Galton and Simpson

The creators of Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son - comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson chat to Peter Reed about their radio life and times.

102 episodes of their classic sitcom Hancock's Half Hour were recorded for BBC Radio between 1954 and 1959.

58 episodes of Steptoe and Son were recorded for BBC TV – with 51 re-recorded for BBC Radio.

The duo's choice from the archive features:

* HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR - The Threatening Letters:
The lad is full of the joys of Spring - until the postman arrives.
Starring Tony Hancock, Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams.
From May 1958

* THE GALTON AND SIMPSON PLAYHOUSE - Clicquot et Fils:
Monsieur Clicquot plans to improve his ailing funeral parlour.
Starring Richard Griffiths and Josie Lawrence.
From December 1998.

* FRANKIE HOWERD & JUNE WHITFIELD - 'Up Je T'aime'
The duo's 1971 parody of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's song originally banned by the BBC

* STEPTOE AND SON AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
1963 recording from The Royal Variety Performance.

* STEPTOE AND SON - Porn Yesterday:
Harold Steptoe is aghast when he sees for himself 'What the Butler Saw'.
Adapted from the TV script. Starring Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett.
From March 1976.

* HANCOCK: The Radio Ham: the Pye re-recording:
The originally BBC TV-only episode performed by The Lad Himself before an audience for an album release in 1961.
Amateur radio enthusiast Tony Hancock receives a mayday call from a yachtsman in distress.

Presenter: Peter Reed
Producer: Mik Wilkojc

Made for BBC Radio 7 and first broadcast in July 2008.