The Chef That Died Of Shame

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

The cast depart from their usual characters to tell the story of 'Iggins, the pie-stall cook who rises to the heights of haute cuisine and falls again through drink.

Cast
Tony Hancock
Bill Kerr
Sidney James
Andrée Melly
Kenneth Williams
Alan Simpson

Programme Guide

The likelihood is that Galton and Simpson decided to expand the idea, mentioned in the previous show of 'Iggins as the drunk chef. So, this is a complete departure; no introductory music or announcement and everyone playing specific character parts. There is a quietly-spoken, quasi-documentary introduction by Tony Hancock, to a background of 'mystery' music.

Hancock: "This is the story of a chef .... a man whose genius was evident from every fork hole of his pie crust ... and of a woman, young, warm, beautiful, whose great love was to become a barrier between him and his shrimp cocktail... this story is fictitious and bears no resemblance to Bing Crosby in The Country Girl."

The story is taken up by Grant Faversham (Bill Kerr): "I first knew Pasqual Egon when he was only Percy Higgins - of Higgins Premier Pie Stall, c/o the horse trough, Covent Garden, in 1948."

Higgins (Tony Hancock): "Coffee, Fred?".

Fred (Kenneth William): "Yeah.. 'ere, don't hold it out in the rain."

Higgins: "You want a full cup, don't you?"

Faversham tries one of Percy's hot pies: "This pastry is better than anything I've tested at the Ritz."

Higgins: "Well them stalls up the West End they don't trouble, you know ... I'm an artist. Cooking is me art. I'm a composer and me meat pies are me symphonies. If only I could get a job in a restaurant, I could spread me wings and try the big stuff - meat pie and chips."

Grant Faversham takes Percy to Paris, to study under the great chefs at the International School of Cookery. First, Percy tries to make flaky pastry: "Place mixture in bowl; add water and mix ... gently removing our left hand ... left ... left hand .. our right hand ... holding it down ... sticking our foot in it ... scraping it off our feet ... we then ... sitting on it, we roll over ... wedging it in the door, we ... scraping it out of our hair ... we put it ... our right ... our left ... forget it. Can I make a soufflé?"

Percy gets help from another student, Martine Dubois (Andrée Melly), to make the soufflé. They see more of each other and she inspires him in his work. Percy graduates with flying colours. He even wins the "chef of the year" prize for his grilled winkles feet on toast.

Percy: "Thank you and Madame Dubois. Without her, I couldn't have completed me grilled winkles feet - she took their shoes and socks off."

Percy asks Martine if she will consider sharing the same pie dish as him. So, they are married in the little church around the corner - Notre Dame. Grant Faversham brings along Moshe Rubenstein (Sid James), to the wedding. Moshe agrees to take on Percy at his Hotel Rubenstein, where Higgins becomes the acclaimed Master Chef and toast of the town.

The story is then taken up with Higgin's downfall through drink. Although Percy is given one last chance by Moshe, he fluffs it and the show ends with Higgins saying ruefully: "I told 'em I couldn't do it."

An uncomfortable story-line in the light of subsequent events and a salutary example in the awful irony of how life can mirror art. Although it was only by the passing of time that this programme became so problematic and though no offence was intended at the time, there is no doubt that if this programme were to be repeated now it could give offence. Transmitted: Tuesday 23rd May 1955 at 2130, BBC Light Programme.

Even judged objectively, in the context of its time, it's still not the greatest "Hancock's Half Hour" but there are some good moments of super comedy. For example, when Higgins attempts to make flaky pastry - its a fine piece of comic timing and intonation which no amount of in-depth description could do full justice to.