The cast of the radio series. Copyright: BBC / Above The Title Productions
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 1978 - 2018
  • 32 episodes (6 series)

A science fiction radio comedy series written by Douglas Adams that started off the H2G2 multi-media franchise phenomenon. Stars Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Peter Jones, William Franklyn, John Lloyd and more.

Episode menu

The Secondary Phase, Episode 3 - Fit The Tenth

An episode in which our heroes have some close encounters with others and themselves.

Further details

The Heart of Gold lands in a cave on the planet Brontitall. According to Eddie the Computer, the ship is 13 miles above ground level, even though the planet has no mountains.

Arthur soon falls out of the cave. Zaphod almost falls out himself, but manages to hold onto the edge of the cave. Ford tries to take his mind of things, but Zaphod still panics, even shouting out the rudest word in the universe - 'Belgium'.

Arthur's fall is broken by a passing bird, who tells him he actually fell out of a cup, which forms part of a statue. It turns out that art does not strictly follow the laws of gravity. Arthur is shocked to learn that the statue is of himself, throwing the cup away after the ship's computers failed to give him a cup of tea.

Arthur meets with the leader, the Wise Old Bird, who tells him that everyone on the planet got rid of their robots after they heard Arthur's words from the Heart of Gold. It is also revealed that they used to live on the planet's surface, but then evolved into birds.

Ford tries to rescue Zaphod, but then they both fall out of cave... and land on a bird.

Arthur makes his way to the surface of the planet where he meets a limping footwarrior from the Dolmansaxlil Galactic Shoe Corporation. Arthur flees the robot and bumps into Lintilla, an archaeologist trying to discover the truth about the footwarriors.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 23rd January 1980
Time
10:30pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 10th May 2014 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 11th May 2014 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 25th April 2018 10:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 4th April 2020 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 5th April 2020 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 31st December 2021 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 1st January 2022 12:00am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Simon Jones Arthur Dent
Geoffrey McGivern Ford Prefect
Peter Jones The Book
Mark Wing-Davey Zaphod Beeblebrox
Stephen Moore Marvin
David Tate Eddie
Guest cast
Ronald Baddiley Bird One
John Baddeley Bird Two
John Baddeley Footwarrior
John Le Mesurier Wise Old Bird
Rula Lenska Lintilla
Writing team
Douglas Adams Writer

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