Williams was ultimately only a relatively small part of the iconic Hancock collective; at its heart, a new and exciting double act was emerging between Tony Hancock and Sid James.

There was a doctor there all the time, because when he arrived you didn't know what kind of mood he was going to be in.A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. There's something of Hancock that you can feel and recognise in almost every comedian you see, and every comedy you watch. One of the first hit comedies to ever grace the radio waves was Arthur Askey and Richard "Stinker" Murdoch's Band Waggon - a knockabout comedy produced from 1938 until the outbreak of World War II. I wish to God I had been able to catch him that day, all sorts of little things can change people's lives.

This resulted in Williams playing his other characters in some of the later radio episodes (such as Edwardian Fred and the Vicar). This deeply personal and supportive series offers listeners an honest and relatable insight into how some the UK's best-known celebrities have coped with mental health difficulties, ranging from OCD to insomnia, addiction to grief, and depression to anxiety.He was also a snob who aspired to be social climbing but was let down by his own gullibility and stupidity or the burdening presence of his shady friend Sidney Balmoral James. When Billy can’t find the informant, he wonders if Kate is secretly harboring her, since the two grew close during Kate's weeks undercover. It's about a man trying to tell you about the awfulness of comedy and how it goes wrong, and how your life goes wrong, and how your marriage goes wrong.

The series starred Tony Hancock, with Sidney James; the radio version also co-starred, at various times, Moira Lister, Andrée Melly, Hattie Jacques, Bill Kerr and Kenneth Williams. These details were things that Hancock, Galton and Simpson had a very keen eye for; they are the ingredients that make up truly timeless moments in comedy. And, both Jools Holland and Peter Doherty (a lifelong Hancock fan) independently turned the title into touching ballads in tribute to the comedy star. Hancock very quickly became a household name however he later became dissatisfied with the format of his show and 'Hancock's Half Hour' came to an end in 1960. Once again Tony Hancock stars as the loveable curmudgeon, in four instalments written by the character's creators, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.Read more about the condition New: An item that is still in its original shrink wrap from the manufacturer and the original manufacturer’s seal (if applicable) has not been removed. In a special treat for Hancock's Half Hour fans, Series 4 also premiered one episode - The Counterfeiter - that was never recorded by the original team. Tony Hancock had felt that the problem with Williams's character (nicknamed Snide) was that he simply didn't feel real, and after appearing in well over thirty episodes had ended up repetitive; a catchphrase-riddled cliché. It was always more than just jokes with Hancock: it was all about the characterisation, and finding the humour through these characters. When several members of the ring soon turn up dead, Billy abruptly pulls Kate out, blowing her cover.