Starring Tony Hancock and Sid James Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 'Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?' 'Hancock's Half Hour' was Britain's first hit sitcom. First airing on BBC radio in 1954 and transferring to television in 1956, it redefined British comedy for the television age and set the template for the modern TV sitcom. Running for 63 episodes on television and 108 on radio and even spinning off into a feature film in 1961, 'Hancock's Half Hour' centred around the loosely connected misfortunes of Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock - failing comic and aspiring dramatic actor. Stationed in a set of dilapidated shared rooms at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam with his less-than-trustworthy friend Sid (Sid James), Hancock's weekly adventures would take in jury service, an alpine holiday, suspected murder, soap-opera, a train journey from hell and a very memorable afternoon as an NHS blood donor. With guest star appearances from Patricia Hayes, Kenneth Williams, John Le Mesurier, Hugh Lloyd, Dick Emery, Hattie Jacques and June Whitfield, 'Hancock's Half Hour' is a landmark in the history of the British sitcom and the 37 episodes in this new box-set represent BBC comedy at its very finest.
