THE NEW CAR

Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) First Series - Programme 6

Hancock buys a car from Sid, little realising that not only is it stolen, but that it is a police car.

Cast
Tony Hancock
Bill Kerr
Moira Lister
Sidney James
Kenneth Williams

Programme Guide

From time to time, passing reference was made to Hancock's real identity in show business and this is one such show.

Hancock complains that he is the only star that hasn't got a car. Hancock: "Makes you sick ... oh well, I'd better get off to the theatre." Bill: "I'll go and get your bike. Shall I take the beer crates off the front?" Hancock: "No, I've got some deliveries to make."

Hancock feels he really ought to get a car. Hancock: "I can't keep arriving at film premises in oilskin cape and bicycle clips." Unable to afford a new car, Bill directs Hancock to Sid James, second-hand car dealer. "He's a twister", says Hancock, "He sold me two tickets to a West End show and it wasn't until I got there that I found it was the show I'm in!"

Sid: "What do you want?" Hancock: "Something I'll look my best in", Sid: "We sold the hearse yesterday". The first car they try is no good - Sid has to walk in front with a red flag. Eventually, Sid sells Hancock a nearly-new black saloon for £250. So, with Moira in the driving seat, they go for a drive.

Bill points out the similarity between their car and a passing police car, apart from the signs on the roof. Hancock wonders why there are small screw holes in the roof of their car. They turn on the radio and get police messages, including one about a stolen police car. Suddenly, they are pursued by the police, whom they manage to shake off at the "Dog and Duck" public house.

Hancock decides that they should hide until nightfall. He instructs Moira to drive across a ploughed field. "That farmer's got half an acre of mashed potatoes now," he observes. In the middle of the night, they are held up by an escaped prisoner, 'Butcher' Collins. They take him back to London to make good his escape and they end up in Sid's yard; Sid being an old friend of Butcher's.

Hancock demands his money back for the car. Sid offers him a big red open-top sports car for no extra charge and Hancock accepts the offer. The show closes as they are driving along with their sports car sounding its fire bell and Hancock saying "He told me that ladder was for seeing over the top of buses!"

Perhaps it is expecting a lot to have us believe that someone could be taken in so easily by Sid's very obvious confidence tricks, but establishing the framework for the characters meant that the formula, however at times, had to be repeated week after week. Then after a time, the framework of the show was clear: Hancock was the mug and Sid the crook. The later shows have the advantage, of course, and in them, Sid's con. tricks are much more subtle and , as a result, the shows are so much more enjoyable.