Fans of comedy legend Tony Hancock are in for a treat in January, when new, digitally restored and colourised versions of The Blood Donor and Twelve Angry Men air on Gold from 10.00pm on Saturday 14th January.
Recreated from master tapes, the colourisation of these classic episodes, written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, originally broadcast in 1959 and 1961 respectively, is the work of a team led by former Doctor Who Magazine editor Clayton Hickman, who is being interviewed about the project for the British Comedy Guide – keep an eye out for that.
While there will be some who will balk at the colourisation of black and white archive television, those who’ve seen the representations are suitably enthused. The hope is that colourisation will better help introduce Hancock’s legendary canon of comedic work to a modern audience.
Ahead of the restored episodes, Gold will also be screening a special documentary, presented by comedian and Hancock fan Jack Dee. Taking its title from celebrated Hancock episode The Blood Donor, Tony Hancock: Very Nearly An Armful is a two-hour retrospective featuring previously unseen scripts, scrapbooks and production files belonging to the lad himself, as well as personal items such as photos and letters.
As downthetubes exclusively reported last year, B7 Comics will be releasing a graphic novel, Hancock – The Lad Himself, about Tony Hancock by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page in 2023, an epic retelling of his life story.
The 275-page graphic novel tells the story of the legendary comedian in words, pictures, and not without a few interruptions from The Lad Himself, who proves a little infuriated at how his story is told… as those who know and love his work would fully expect!
Tony Hancock somehow seems a natural subject for a comic – and, of course, he’s been in them before. At the height of his television fame, he appeared in Film Fun. Since his death, he’s been the subject of biographies, radio dramas, and even a couple of television films.
With the advent of satellite TV and DVD, he seems to be everywhere, and the special Gold celebration will further reignite interest in his work.
• Hancock Night: Saturday 14th January 2023 from 8.00pm on Gold Channel: new documentary Very Nearly An Armful is followed by newly restored and colourised versions of The Blood Donor and Twelve Angry Men
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.
Categories: British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television
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