Sid James

Good to see that Heroes of Comedy programme again and very touching to see Sid James give Tony Hancock his due - even to the extent of saying that he still employed Hancock's timing. Especially as the interviewers did make clear, however tactfully they put it, that James was deeply hurt by the manner of his dismissal.

Incidentally, the James Cagney-type dancing at the end comes from a little-known film which is a favourite of mine, Three Hats for Lisa, in which Sid is roped in to drive Joe Brown, the besotted fan of an Italian starlet, around town in her quest for headwear trophies. The music was by Leslie Bricusse and the screenplay was by Talbot Rothwell, which makes it all the more surprising that it's not better known, although Robert Ross does draw attention to it in his book on Sid James. It's as light as thistledown, but James's performance feels real. Joe Brown only took the gig, apparently, for the opportunity of working with James - so at least someone appreciated him.