Galton and Simpson – I Did It My Way

Galton and Simpson – I Did It My Way, 2014

As we head rapidly towards Christmas and into 2024 we step back to what seemed an anti climax.

The BBC’s Landmark Comedy Season was supposed to celebrate 60 years since Hancock’s Half Hour came to television.  Among all the expectations and variety of shows there seemed to be something very obviously wrong. Where was the tribute to the two writers who started it all off – Ray Galton and Alan Simpson?

Fortunately as the season drew to a close BBC Radio 4 Extra came to the rescue with: Galton and Simpson – I Did It My Way.

If you have an interest in how all these fantastic sitcoms came about or you are a Hancock/ Steptoe fan this show was pure gold.

In an interview recorded in 2008, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson discuss with Peter Reed their work for BBC Radio, writing for Tony Hancock, how Steptoe and Son came about and much more.

Summary

In a 2008 interview the creators of Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe and Son – comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson chat to Peter Reed about their radio life and times.

The interview is broken up with classic episodes and sketches from the duo’s long career.

Featured are:

* Hancock’s Half Hour: The Threatening Letters:
The lad is full of the joys of Spring – until the postman arrives. Stars Tony Hancock, Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams. From May 1958

* The Galton & Simpson Playhouse: Clicquot et Fils:
Monsieur Clicquot plans to improve his ailing funeral parlour. Stars Richard Griffiths and Josie Lawrence. From December 1998.

* Frankie Howerd and June Whitfield ‘Up Je T’aime’ – duet recorded in1971

* Steptoe and Son at Buckingham Palace – 1963 recording from The Royal Variety Performance.

* Steptoe and Son: Porn Yesterday:
Harold’s aghast when he sees ‘What the Butler Saw’. Adapted from TV with Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett. From March 1976.

* Hancock: The Radio Ham: the Pye re-recording:
The originally BBC TV only episode performed before an audience for an album release in 1961. Amateur radio enthusiast Tony Hancock receives a mayday call from a yachtsman in distress.

Clips

 

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Details

Channel: BBC Radio 4 Extra
Original Transmission Date: 17th September 2016