Ray Galton

Alan Simpson

Tony Hancock

Sid James

Kenneth Williams

Full Cast

hancocks-half-hour-volume-3-the-americans-hit-town--the-unexploded-bomb

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more

source_10558

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our <a href="/company/about-us/notices/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a>

Keep an eye out for a confirmation in your inbox

Stories, ideas and giveaways to help you spark young imaginations

source_10972

The latest books, activities and tips to help you grow little readers

source_10975

About us

About Us (Header 4)

john-le-carre-a-legacy-of-spies-960-2.jpg

Margaret Atwood

Richard Osman

Malorie Blackman

George Orwell

marian_keyes_mobile_320x200px.png

Elif Shafak

shonfaye

Authors (Header 3)

Books (Header 2)

Company

Features (Header 1)

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

A lost episode of the classic radio comedy & more

Hancock’s Half Hour: A Visit to Swansea

Hancock’s Half Hour: The Marriage Bureau

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 4

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 3

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 2

Rarities from the BBC radio archive

Hancock's Half Hour Collectibles: Volume 1

15 episodes of the classic BBC radio sitcom

Steptoe & Son: Series 5 & 6

16 episodes of the classic BBC radio sitcom

Steptoe & Son: Series 3 & 4

21 episodes of the classic BBC radio sitcom

Steptoe & Son: The BBC Radio Collection: Series 1 & 2

19 episodes of the classic BBC Radio comedy series

Hancock's Half Hour: Series 6

20 episodes of the classic BBC Radio comedy series

Hancock's Half Hour: Series 5

Hancock's Half Hour: Series 4

Ten episodes of the classic BBC Radio comedy series

Hancock’s Half Hour: Series 3

Hancock’s Half Hour: Complete Series One & Two

Hancock's Half Hour Volume 3: The Americans Hit Town / The Unexploded Bomb

Tony Hancock, Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Bill Kerr star in two classic episodes written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, which showcase the master of misery at his best. The Americans Hit Town: When the US Air Force sets up a base in Cheam, Hancock joins the rush to rent them rooms at exorbitant prices. But the sudden appearance of a Council Inspector forces them to masquerade as Yanks. The Unexploded Bomb: An unexploded bomb is discovered in Hancock's cellar - to the delight of Sid, who wants the site for a used car lot.

Two digitally-remastered BBC radio episodes presented on a special vinyl-look CD, with original album sleeve notes.

Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met in a sanatorium in Surrey, where they were both being treated for TB. Ray Galton remembers noticing the six-foot-four Simpson and thinking he looked surprisingly large - ‘you expect everyone in a sanatorium to be thin and weedy, and he was the biggest guy I’d ever seen’. During two years in the same ward, they listened to comedy shows together and also wrote a series of their own, creating a radio room in a linen cupboard. Having left the sanatorium within a few months of each other, they decided to get a professional opinion of their work and sent a sketch they had written called The Pirate Sketch to the BBC. They were asked to go in for an interview, and soon found themselves writing for the sketch show Happy Go Lucky. Over the next two years they continued to write sketches for a number of big names, before coming up with the idea for Hancock’s Half Hour. Although the BBC took some persuading, eventually the show was scheduled, initially for radio but later as a television series. A phenomenally successful ten years later, Galton and Simpson were themselves very well known names. After Hancock’s Half Hour they wrote Comedy Playhouse for the BBC, out of which came their second huge television and radio hit, Steptoe &amp; Son. In 1977 they wrote The Galton &amp; Simpson Playhouse, produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV.

Hancock's Half Hour Volume 3: The Americans Hit Town / The Unexploded Bomb

Select a format:

Retailers:

Summary

About the authors

Ray Galton

Alan Simpson

More from this Author

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter