Kevin Eldon is one of the artists set to feature in a remake of Hancock’s Half Hour, the iconic radio show from the 1950s.

BBC Radio 4 will be recreating lost episodes of the show, with a new cast which includes Pirates of the Caribbean actor Kevin McNally in the title role originally played by Tony Hancock. ‘The Missing Hancocks’ will also include actors Simon Greenall and Robin Sebastian, alongside Eldon.

The new recordings will consist of five of the 20 episodes missing from the BBC archives. They will be broadcast in November to mark the 60th anniversary of the show’s first transmission.

Hancock’s Half Hour was based on a fictionalised version of Tony Hancock’s life as a struggling comic and actor, and was originally broadcast on the BBC Home Service between 1954 and 1959. It was followed up by a TV version which ran for five years.

Series co-producer Neil Pearson has said of the series: “We will be re-creating as closely as possible the experience you would have had listening to your radio all those years ago. The scripts are perfect and timeless.”

In an accurate reflection of the original series, the new shows will be recorded in front of a live audience at BBC Radio Theatre and the BBC Concert Orchestra will be re-recording the theme tune.

However, Kevin Eldon fans don’t need to wait until November’s radio broadcast to see him in action! You should be able to catch him gigging from time to time between now and then. He’s next on stage on Saturday 26th April as part of the line up at the Duchess Theatre, alongside Josie Long and Bridget Christie. Tickets are £18/20 and further information about the night is available here.