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Hancock & Terry-Thomas - Calling All Forces sketch (1952)

4 Extra Debut. Tony Hancock in a lost sketch from Calling All Forces. With Charlie Chester, Josephine Crombie and Terry-Thomas. From 1952.

Radio 4 Extra celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of comic actor Tony Hancock – born 12th May 1924 - with a collection of rarely heard and previously lost radio programmes.

Introducing the shows, Jim Lee is joined by Martin Gibbons, president of the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society, who have helped find some of the lost tapes.

Tony Hancock stars in this previously lost sketch from the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Light Programme’s Calling All Forces from May 1952.

In this edition of the variety show of sketches and music, Tony compered the show with comedian Charlie Chester, alongside Josephine Crombie. It also features a special guest star appearance from radio, TV and film comedy star, Terry-Thomas (I’m All Right Jack, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World).

Responding to the threat of TV, Tony Hancock and the team decide to create a β€˜TV society drama for radio’, their own version of Lady Chatterley. With Tony as one of the her suitors, β€œPuffy Hancock”, and Terry-Thomas as Lady Chatterley’s overly attentive butler, what could go wrong….

Written by Bob Monkhouse and Denis Goodwin.

Producers: Jacques Brown & John Hooper

A sketch from Calling All Forces first broadcast on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Light Programme 5th May 1952.

***
Many thanks to the Bob Monkhouse Archive/Kaleidoscope who found this lost 'Calling All Forces' 1952 sketch, and provided it to the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society, for use in ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra's Hancock 100 celebration.

Tony Hanock 100
Presenter: Jim Lee
Production Co-ordinator: Andrew Jupp
Producer: Peter McHugh

15 minutes

Last on

Sun 12 May 2024 18:50

Broadcast

  • Sun 12 May 2024 18:50