what the critics said:
NEW YORK GRAND AWARD WINNER
SONY AWARD NOMINEE:
COMEDY CATEGORY.
“Douglas Adams’ densely populated universe of semantic, philosophical and scientific quirkiness continues to delight in this new production. The quality of writing goes without saying but the production more than keeps up, and indeed enhances the work of it's much beloved creator.”
“It's a remarkable job... it's event radio and quite brilliantly made.”
Radio Times
“It's all as comfortingly familiar as an old dressing gown; even the jokes, which have been lodged in my head since the 1980s. And they're still funny too.”
Time Out
“... fans won't be disappointed, and the fantasy humour works better on the radio than TV”
The Sunday Telegraph
“...true fans will be delighted to witness the return of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect and the 'coolest guy since cryogenics', Marvin the Paranoid Android, all played by the original cast.”
Observer Magazine
“Crazy as ever”
The Mail on Sunday
“it is not dated in its surrealism, its sense of madness allied to its implicit yearning for a better world, its juvenile word play, love of gibberish and jokes about Islington and saggy bottoms.”
Paul Donovan
Sunday Times Culture
“You get the feeling that both actors and production team enjoyed a brilliantly written, lively script that matches the original 12 episodes. At the risk of being controversial, it's better than the book. Simply, Adams's work sounds better voiced by performers than read on the page. Hitchhiking is back - long may it continue.”
Guy Clapperton
Radio Times
“A radio event... the great original cast has been reassembled.”
Gillian Reynolds
Radio Choice
The Daily Telegraph TV and Radio
“The sound is indeed extraordinary. If you want to know how intelligent aquatic mattresses burble, or how Arthur Dent might sound when chasing a flying sofa across a prehistoric forest, listen on.”
Dominic Wells
The Eye
The Times
“Good to have it back”
Gabriel Tate
Time Out
“Hearing their voices again, it's as if they never went away... The dialogue is as sharp as ever and, despite leaps in technology, the sound effects are satisfyingly retro-futuristic... if you loved the original series, just hearing the opening notes of the theme tune will transport you happily to some far off corner of the galaxy.”
Clare Heal
The Sunday Express
“And so it came to pass that more than a quarter of a century after the original changed the face of comedy as we knew it, the dramatisation of the last three books in Douglas Adams's sci-fi masterwork are here to delight us over the next six weeks (Guess who'll be wanting the boxed set for Christmas?)”
Chris Campling
The Times
tertiary phase – the first series
Life, The Universe & Everything
Broadcast 21st Sept - 28th Oct 2004
8 years in the planning, the remaining books in Douglas Adams’ masterpiece have finally been dramatised on radio, where it first began.
Above The Title Productions beat their rivals to complete the Hitchhiker series on BBC Radio 4. They dramatised the last three books, none of which were originally produced, and used new material written by Douglas especially for these radio sequels. The series featured not only the original cast, but also Douglas Adams himself, thanks to the wonders of digital technology. Douglas had always intended to play the part of Agrajag and in fact was recorded in the part a few years ago.
The programmes - broadcast in September and October 2004 - were made according to Douglas' instructions and notes. Episode 3 has been nominated for a Sony Award in the Comedy category. Results announced 9 May.
Twenty-five years after the original radio series of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy exploded into the public consciousness, the further exploits of its bewildered hero Arthur Dent have been brought to life in their original medium. The original Hitchhiker's radio cast have returned; Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect, Susan Sheridan as Trillian, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox and Stephen Moore as Marvin The Paranoid Android. The third series included several actors connected with the Hitchhiker's Guide from its other incarnations, both on stage and television, as well as other famous names, including Richard Griffiths, Chris Langham, Joanna Lumley and cricket commentators Fred Trueman and Henry Blofeld.
Replacing the late Peter Jones as The Voice of the Book was his great friend, William Franklyn. Providing the music for the series were Douglas' close friends Paul “Wix” Wickens, Paul McCartney's Musical Director, and Phil Pope (KYTV, Radioactive, Spitting Image).
The recordings were mixed using the latest digital technology by Paul Deeley at The Soundhouse, where Douglas took much of the audio work for his PC game Starship Titanic. The programmes were adapted and directed by Douglas Adams' original choice for the job, award-winning audio director Dirk Maggs. Using scripts and extensive notes made by Douglas when first planning these sequels, the Hitchhiker's saga evolved on radio exactly as Douglas wanted it.
Producing the programmes were Bruce Hyman and Helen Chattwell of Above The Title Productions. (Click on their names for individual credits).
CAST LIST (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
| HENRY BLOFELD | Cricket Commentator |
| FIONA CAREW | Police Walkie Talkie |
| RUPERT DEGAS | Judiciary Pag |
| MIKE FENTON STEVENS | Krikkit Civilian 1 |
| WILLIAM FRANKLYN | Voice of the Book |
| BOB GOLDING | Exhibit Room Voice |
| ROGER GREGG | Eddie the Computer |
| RICHARD GRIFFITHS | Slartibartfast |
| DOMINIC HAWKSLEY | Thor |
| SIMON JONES | Arthur Dent |
| CHRIS LANGHAM | Prak |
| TOBY LONGWORTH | Wowbagger |
| JOANNA LUMLEY | Sydney Opera House Lady |
| GEOFFREY McGIVERN | Ford Prefect |
| THEO MAGGS | Boy (Cricket) |
| JOHN MARSH | Announcer |
| STEPHEN MOORE | Marvin the Paranoid Android |
| LESLIE PHILLIPS | Hactar |
| PHIL POPE | Krikkit Civilian 2 |
| SUSAN SHERIDAN | Trillian |
| ANDY TAYLOR | Zem the Mattress |
| FRED TRUEMAN | Cricket Commentator |
| MARK WING-DAVEY | Zaphod Beeblebrox |
