The Trial Of Father Christmas

Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) Third Series - Programme 10

Hancock dreams that he is Father Christmas, on trial in the Celestial Court - and being prosecuted by Mephistopheles (Sid).

Cast
Tony Hancock
Bill Kerr
Sidney James
Kenneth Williams
Andrée Melly
Alan Simpson
Graham Stark
Ray Galton

Programme Guide

The trial of Father Christmas takes place in one of Hancock's dreams. Hancock taking the name part, is on trial in the celestial court. Not unnaturally, playing the prosecuting counsel, Mephistopheles, is the honourable Sidney James.

This show is notable for the fact that it marks the only appearance in "Hancock's Half Hour" for Graham Stark, who is perhaps best known for his supporting roles in Peter Seller's Pink Panther films. He appeared regularly with Tony Hancock on radio in the early 1950's. He was in the 'Eager Beaver' sketches, in late 1951, in "Happy Go Lucky".

In the two series of "Star Bill", Graham Stark appeared with Tony Hancock as part of the regular cast, together with Geraldine McEwan in the first series (in mid-1953) and with Moira Lister (in early 1954). The latter was Hancock's last radio series before "Hancock's Half Hour" and, while Moira Lister continued into the Half Hours, Graham Stark wasn't so lucky.

The "Sea View Hotel" sketch from "Star Bill", played on the "Celebration" programme, proves that Hancock was getting the laughs before the East Cheam era. What a pity, though, that virtually no recordings of the "Star Bill" programmes remain.

Meanwhile, back in the 3rd HHH radio series, Andrée Melly was doing all (of-the very little) that the script required her to do, as Hancock's girlfriend. Neither she nor Moira Lister were totally successful as Tony's girlfriends and it was no fault of either of them, really. It was the part itself that lacked a certain comic credence.

Hancock didn't need a female foil to basically agree with him - he needed someone to be at odds with him; someone to bounce off verbally - as was proved when Hattie Jacques so successfully played Miss Pugh, his secretary in the fourth and fifth series. Later still, in the sixth radio series, in similar antagonistic roles, were actresses such as Patricia Hayes and Liz Frazer and the show was a winner as a result of this.

Andrée Melly has nevertheless had a very successful career in films, TV and theatre. She has been a member of the Old Vic Company and has appeared in plays as diverse as "Boeing Boeing" and "The Killing of Sister George" ( which could be the female version of "The Bowmans"! ). She has also played most notably the Sally Bowles part in Isherwood's "I am a Camera."

Her films include "The Belles of St Trinian's" and her earliest television appearance was in the 1950 BBC production of "Just William". She was born in Liverpool in 1932 and her brother is the jazz singer, music and art critic, George Melly.

Shortly before Andrée joined the "Hancock's Half Hour" team, she made her London stage debut at the Royal Court Theatre, in their production of "Mrs. Hargreaves". Whilst she never really hit the heights in "Hancock's Half Hour", Andrée Melly's contributions in the third series were much improved, after she had dropped the French accent, and it did her career no harm at all.