The Lad, Himself

[ttfn]

For any fan of Tony Hancock

(available until next Monday)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018rbkl

[anneasquith]

never a fan.....

[marval]

Thank you for that, I like listening to his show on BBC radio4 extra.

[ttfn]

You're welcome, marval.

He had strong links with my home town and I worked with his brother for a while. Enjoy :)

[marval]

That is interesting, I shall enjoy, thank you.

[tonyav]

ttfn, the lad himself was a Brummie .

[Canary42]

... ever a fan.

[FredPuli43]

I'm a great fan, an enthusiasm only somewhat diminished by my family's insistence that I am just like him. Cheek! I've never had a coat with an astrakhan collar in my life.

[VHG]

I love some of his radio and TV shows.

However Hancock was very indebted to Galton and Simpson who wrote both his radio shows and TV shows, and once he discarded them his career never recovered.

So it could be argued Galton and Simpson were the "stars" and Hancock the mouthpiece, but without them he was just not as funny.

In fact almost everything we remember and still watch and listen to from Hancock was written by Galton and Simpson, and things HE did that they did not write is now almost forgotten.

And I still think one of the greatest lines in British comedy is "That's very nearly an armfull" (Blood Donor).

In fact that is classic example of Galton and Simpsons art as the original line said "That's an armfull.

Then it became "That's nearly an armfull".

Then finally "Thats very nearly an armfull" which is just perfect.

[FredPuli43]

Thanks,"Tommy Handley Lives",that was excellent :)

[FredPuli43]

All true , VHG, but nobody could deliver the lines like Hancock. There was consummate timing, added to complete control of that most expressive face in close-up, so you could see fleeting thoughts. Simpson and Galton's talent was to write to those strengths.

[Canary42]

//Simpson and Galton's talent was to write to those strengths. ///

Very true, and to the strengths of several other comedians who may have remained in obscurity without their material, and equally they may have remained in obscurity without the likes of Hancock to bring their material to life.

[Ric.ror]

Oh ttfn I am slightly obsessed with him
I don't know why as I think the humour in his shows is slightly dated
I think it might be the tragedy aspect
I