris actor/producer, Neil Pearson, and on set at Elstree with Irene Handl Dancers (called the East Acton our Archivist, Tristan Brittain- at the end of August; on location in Stick Dancers) which Eric Sykes Dissont, are currently reviewing Paris in mid-September. However, had written for one of my TV the progress of the campaign. I have no idea how long a schedule shows" Current commitments are well it was, the start and end date, etc. short of the £85K target. Unless Thanks very much, all the best, I did write to Harry Secombe and we can find the support of a major got a reply. The dance is still private donor, we will not be able Dene performed today and can be seen to secure the archive. If you have on youtube and google with give any ideas, please contact Tristan The Editor Replies: If anyone can you all the steps and music. The [email protected]. A help Dene with information about confusion can be blamed on my final review of the campaign will the Rebel please get in touch with dad. take place in November. me and I will ensure it is passed Tom Dommett on.

4 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 Hancock in Books - (Dolly might let you have them all on one card) Working with Tony Hancock Roger Ley has just published his new book: 'A Horse in the Morning' in both an Amazon Kindle edition and a paperback version. 'This is a funny and extraordinary memoir of an engineer, teacher, actor, father and failed astronaut who tells us dramatic, mysterious and amusing stories with quirky British humour peppered with astringent asides'. Roger was a child actor who stood in for Nicholas Webb on the set of 'The Punch and Judy Man' Roger Ley has advised the Society that: “Chapter four is a description of the set at Elstree and my experience of standing in for the child actor Nicholas Webb, who was a nephew of Sylvia Syms. I also mention John Le Mesurier who was on the set at the time. Webb played the boy Hancock takes to the icecream parlour.The download only costs about £2.50 and profits from sales will be donated to the 'Smile Train' charity”. The Rebel by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson www.atlaspress.co.uk/theLIP/?action=journal Only available directly from Atlas Press, this sixth issue of the Journal of the LIP contains the complete shooting script for the film starring Tony Hancock (titled "Call Me Genius" in the USA). No script has been previously published, and this one contains significant variants with the film as released, including scenes that ended up being cut. Illustrated throughout with colour reproductions of the art- works reconstructed by the Institute for the Hancock retrospective of 2002. Numbered limited edition of 500 copies, £15 + p&p (£11 to members). There are 44 copies signed by the authors at £26 + p&p. By arrangement, copies can be collected from Bookartbookshop if you wish to avoid postal charges.

Novel featuring Galton and Simpson, Hancock and Co A New novel by Nick Hornby called Funny Girl which features mention of the likes of Galton and Simpson, Tony Hancock, Steptoe and Son, etc. The story is about a woman from Blackpool (with a Sabrina figure) whose dream is to make people laugh like her hero, Lucille Ball. The novel follows her trials and tribulations as she works her way up the ladder of fame, starting in the Swinging 60s. Hornby is the author of hit novels Fever Pitch and High Fidelity. Thanks to Anthony Green

Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais interviewed for the British Comedy Guide were asked who are your own comedy heroes?

Dick Clement: Hancock, gotta say Hancock. Tony Hancock was a huge influence..

Ian La Frenais: a lot of that comedy with Morecambe & Wise had come from variety - but Hancock, that was a comic creation. It was the Hancock character that became a hero, not just Tony Hancock the original music hall Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais comedian.

THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 5 FILM FUN RESTORED by Nigel Parkinson

6 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 Resident Dandy and Beano cartoonist - not to mention stalwart THAS member - Nigel Parkinson, has lovingly restored another Film Fun comic strip featuring Tony Hancock and we’r e delighted to reproduce it here. THAS members can find many other Hancock Film Fun strips on our website at www.tonyhancock.org.uk

THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 On the trail of Hancock Material with our web site administrator and archivist

Film Fun Appeal – We need your Film Fun! Film Fun was a comic which ran from 1920 to 1962 and featured the exploits of various comic actors of the day. There were 2 associated titles: Radio Fun and TV Fun, neither of which were as successful as Film Fun. Film Fun ran for 2225 issues before merging into Buster in 1962 The Tony Hancock Comic Strip first appeared in July 1958 and ran through to September 1962, a total of 218 editions. It has also been a regular feature of our magazine. The Society has a significant archive of these comics but it’s not the full set! Our new archivist recently advised me of a website selling Film Fun and I have now added a further 8 editions to our archive which now stands at 198 editions. These new additions have been added to the website. This means that we have just 20 editions to find to complete our archive and this is where the appeal comes in.The Film Fun that are ‘missing’ from the THAS archive are as follows:

30/08/58, 08/11/58, 20/06/59, 08/08/59, 12/09/59, 26/09/59, 03/10/59, 10/10/59, 17/10/59, 24/10/59 31/10/59, 09/07/60, 16/07/60, 03/09/60, 10/09/60, 17/09/60, 24/09/60, 08/10/60, 14/01/61, 15/09/62

Happy hunting! If any member has an edition of Film Fun listed below, please can you email me Martin Gib- bons at [email protected] We would like to complete our archives with the actual physical edition but would be happy to scan in a copy so that at least our digital archive is complete. Tales from the Archive: Film Funs Find and Bless You Brian Monk by Tristan Brittain-Dissont I was working on a separate project related to Tony, when something caught my eye – a grainy photograph of an old TDK cassette. ‘amateur recordings of Hancock’s Half Hour’ were being offered for sale. I looked at some of the titles and my heart quickened – The Breakfast Cereal, The Diet, Father Xmas Hancock. Could I have stumbled upon a trove of lost recordings (or better versions of the ones we have)? Sadly, this excitement and its sudden expiration is a common experience. The tapes were all well-ordered and labelled, and on close inspection, the sleeves used for each looked like ones that the THAS produced and sold when I was first a member many years ago. And those tempting titles…..Father Xmas Hancock has often been a misnomer of Bill and Father Christmas or Hancock’s Happy Christmas. The Breakfast Cereal has always turned out to be The Impersonator.

Les, the owner, Priory Antiques and Collectibles in Orpingtonhad acquired the collection some years ago and, if you look at his site (and I recommend you do: www.priory-antiques.co.uk) it is but one of thousands of items in his possession. Les sent me a few of the tapes and, after a search of his files, located a chap who had bought a tape from the collection last year, which purported to contain Father Xmas Hancock. Sadly, my discussion with this gentlemen Steve Monk and a listen to the other tapes confirmed my suspicions. There was nothing new – or old, if you see what I mean – here. But there is a silver lining. In looking through Les’s site, I saw a bunch of Film Fun comics for sale. I alerted Martin and Tom and they quickly determined that 8 of these were missing from our archive. I also found a Talk of the Town theatre programme from the show’s Blackpool tour which was new to me. All these are now safely in the hands of the society and Les is on the lookout for other material on our behalf. Steve Monk, mentioned earlier is a collector of ephemera, and you can find out more about what he has to offer at www.themoonlightergroup.com. He also sells stuff on ebay under the name ‘bonsuivant’, he pointed out he had some Hancock-related things currently on offer. He kindly sent these to me – two clippings from unknown newspapers from 1966 – and promised to send us any future Hancock items he locates in the near future. Steve was introduced to Hancock by his father, Brian, who was a great fan of the Lad. Sadly, Brian passed away some years ago. Steve sees preserving and now donating items like those reproduced here very seriously. He sees finding and preserving items like those reproduced here as a fitting tribute to his dad. Thanks to both Steve and Brian for their efforts in helping us.

8 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 Hugh Lloyd DVD and a couple of press cuttings from 1966 New DVD Release Hugh and I Simply Media B00W852T36) Hugh and I was a sitcom which ran for 6 series from 1962 to 1967. The series starred and Hugh Lloyd as two friends who shared lodgings with Terry’s mother.

Of the original 69 episodes, only 24 episodes are believed to survive (8 of 9 episodes from the first series, all 12 of the second series and just 1 episode from each of series 3, 4, 5 and 6). Two sketches from Christmas Night with the Stars from 1963 and 1964 are also believed to survive. This release comprises all surviving episodes of the first 2 series.

In addition to Hugh Lloyd appearing in a number of BBC TV Hancock’s Half Hour episodes, there are a number of links with Tony:

Patricia Hayes (Mrs Crevatte in Hancock’s Half Hour) plays Griselda Wormold, the next door neighbour Wally Stott wrote the music for the series The show was written by John T. Chapman with additional material by John Junkin (who worked with Tony on the 1963 ATV series and the 1966 Blackpool Show) Terry Scott went on to do Happy Ever After and Terry and June which were partly written by John Kane whose daughter (Suzy Kane) is urrently playing Andree Melly in The Missing Hancocks.

Terry Scott is a youngish bachelor who wants to achieve wealth with- out putting in any hard work. The scheming Terry lives with his moth- er at Lobelia Avenue in Tooting. They have a simple and easily led - by Martin Gibbons lodger, Hugh Lloyd, who works at a local aircraft factory. The two of- ten try and make money through one of Scott's schemes.

Their next door neighbours, also make frequent appearances. Mr Crispin is a loud mouth who thinks violence will solve a problem; Mrs Crispin is a snob and their daughter Norma is constantly chased after by men. On the other side, the Wormolds are an old couple with Ha- rold being very doddery. Written by Martin Gibbons.

Note that the newspaper uses Tony’s characters name, not his real name.

THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 9 Four Hancock Shows recreated - THAS archivist gives his first hand account A Trip to Fermanagh - by Tristan Brittain-Dissont July 31st 2015 I set off from Hillsborough to Enniskillen in atrocious rain to see The Missing Hancock’s. Neil Pearson, the producer of the radio shows, has brought the cast to the annual Beckett Festival held in the town. Neil is a strong believer that the Hancock character is highly consonant with key themes of Beckett’s work – the small man shaking his first against the world; and all those bloody pauses. The festival is also giving Neil and the cast a very valuable oppor- tunity to road-test these shows be taking to the Edinburgh Festival in early August. Critically, these are four shows – Prime Minister Hancock, The Three Sons, The Winter Holiday and The New Year Resolutions – Neil hopes will get picked up by the BBC for a third series of Tne Missing Hancocks. I have previously asked him whether these shows might be recorded, but Neil is insistent that they will not. I am determined to see all four shows, which will entail two trips to Enniskillen, since the shows are performed in groups of two (matinee and evening).

A clothes shop with yellow cellophane in the window in Augher would surely not have looked out of place on East Cheam’s high street in the 1950s. When I get to the venue, this temporal illusion is nicely completed. The shows are being performed in the old Regal Cinema. As I walk in, I am greeted by Robin Sebastian, the immaculate impersonator of Kenneth Williams. Robin does a meet and greet – and a hi and bye – for all the shows I attend. Wishing him well, I go into the theatre, a small auditorium, wooden floors, wooden frontispieces on the walls, wooden stage, wooden chairs. Everything is brown, very atmospheric and effective.

The Stage is set Adrian Lukis (Bill) and Tristan The stage is prepared in a simple and Spartan way, as the picture demonstrates. I get a tingle seeing those old-style BBC microphones. I chat with Neil and he describes how these productions will be more theatrical than the shows recorded for broadcast the previous week. I wish him well and settle down the tonight's shows . The lights dim and the cast make their way on stage as the traditional announcements are made. It is the same cast heard in the BBC shows with the exception of Adrian Lukis - star of shows such as , Peak Practice and many more -replacing Kevin Eldon, who is otherwise engaged. Simon Greenall, who plays Sid, is here by the skin of his teeth, having flown in from Los Angeles. Simon voices the meerkats in the Compare The Market adverts. The shows start and I see now what Neil means by theatrical- ity. In The Winter Holiday, the tunnel scene on the way to Brighton is done very effectively as the lights on the stage go out and the cast huddle round a mike with the script illuminated by torchlight. The an- tics on the beach as the tide washes Tony, Bill and Andree around like rag dolls are mirrored in those on the stage. Amidst all this I am struck by the sheer physicality of Kevin McNally's performance. It is one thing to get Tony's voice and mannerisms right - and this is no mean feat. Tony has, famously, always been one of those stars where impersonation is very difficult. But watching Kevin is like watching a man possessed. Kevin describes himself as having 'marinated' in Tony for decades. After the show, I am struck not only by his knowledge of the show but that of other players. Robin moans about the audio quality of the surviving recording of The Diet. Susy Susy Kane plays Andree Melly Kane, playing Andree, talks passionately about Ericsson the Viking.

10 THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 The small audience of about 60 people is in gales of laughter. In The New Year Resolutions, there is a scene when Tony has been convinced by Sid that he is to be in charge of a scout jamboree event for parents when in fact it is a seedy night club. When Kevin then surveys the imagined scene and innocently says 'They've got old fathers and young moth- ers, haven't they?' the house comes down. As fans, this is perhaps not surprising - we know how durable and relevant this comedy is. However, thinking about this more deeply, an interesting observation occurs to me. When diehard fans or regular folk are asked about their favourite radio shows, very few will mention any from the first three series. And any student of the radio shows will recognise that there was a dramatic shift in the tone, style and content of the writ- ing and acting to a more 'naturalistic' approach. Clearly there is common thread throughout all the shows, but I think to assume that these early shows will automatically be winners with modern audiences is, I think, to underestimate the skills of the actors and the incredible precision and talent that Neil has brought this in his capacity of producer.

Kevin McNally, Robin Sebastian, Simon Greenall and Tristan Brittain-Dissont

Once more, the theatricality of these shows is a key factor in the renditions. In The Three Sons, there is a point where Kevin, as the ancient Ebediah Hancock, and Robin, his faithful and equally aged retainer, are competing to see who can depict the most decrepit (imagine Shakin' Stevens on a train in an earthquake). And the cast aren't afraid to liven things up with topical references - Simon Greenall bursts into an outrageous but excellent Northern Irish accent for one of the parts; Adrian, as Bill, is not afraid to describe the dismal Brighton weather in November from The Winter Holiday as being like 'Enniskillen in July'. The more I see these shows, the more I feel that there is a much wider opportunity for TMH than a third series on Radio 4. The performances I am enjoying here could easily play in small London theatres and key venues around the UK, and why stop at missing episodes - why not take The Poetry Society or Sunday Afternoon at Home and, yes, share them with new audiences, but also imbue them with new meaning and ideas to create original performances and interpretations. Talking with Neil in early September, I am pleased to hear that Edinburgh has been a critical and commercial success. Driving back from the shows, the fact that the scripts and the performances are so funny gets me thinking about that age-old debate about Tony's ability as a performer with and without Ray and Alan. If we can watch these shows now and still laugh long and hard, does this diminish the value of Tony's contribution? I think not. I remember Kevin's remarks about being marinated in Hancock. Tony gave Ray and Alan a unique inspiration to create characters and situations which endure today. Tony created a comic persona that he communicated and defined in an equally unique way. Having watched again Paul Merton's versions of the television show, I feel more strongly my view is correct - the scripts are hilarious but because Paul essentially performs as Paul, the shows do not work as effectively as the originals. However, in the case of TMH, because Kevin is channelling the spirit of Tony so effectively - if not spookily - in his voice, mannerisms and face, the chemistry is perfect and the humour is maximised to the full. Similar plaudits should go to the cast - again, it is never enough to simply have good scripts. Using that argument, we should be expecting Wayne Rooney's Hamlet any time soon. You will find no greater admirer of the work of Tony, Ray and Alan, but let us always remember this was an ensemble piece, and these new shows work because of the great talent of the cast and their love - and deep knowledge - of the material. Lastly, let us never forget the producer. I am constantly reminded that I could only enjoy these shows, and the TMH CD in my car, because of Neil's drive to revive them. Doing this was incredibly difficult in any event, but it also constituted an immense professional and financial risk for him. In reviving HHH as a new radio series he has breathed new life into the legacy of the programme, and renewed interest in Tony, Ray, Alan and, indeed, the THAS. Heartfelt thanks go to him - and everyone else involved - for the two great escapist days I spent in 1950s Britain, courtesy of a wet Enniskillen. [A longer version of this article is on the website www.tonyhancock.org.uk] THE MISSING PAGE OCTOBER 2015 11 Down HANCOCK Crossword 1 Seamus McNasty couldn’t be more so (8) by Ted Masters 2 Tony’s chances of being diminish as countries refuse to take him (8) 3 Sid can be quick to lose his,a punch up the bracket never far away (6) 4 Not considered a great one maybe but Hankers, Billers and Sidders break free from their German captors (6) 5 Fellow blood donors agree if you haven’t got it you haven’t got anything, some people take theirs for granted (6) 6. Jungle Jim is impressed with T’s____ cloth (4) 11. Several, of all ranks, are apparently, ready to defend Hancock from a possible killer (8) 12. Grizzly is an unlikely one but she’s down to to face Morrie the Maniac on Wednesday night (8) 15 Take your ‘SKIN’ soup voucher to this friendly shopkeeper (6) 16 Getting a visa to travel to America is not easy when their embassy suspects Tony of visting this city on his return (6) 17 See 1 across 20 Blood group AB negative is the very opposite of common (4) Across 1 (and 17 Down) Galton and Simpson ride again with another great sitcom (7,3,3) 5 See 21 and 13 across 7 Supposedly brilliant linguist Hancock’s response to “Spechen sie Deutsch?” (3) 8 Skilled workman who’s gone missing, sabotage to test flight is suspected (8) 9 Number of sons old Ebediah Hancock had (5) 10 Sid runs a shop selling them, Andree comes away with a puppy (4) 13 See 21 and 5 across 14 Bored on a Sunday afternoon Tony starts one Ray Galton, Tessa Le Bars and Alan Simpson July 2015 but takes it too high and gives up (4) 18 Tony, Sid and Bill become a musical one as Celebrating Ray's 85th birthday and their 50 years they enter the cafe whistling ‘Elmer’s Tune’ (4) together. Our thanks to Tessa for the photo. 19 They Figure on Bill’s calendars (5) 21 (and 5 & 13 across) The best radio sitcom ever? IMPORTANT NOTE (8,4,4) 22 A jellied one goes down a treat with Sid (3) The next issue of The Missing Page is due out in 23 Miss Pugh tells Tony that Bill has spelt it Jan 2016 and will be compiled by Tom Dommett correctly in his letters to Santa (4) All contributions for inclusion should be sent to 24 Hancock names his house after this famous him by 24th December at his address: castle which annoys the postman. 24 Woodlands Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 0HF. Email : [email protected] The solution will be published in our January 2016 Issue.

Published by The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society. www.tonyhancock.org.uk