The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)

The very first version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was conceived as a science-fiction comedy series for radio. It was originally broadcast in the United Kingdom over the BBC, soon followed by global short wave broadcast over the BBC World Service, in 1978. Broadcasting by National Public Radio (one of their first to occur in stereo) in the USA followed in March, 1981, with a repeat broadcast in September.

New adaptations of books three, four and five

Main article: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Tertiary to Quintessential Phases

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In November 2003, two years after Douglas' death and 23 years after the production on the Secondary Phase had ceased, a new radio adaptation of Life, the Universe, and Everything was announced, to become the third series of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on radio. However, after all six episodes had been recorded by Above the Title Productions, a minor legal dispute erupted between the production company and Walt Disney Productions who had started production on the Hitchhiker's movie, also in 2003. According to an updated appendix for the U.S. Edition of Wish You Were Here, Nick Webb's biography of Douglas Adams, the dispute centered over the online availability of the Tertiary Phase and its sequels. Eventually a deal was worked out, and the Tertiary Phase began broadcasting on BBC Radio 4 on 21 September 2004.

Related Topics:
November - 2003 - Life, the Universe, and Everything - Above the Title Productions - Walt Disney Productions - Nick Webb - Douglas Adams

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These new episodes reunited most of the living original cast. The parts of The Book, Eddie the Computer and Slartibartfast were recast, with William Franklyn, Roger Gregg and Richard Griffiths taking over these three roles, respectively. Peter Jones, the original narrator, had died in 2000, Richard Vernon, the original Slartibartfast, had died in 1997, and David Tate, who had voiced Eddie the Computer (among many other roles), had died in 1996. Bill Wallis, who played Mr Prosser and Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz in the original series, was unavailable, and Toby Longworth took the role of Jeltz in the new series. John Marsh, who had been the continuity announcer for Fits Two-Twelve, was rehired to reprise this role. In another continuity nod, the term 'Fit' is still used in place of 'episode.'

Related Topics:
William Franklyn - Roger Gregg - Richard Griffiths - Peter Jones - Richard Vernon - David Tate - Bill Wallis - Toby Longworth - John Marsh

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Each episode was broadcast on a Tuesday afternoon, repeated on a Thursday evening, and audio streams in RealPlayer and Windows Media format (including versions in 5.1 stereo) were made available on Radio 4's website until the following Thursday. A 3 CD set of the Tertiary Phase was released in mid-October 2004, before the final episodes were broadcast. These CDs contain extended material, previously cut to make 27 minute episodes for radio.

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This production, as well as adaptations for books four and five (broadcast as the Quandary and Quintessential Phases ) was adapted, directed, and co-produced by Dirk Maggs. Dirk had previously consulted with Douglas on potential radio adaptations for the final three books in 1993 and 1997. The project was re-started in September 2001 by Maggs, Helen Chattwell and Bruce Hyman, with help from Jane Belson and Ed Victor.

Related Topics:
December - 2004 - January - 2005 - Dirk Maggs - Helen Chattwell - Bruce Hyman - Jane Belson - Ed Victor

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The six-part "Tertiary Phase" was broadcast in September and October, 2004. The four-part "Quandary Phase" was broadcast in May, 2005, and the four-part "Quintessential Phase" was broadcast immediately following, in May and June 2005. A 2 CD set of the Quandary Phase was released at the end of May, 2005, and a 2 CD set of the Quintessential Phase was released at the end of June, 2005. Both sets will again include material that was originally cut for reasons of timing.

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Maggs stated in the new script book that he felt obligated to his promise to Douglas Adams to allow the scripts of the Tertiary Phase to closely follow the plot of the third book. He further said, "I myself was willing to give the Tertiary Phase 7 out of 10 on the grounds that I was a little too reverential to the text and the pace suffered as a result" (p. 149). But in adapting the final two novels, the only instructions Maggs got from Adams was "They don't need more than four episodes each." Thus Maggs was able to use many of the major plot elements of the final two books (though not necessarily in the same order), and attempt to reconnect plot threads from all five radio series.

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