Hancock's Half Hour, Volume 4 [Audio Download]

By series five, Hancock and the regular team (Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams) were on unbeatable form, as were writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. This ten-CD set contains all twenty episodes from the series, and those who know Hancock only from later material such as 'The Blood Donor' will find some real gems here.
Outstanding episodes include 'The Americans Hit Town', 'The Publicity Photograph' and 'The East Cheam Drama Festival', but picking highlights is almost invidious - there simply isn't a weak episode in this set.
This is a world-class performer, with a superlative cast, at his very best, performing some brilliant and unforgettable scripts. The only downside is that all but five of these episodes have previously been issued on audio cassette, so this is a rather expensive way to acquire comparatively little new material if you've already bought the tapes. If you don't own the tapes, or are one of Hancock's very many admirers, this is a "must own" box set.

If you have been searching for Hancocks Half Hour then it's a sure bet you don't need to read yet another review of how fabulous the late great Tony was. We all ready know THAT. When I was pondering on whether to buy, the most helpful piece of info was sadly lacking from any of the reviews. So here is the episode listing of the collectors box sets series 1-5. Please note the number of episodes differ from series to series as some were lost. I will add series 6 once I've got it.

Series 1
The first night party
The idol
The boxing champion
The new car
Cinderella hancock
A trip to france
The monte carlo rally
A house on the cliff
The sheikh
The end of the series

Series 2
The holiday camp
The chef that died of shame
The rail srike
The television set
The marrow contest

Series 3
The pet dog
The jewel robbery
The bequest
Hancocks hair
The student prince
The greyhound track
The conjurer
The test match

Series 4
Back from holiday
The bolshoi ballet * the first 2 episodes came with the wrong sleeve, so check this if you buy
The income tax demand
Michaelangelo 'ancock
Anna and the king of siam
Cyrano de hancock
The expresso bar
hancock happy xmas
The diary
The 13th of the series
Almost a gentleman
The old school reunion
The wild man of the woods
Agricultural 'ancock
hancock in the police
The emigrant
The last of the mchancocks

Series 5
The new radio series
The scandal magazine
The male suffragettes
The insurance policy
The publicity photograph
The unexploded bomb
Hancocks School
Around the world in 80 days
The americans hit town
The election candidate
Hancocks car
The east cheam drama festival
The foreign legion
Sunday afternoon at home
The grappling game
The junk man
Hancocks war
The prize money
The threatening letters
The sleepless night

Series 6
The Stolen Petrol
Bill & Father Christmas
The 13th of the Month
The New Secretary
The Ballet Visit
The Ellection Candidate
The Smugglers
The Childhood Sweetheart
The Last Bus Home
The Picnic
The Gourmet
The Elopement
Fred's Pie Stall
The Waxwork
Sid's Mystery Tours
The Fete
The Poetry Society
Hancock in Hospital
The Christmas Club
The Impersonator

Enjoy!

This is one of my favourite Hancock compilations, all four episodes are of a high standard. Hancock is superbly backed up by Sid, Bill, Hattie and Kenneth (Snide appears in the first three episodes). This is an obvious plus point, I always feel that the Hancock shows are at their best when those four actors are involved.

The Diary sees Hancock reminiscing about the past year and his aspirations for the coming one! In The Old School Reunion Hancock finds himself being invited back to his old public school. The episode Hancock in the Police is one of my favourites. A reluctant Tony and Bill are forced by Miss Pugh to get a job. Naturally enough, the two upright citizens decide to join the force, much to Sid's obvious delight. The East Cheam Drama Festival is the final episode on the cassete. In this story we get to hear three plays produced by the East Cheam Drama Society.

This is one of the best Hancock compilations. If you are a Hancock fan then I highly recommend that you purchase it. If you are new to Hancock this is certainly one of the best to be initiated with.