Brush up on Hancock lore with The Lad Himself

By John Freeman on July 4, 2024 • ( 0 )

If you’re enjoying Hancock’s Half Hour, currently being shown on That’s TV in the UK, then you may want to pick up a copy of The Lad Himself, the graphic novel retelling the comedian’s life story, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

Tony Hancock was one of Britain’s best-known comic actors of the 1950s and ’60, made famous by the hugely popular Hancock’s Half Hour, first broadcast on the radio in November 1954, then transitioning to television in 1956.

Sadly, Hancock took his own life in 1968, aged just 44. His ashes are buried outside the churchyard of St. Dunstan’s, Cranford, near Heathrow Airport.

We understand That’s TV, who are marking the 100th anniversary of the comedian’s birth, will be showing episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour, first broadcast by the BBC, daily at 7.50pm, Monday to Friday. The comedy also starred Sid James, with Hattie Jacques, John Le Mesurier and others in support.

*Sid James and Tony Hancock. Image: BBC*

The showings began last night (Wednesday) with “The Alpine Holiday”, and are being scheduled in order of original broadcast, although The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society tell us “There’s An Airfield at the Bottom of My Garden”, “Hancock’s 43 Minutes” and “Erikson the Viking” are not included.

Hancock - The Lad Himself by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page - Cover

Published by B7 Media, Tony Hancock – The Lad Himself by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page, available here direct from the publisher, AmazonUK or your preferred bookseller, tells the story of the legendary comedian in words, pictures, and not without a few interruptions from The Lad Himself, who proves to be a little infuriated at how his story is told… as those who know and love his work would fully expect!

• That’s TV is on Freeview 56, Sky 171, Freesat 178 and Virgin 150

• Tony Hancock – The Lad Himself by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page, available here direct from the publisher, AmazonUK or your preferred bookseller

• The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society has a guide to Tony’s TV appearances here

• Read the first chapter of The Lad Himself here on downthetubes

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.