ElvenQuest. Image shows from L to R: Penthiselea (Ingrid Oliver), Sam (Stephen Mangan), Lord Darkness (Alistair McGowan). Copyright: BBC
ElvenQuest

ElvenQuest

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2009 - 2013
  • 24 episodes (4 series)

Radio sitcom about a fantasy novelist who is whisked away to a parallel universe. Stars Stephen Mangan, Dave Lamb, Darren Boyd, Kevin Eldon, Sophie Winkleman and more.

ElvenQuest. Image shows from L to R: Vidar (Darren Boyd), Penthiselea (Ingrid Oliver), Sam (Stephen Mangan), Lord Darkness (Alistair McGowan), Dean (Kevin Eldon). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
2009 - 2013
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
24 (4 series)
Stars
Stephen Mangan, Dave Lamb, Darren Boyd, Kevin Eldon, Sophie Winkleman, Ingrid Oliver, Alistair McGowan and Chris Pavlo
Writers
James Cary, Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto
Producers
Anil Gupta, Paul Schlesinger and Sam Michell
Company

Sam Porter is a misanthropic fantasy novelist whose best friend is his pet dog Amis. While at a book signing in Totnes High Street, three people, whom Sam presumes are hard-core fantasy fans dressed in full costume, kidnap Amis. Sam fights them and during the fight, both Sam and Amis end up in an actual fantasy world - Lower Earth.

Sam learns that the three kidnappers, Vidar the Elf Lord, Penthiselea the Warrior Princess and Dean the Dwarf kidnapped Amis for he is "The Chosen One" who will find The Sword of Asnagar, a mythical weapon of great power, "for whosoever wields the sword shall rule all of Lower Earth".

Thus the band of warriors take Amis, now transformed into a human form but with the same mannerisms, to find the sword, but the condition that Sam comes with them. As they travel however, the forces of evil are constantly watching them, led by the sinister, cunning and laid back Lord Darkness with help from his more violent assistant Kreech.

In Series 4, as they continue their search for the Sword of Asnagar, the Questers find themselves travelling through more dangerous kingdoms.

Additional details

Tagline
An epic story of adventure, kinship, romance - and dog biscuits
Also known as
  • Elven's Quest (Working title)
Production
Studio

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 29th April 2009 at 6:30pm on BBC Radio 4
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • BBC Radio Theatre

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