The Racehorse

A re-creation of a missing classic episode of Hancock's Half Hour.

Also missing from the original 1955 episode was The Lad Himself, as Tony Hancock had absconded to Rome. He was replaced for the first three episodes of series 3 by The Goon Show's Harry Secombe. In this re-creation, Harry is replaced by his son Andy Secombe.

Harry Secombe …. Andy Secombe
Bill Kerr …. Kevin Eldon
Kenneth Williams …. Robin Sebastian
Andree Melly …. Susy Kane

The Racehorse. With Tony Hancock indisposed, Harry Secombe has 10 bob left so Bill decides to spend it on a racehorse. The fact that it only has three legs doesn't deter Sid from entering it in the Britannia Steeplechase.

The first modern sitcom, Hancock's Half Hour made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams, and launched Galton & Simpson as one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history.

Sadly, 20 episodes of the show are missing from the BBC Archives. After two highly successful series, another five of those episodes have been lovingly re-created in the BBC Radio Theatre.

The classic Hancock score newly recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Levon Parikian.

Producers: Ed Morrish and Neil Pearson

The original version was broadcast on the 3rd May, 1955.

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in March 2017.