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.

The Primary and Secondary Phases

Main article: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Primary and Secondary Phases

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The first radio series (first six episodes) were broadcast in March and April, 1978. A seventh episode was broadcast on 24 December 1978. The final five episodes, completing the second radio series, were broadcast in January 1980.

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The two series were first released on audio cassette and CD in 1988, marking the tenth anniversary of the first broadcast of "Fit the First." It was the first time that the BBC Radio Collection division of BBC Enterprises had ever released a radio series on CD. The two radio series were known simply as "the first series" and "the second series" until 1992. The BBC was about to give the series its first re-release on CD and audio cassette when Adams (according to the 25th anniversary reprinting of the radio script book) suggested that they could retitle Fits the First through Sixth as "The Primary Phase" and Fits the Seventh through Twelfth as "The Secondary Phase." The episodes were released with those titles in 1993, and again in 1998, for the series' twentieth anniversary.

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Nick Webb's biography of Douglas Adams, Wish You Were Here, names many of the other staff members of the BBC who worked on the first two radio series. Sound and effects for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop were by Paddy Kingsland, Dick Mills and Harry Parker. The Chief Sound Engineer was Alick Hale-Munro, and Anne Ling was the production secretary. The "Technical Team" is given as: Paul Hawdon, Lisa Braun (studio manager), Colin Duff (studio manager), Eric Young, Martha Knight, Max Alcock and John Whitehall.

Related Topics:
Nick Webb - Douglas Adams - BBC Radiophonic Workshop - Paddy Kingsland - Dick Mills - Harry Parker - Alick Hale-Munro - Anne Ling - Paul Hawdon - Lisa Braun - Colin Duff - Eric Young - Martha Knight - Max Alcock - John Whitehall

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