1. Home
  2. Radio
  3. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
  4. Episodes
  5. The Secondary Phase
  6. Episode 1
The cast of the radio series. Copyright: BBC / Above The Title Productions.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

BBC Radio 4 sitcom about space travel. 32 episodes (6 series), 1978 - 2018. Stars Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Peter Jones, William Franklyn and others.

The Quandary Phase, Episode 3 is repeated on Radio 4 Extra on Monday at 10:30pm.

The Secondary Phase, Episode 1 - Fit The Eighth

Zaphod Beeblebrox and his mysterious friend Roosta are being taken in a flying building to the evil Frogstar, whilst Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent are stranded on prehistoric Earth. Some of them are getting hungry.

Further details

On their way to the Frogstar, Roosta tells Zaphod that he is to be fed into the 'Total Perspective Vortex', the greatest torture a sentient being can face.

Back on pre-historic Earth, Arthur and Ford decide to wave Ford's towel to attract the space ship. In doing so, the ship crash lands onto the planet. The towel lands in some lava caused by the crash, is fossilised and is picked by the Improbability Drive after the Earth is demolished. What is more, Zaphod is driving, having survived the Total Perspective Vortex.

Zaphod then goes on to tell the story of how he managed to survive the Total Perspective Vortex, in which he sees the entire universe and himself in relation to it, and discovers his ego is as big as the entire universe.

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 21st January 1980
Time
10:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

    More data

    View more broadcast data

    See more by becoming a BCG Supporter
    Help celebrate and promote British comedy by donating to fund more content and functionality. BCG Supporters get extra features in return, including this episode's further repeats data. Find out more
    Already a donor? Sign in

    Cast & crew

    Regular cast
    Simon Jones Arthur Dent
    Geoffrey McGivern Ford Prefect
    Peter Jones The Book
    Mark Wing-Davey Zaphod Beeblebrox
    David Tate Eddie
    Guest cast
    Alan Ford Roosta
    David Tate Frogstar Prisoner Relations Officer
    Valentine Dyall Gargravarr
    Writing team
    Douglas Adams Writer

    View related press

    See more by becoming a BCG Supporter
    Help celebrate and promote British comedy by donating to fund more content and functionality. BCG Supporters get extra features in return, including press coverage related to this episode. Find out more
    Already a donor? Sign in

    Share this page