In 1951

he was selected to take over from Robert Moreton as Archie Andrews in the popular radio show Educating Archie, he became well known for his phrase 'flippin kids' and brought him national prominence. Whilst doing this radio show he started to work on a series called 'Happy Go Lucky' which failed miserably but it did bring him into contact with Bill Kerr and Graham Stark, and as a result of its failing two new script writers were introduced to Tony, these were Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Tony's success in Educating Archie eventually persuaded the BBC to give him a prominent part in a show called 'Forces All Star Bill', eventually using the Ray Galton and Alan Simpson as his script writers. This show became so popular that the BBC at last gave Tony his own show 'Hancocks Half Hour' which was first broadcast in November 1954.