Steptoe genius Alan Simpson dies at 87
ALAN Simpson, half of the writing team behind some of the best-loved TV sitcoms, died yesterday aged 87.
With Ray Galton, he was responsible for Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe And Son, drawing audiences of nearly 30million.
Among their memorable lines that would become part of TV history was Tony Hancock’s immortal, ‘A pint! That’s very nearly an arm full’ from The Blood Donor episode of the radio and television series which they wrote for him between 1954 and 1961.
Catchphrases included ‘You dirty old man!’, Harold Steptoe’s rebuke to his father Albert in the rag-and-bone sitcom Steptoe And Son.
The show, which ran for eight series between 1962 and 1974, starred Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell. It attracted audiences of up to 28million.
Galton and Simpson also wrote the show’s two spin-off films, as well as TV, movie and stage scripts for stars including Peter Sellers, Leonard Rossiter and Frankie Howerd.
They had met as teenagers at Milford sanatorium in Surrey, having both been diagnosed with tuberculosis, and started writing for the hospital’s radio station. Their first big break came with Hancock’s Half Hour after they sent a comedy skit to a BBC talent spotter.
Yesterday Galton, 86, led the tributes to Simpson, who died at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, following a long battle with lung disease.
In a statement, he and his family said: ‘There are no words to express our sense of loss and sadness at the passing of Alan Simpson, Ray’s partner and family friend over the last 70 years. ‘From their first attempts at humour in Milford sanatorium, through a lifetime of work together, the strength of Alan and Ray’s personal and professional bond was always at the heart of their success.’ Simpson’s manager Tessa Le Bars announced his death, saying: ‘ Having had the privilege of working with Alan and Ray for over 50 years, the last 40 as agent, business manager and friend, and latterly as Alan’s companion and carer, I am deeply saddened.’ Comedian and author David Walliams wrote on Twitter: ‘Alan Simpson was half of one of the greatest comedy writing duos of all time.’ Broadcaster Danny Baker called Simpson ‘ an absolute giant’ in a tweet, adding: ‘No praise too high for what he and Ray created. Honoured to have shaken his hand.’ Galton and Simpson were awarded OBEs in 2000 for their contribution to British television and received the Bafta Fellowship last summer. Until recently the pair met every Monday to drink coffee and discuss comedy.