Briers On Hancock

Richard Briers traces the life of Tony Hancock from triumph to tragedy.

Had he lived, Tony Hancock would have celebrated his 60th birthday on the 12 May 1984.

Born in Birmingham on 12th May 1924, the 10 years from 1952 saw Hancock rise to become acknowledged as one of the greatest comic talents this country has ever produced.

Richard Briers presents an affectionate tribute to his memory - Briers on Hancock: An Echo Of Remembered Laughter - the story of a man who simply refused to believe that he really was one of the greatest of all time.

A life long admirer, Richard explores why Hancock continued to demand more of himself professionally, at the cost of personal friendships and family, leading up to his tragic death in 1968.

With contributions from:-

Dennis Main Wilson, Denis Norden, George Fairweather, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, Hugh Lloyd, John Freeman, Sid James and Bill Kerr.

Written and produced by John Pickles and Bill Morris.

Editor: Richard Edis

***Tony Hancock 100 - Radio 4 Extra's celebration of Tony Hancock on what would have been his 100th birthday - is at 5pm Sunday 12th May 2024 - featuring rare and lost recordings, including a newly rediscovered lost episode of Hancock's Half Hour - A Visit to Swansea from 1955***

Richard Briers traces the life of Tony Hancock from triumph to tragedy. From 1984.

Richard Briers traces the life of Tony Hancock from triumph to tragedy. With Denis Norden and Ray Galton. From 1984.

A documentary exploring Richard Briers lasting admiration for comedy legend Tony Hancock. Briers rejected the idea of recreating Hancock's Half Hour for radio. Instead, for Radio 4 in 1984, Richard talked to those who worked with Hancock: his BBC producer Dennis Main Wilson; his writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson; as well as admirers like comedy writer Denis Norden. Richard explores why Hancock continued to demand more of himself professionally, at the cost of personal friendships and family, leading up to his tragic death in 1968.