Today is the 92nd anniversary of Tony Hancock's birth and despite rumours that the BBC would not be making more of the 'lost' episodes of classic radio sitcom Hancock’s Half Hour there is good news after all. 

BBC Radio 4 has announced the return of its much-loved show The Missing Hancocks, which has just been commissioned for a third series.

Starring Kevin McNally as Tony Hancock, The Missing Hancocks has so far re-recorded ten of the twenty episodes of Hancock's Half Hour lost from the BBC archives.

Series three will see another five shows restored to their former glory, with cast regulars Kevin Eldon, Susy Kane, Simon Greenall and Robin Sebastian once again joining Kevin McNally around the microphone.

Sioned Wiliam, Commissioning Editor for Comedy on Radio 4, says: “I am delighted to commission more episodes of The Missing Hancocks, particularly when Neil shared his choice of scripts this time round – I’m very excited by what’s in store! But the biggest joy is having the great Galton and Simpson back on Radio 4.”

Hancock’s Half Hour was originally broadcast on the BBC Home Service in the 1950s and is seen as influential to the development of the sitcom genre. Around 100 episodes were recorded for radio, providing a dramatised account of Tony Hancock’s life as a struggling actor and comedian. The writers behind the show, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, later went on to create Steptoe and Son and were awarded a BAFTA's Fellowship last week.

The Missing Hancocks will be produced and directed by BBC Radio Comedy and Neil Pearson and will be recorded in front of a live studio audience for transmission on BBC Radio 4 in 2017/18.

Following the success of the radio show, Hancock fans will also be able to see Kevin in the televised version of Hancock’s Half Hour ‘The New Neighbour’, as part of the BBC comedy sitcom season this summer. It has already been announced that the BBC will be recreating the "lost sitcom" as part of their upcoming sitcom season to mark sixty years since Hancock's Half Hour.