Kevin McNally is to star in a remake of ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ as part of the BBC’s Sitcom Season – which celebrates 60 years since the show moved from radio to TV.
McNally – who played Joshamee Gibbs in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ – will play Tony Hancock in the revamp and will be joined by theatre actor Robin Sebastian, who is reprising Kenneth Williams’ roles.
McNally has already played Hancock in a radio remake the two actors will film a new version of ‘The New Neighbour’ episode.
The BBC also plan to make new versions of ‘Steptoe And Son’ and ‘Till Death Us Do Part’.
Controller of BBC comedy commissioning Shane Allen said: "The British sitcom is a huge part of our national identity and cultural heritage. This season is about celebrating the BBC’s rich legacy at a time when British comedy is as popular as ever."
These ‘Lost Sitcoms’ making a comeback will feature classic scripts alongside new casts after original recordings appeared to have vanished from the archives.
The full cast has not yet been revealed for Steptoe And Son’s ‘A Winter’s Tale’ and Death Till Us Do Part’s ‘A Woman’s Place Is In The Home’ but all the Lost Sitcoms will be shown on BBC4.
The BBC has also confirmed that as part of the celebrations a live episode of ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ is planned, as well as new instalments of ‘Porridge’, Frankie Howerd’s ‘Up Pompeii!’ and a prequel to Roy Clarke’s ‘Keeping Up Appearances’.
It’s 40 years since Norman Stanley Fletcher – played by Ronnie Barker – served his time on ‘Porridge’ and original writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are returning to script the one-off.
It will feature Fletch’s grandson, also known as Fletch, who has been imprisoned for cyber-crimes.
Kevin McNally to star in Hancock’s Half Hour remake
