On Wednesday, 6th October, the Radio Academy hosted an early celebration of the 50th anniversary of the lad from 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam, created by Ray Galton (right of photo) and Alan Simpson – Anthony Aloysius Hancock.

To mark the transmission of the first Hancock's Half Hour, (November 2nd 1954) the brilliant Galton and Simpson were interviewed by Adrian Juste, who stood in at short notice for an ailing Danny Baker. The writers first made their mark with the Hancock radio series, and later wrote episodes for TV.

As part of its programming to mark the half century, comedy station BBC 7 organised a poll in which listeners chose their all-time favourite Hancock episode. Those who attended the Radio Academy event already know the outcome, but everyone else must wait till Saturday 30th October when the Galton and Simpson interview is to be transmitted on BBC 7 at 8pm and 9pm (also available via the Net).

The 50th anniversary also saw the release of "Hancock's Half Hour", the Complete BBC Radio Archive from BBC Audiobooks. This boxed set contains 41 CDs representing all six of the radio series broadcast between 1954 and 1959.

It is a numbered limited edition with only 1000 units being produced.