During the 1950s and early 60s, the most popular comedy on both radio and television was undoubtedly Tony Hancock.  The pompous, vain, deluded yet somehow vulnerable character he created was one of the great comedy performances ever seen.  Steve Dimmer traces Hancock’s career from bit-part player to comedy icon, as well as exploring Hancock’s slide from greatness to his untimely death in 1968.  Radio and TV excepts add to our understanding of this flawed performer, but the emphasis will be on his ability to make the whole nation laugh.