Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of Hancock's Half Hour on radio, this is the story of Hancock's rise to fame, told from recordings, scripts and press cuttings. It is the background against which the famous performances stand out - the story of a great comic actor who could never believe that he really was one of the best.

Presented by Denis Norden , Hancock's early career, starting as a 17-year-old in a Bristol variety show called A La Carte for the BBC Forces Programme, and charts his rise through shows such as Variety Bandbox and Happy-Go-Lucky (where he first read words by Galton and Simpson ).

The second section features an interview by Paul Merton with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson , the creators of Hancock's Half Hour . It covers the years from the very first episode, broadcast on the Light Programme in 1954, to Hancock's last work with Ray and Alan, and the BBC, in 1961. They discuss both Anthony John Hancock the man, difficult, hard-working and extremely talented; and Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock the character, vain, pompous, boastful and self-deluded, but ultimately loveable.

Including over 20 minutes of bonus unbroadcast material, this is the ultimate insight into a true comedy legend.