The Red Planet

A recreation of the missing episode 7 of series 3 of Hancock's Half Hour.

The Lad takes up astronomy, and discovers something terrible among the stars.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

The Lad Himself …. Kevin McNally
Bill Kerr …. Kevin Eldon
Sid James …. Simon Greenall
Kenneth Williams …. Robin Sebastian
Andree Melly …. Susy Kane

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

But 20 episodes of the show are missing from the BBC Archives. All missing episodes have now been lovingly re-recreated in the BBC Radio Theatre.

Classic Hancock score re-recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Levon Parikian.

Producers: Ed Morrish and Neil Pearson

The lost original recording was last broadcast in November 1955.

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2019.