Its Boxing Day, and, in Railway Cuttings, East Cheam, Hancock is thoroughly miserable. Sid has just gotten every one of the sixpences out of the Xmas pudding ( a long-standing tradition many of us were only too glad to see the back of ), and the first episode of Hancock's new television series - a swashbuckling historical adventure show called 'Ericson, King Of The Vikings' is due to air on B.B.C.-1 that night. Sid wrote and directed it, and, not surprisingly, its production values are on a par with the movies of Edward D.Wood Jnr. To try and secure an American sale, Tony and an extra ( Mario Fabrizi ) adopt 'Highway Patrol' catchphrases such as "Ten-Four". Sensing disaster, Hancock wonders if he has got time to leave the country...
When this was repeated on B.B.C.-2 sometime in the early 1990's, a snobbish newspaper critic ripped it to shreds. He must have watched it from another room. It is a hilarious episode, boasting some wonderful digs at Lew Grade's filmed series such as 'The Adventures Of Robin Hood' and 'William Tell'. Nice cameos from Arthur Mullard and Pat Coombs as extras.
Funniest moment - the Ericson episode itself. The Vikings are seen getting off double-decker buses, and there is no attempt whatever at historical accuracy. Just like the Lee Majors' fiasco 'The Norseman' which had Mr.Bionic sporting an expensive hairstyle totally wrong for the time period.
When this was repeated on B.B.C.-2 sometime in the early 1990's, a snobbish newspaper critic ripped it to shreds. He must have watched it from another room. It is a hilarious episode, boasting some wonderful digs at Lew Grade's filmed series such as 'The Adventures Of Robin Hood' and 'William Tell'. Nice cameos from Arthur Mullard and Pat Coombs as extras.
Funniest moment - the Ericson episode itself. The Vikings are seen getting off double-decker buses, and there is no attempt whatever at historical accuracy. Just like the Lee Majors' fiasco 'The Norseman' which had Mr.Bionic sporting an expensive hairstyle totally wrong for the time period.