S4 - E1 - Very Nearly an Armful - The Marriage Bureau

Very Nearly an Armful - A Tony Hancock Podcast

In this first episode of series 4, Tim, Jon, James and Martin are privileged to be able to review the recently recovered radio episode The Marriage Bureau. Not heard since first broadcast in 1955, the episode was discovered on a reel to reel tape by Richard Harrison of The Radio Circle and was rebroadcast by Radio 4 on the 18th October 2022.

The episode is the only one to feature Peter Sellers who stepped in at the last minute to replace Kenneth Williams who was unavailable. The team review Peter’s contribution, compare the episode to The Missing Hancock’s re-recording and consider, in detail, Hancock’s contribution to the Tooting School of Dancing and how he got his moniker ‘Hot Lips Hancock’!The Gang of four get distracted, this time by Robert Newton in the film Treasure Island and, consider how, in the television series The Prisoner, Hancock would have perfect for the role of No 2 in the episode "The Girl Who Was Death". They also delve into Spotify and uncover the brilliant series I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again.

Don’t forget to rate us and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you haven’t done so already, why not join the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society - full details of how to join are at Tonyhancock.org.uk. In the next episode of the series we’ll be reviewing the brilliant television episode Lord Byron Lived Here – hope to see you then.