Twelve Angry Men (Hancock's Half Hour)

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Twelve Angry Men is a 1959 episode of Hancock's Half Hour, a BBC comedy starring Tony Hancock and Sid James. It’s a parody of the movie 12 Angry Men.

In the story, Hancock is the jury foreman in a theft trial. He keeps interrupting the proceedings and asks if the jury can see the evidence again, which the judge allows. Hancock tries on a diamond ring from the evidence to examine it, but he can’t get it off his finger. After several failed attempts, the ring stays on Hancock’s finger as the jurors go to deliberate.

In the jury room, Hancock is the only member who votes not guilty. The others want to finish the case quickly. Sid James points out that jurors are paid 30 shillings a day, which influences his thinking. Hancock uses sentimental appeals and boasts about British justice to persuade the others to change their minds and vote not guilty.

One of the last jurors warns Hancock that if the accused is guilty, he might keep burgling houses—including Hancock’s. Feeling a second thought, Hancock unexpectedly shifts to guilty. The rest of the jury follows, with Sid changing his mind only if paid by the others to cover his “lost earnings.” They go back to tell the court the verdict, while the judge reminds Hancock about the missing ring.

Back in court, Hancock learns the ring has vanished. It’s a valuable diamond, and its disappearance is serious. The judge asks if the police inspector is in court. The episode ends with all twelve former jurors appearing in the dock, accused of stealing the diamond ring. Hancock, still speaking for them, pleads guilty on their behalf, saying a prison sentence would be shorter than the trial. A fight breaks out as people demand to know who has the ring.

Trivia and later versions: comedian Ben Miller said it was his favorite Hancock episode. The episode was remade for ITV in 1996 with Paul Merton. It was rebroadcast on BBC Four in October 2022 as part of the channel’s anniversary classic comedy season.