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Michael O'Mara has acquired an anthology about the writers of "Hancock's Half Hour" and "Steptoe and Son", dubbed "the fathers of the British sitcom".
Commissioning editor Kate Moore bought world rights with Elly James of the HHB agency, and Tessa le Bars of Tessa le Bars Management on behalf of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
The book, titled Galton and Simpson: The Men Who Invented the Sitcom, will include anecdotes from the sitcoms' writers, interviews with the actors and critical insights from current comedy writers, as well as personal photographs from Galton and Simpson's collections.
Moore said: "Ray and Alan's talent has meant that their creations are enduringly popular to this day. This is a wonderful and insightful book which will appeal to all fans of 'Hancock's Half Hour' and 'Steptoe and Son', as well as admirers of any well-crafted comedy. As ever with Chris Stevens, he has written a warm, interesting and pacy book, full of behind-the-scenes exclusives, pioneering analysis and crystal-clear insight."
It will be written by Christopher Stevens, who had access to 600 classic scripts, including unpublished and lost material, as well as conducting hours of interviews with the pair.
The book will be published in September 2011 as a £20 hardback.