BBC to air lost radio episodes

The BBC is broadcasting two lost episode of  Hancock's Half Hour, which were rediscovered after being wiped from its archives.

The Blackboard Jungle was first broadcast on the BBC's Light Programme in 1955. But the corporation did not keep a copy of the recording, and it was thought to be lost  forever.

However Hancock fan Vic Rogers made his own recording, which was tracked down via the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society.

The episode goes out on digital station BBC7 at midday and 7pm today, and will be available on  its  website, via the Listen Again service, for seven days from tomorrow.

It will be introduced by appreciation society archivist Malcolm Chapman, whohelped return the recording to the BBC.

A second long-lost episode, The New Secretary, will go out on August 30 at 8am, noon and 7pm.

Hancock recorded six series of his radio show before transferring to television. Several of his TV programmes are also missing, believed wiped.

Published: 23 Aug 2005