Tony Hancock

Tragedy and comedy have often shared the billing in Simon Heffer's series on British comic actors in mid-20th century film, but never more so than in the case of Tony Hancock.

Hancock is warmly remembered for playing a self-deluded failure, a man whose life has been an odyssey of constant frustration. His role in film was less successful and Simon Heffer pinpoints why.

Simon also considers the strengths and weaknesses of Hancock's two (largely forgotten) films - The Rebel and The Punch and Judy Man - and the demise of a brilliant performer whose influences are still apparent today.

Producer : Beaty Rubens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in April 2015.