The Diamond Ring

This is a recreation of a classic episode missing from series 1 either wiped or lost from the archive.

The Lad finds a diamond ring, but when Moira gets it into her head that marriage is in the air, Hancock is forced to turn to Sid for help.

The first modern sitcom, Hancock's Half Hour made stars of Tony Hancock, Sid James and Kenneth Williams. It also launched Ray Galton and Alan Simpson as one of the most successful comedy-writing partnerships in history.

But 20 episodes of the show were missing from the BBC archives.

Now, after four highly successful series, the final batch of those episodes have been lovingly re-recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre.

Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson

Tony Hancock …. Kevin McNally
Bill Kerr …. Kevin Eldon
Kenneth Williams …. Robin Sebastian
Sid James …. Simon Greenall
Moira..............Margaret Cabourn-Smith

The classic score re-recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Levon Parikian.

Produced by Neil Pearson & Hayley Sterling.

'The Diamond Ring' was originally broadcast on the 9th November 1954.

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2019.