Hordes Of The Things. Copyright: BBC
Hordes Of The Things

Hordes Of The Things

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 1980
  • 4 episodes (1 series)

A radio series parodying J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, written by John Lloyd and Andrew Marshall. Stars Frank Middlemass, Paul Eddington, Simon Callow, Maggie Steed, Jonathan Lynn and more.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 4 - The Fourth Chornicle

Can Radox's assembled forces of good win the battle? Or will it all be a total anti-climax?

Further details

Radox the Green is still at his wizard conference, and discovers in his old robe the entire rhyme, which says that not even all seven heroes can save Albion from The Evil One.

Agar and Golin go forth in an attempt to return to Radox, but they get caught in a giant spider web. However, while the spiders argue amongst themselves about their last meal, Agar and Golin are freed by a great eagle, who carries them to Albion.

Radox travels to the Misty Woods, where he ends up talking to an angry stream about getting some extra time to help, but the stream attacks him.

In the Castle Comfylawns, Veganin discovers that Yulfric is angry about his attacks against The Evil One, and that he has sentenced him to death. Veganin goes forth on his own to defeat the armies of evil. Elfreda then points out to him that The Evil One is coming to the castle. Yulfric confesses to his wife that he is an elf, just as The Evil One attacks Albion.

Agar arrives at the location which Radox told him to meet him, at the Pyre of Albion, which Golin lights. He disturbs the spirit of the Pyre, which turns out to be a recording from Radox. Radox gives him instructions on using the Summontrumpet. However, the trumpet is instead blown by Veganin, who summons some dwarves. Agar cannot blow the trumpet, so they have to make do. And so the nine do battle against the vast hordes of the things.

Broadcast details

Date
Tuesday 16th December 1980
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 17th January 2009 11:30am Radio 7
Tuesday 26th April 2011 5:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 28th February 2012 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 29th February 2012 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 16th May 2013 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 17th May 2013 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 6th February 2014 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 7th February 2014 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 4th February 2016 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 5th February 2016 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 16th August 2018 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Friday 17th August 2018 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 27th September 2020 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 28th September 2020 12:00am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 19th August 2022 6:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 20th August 2022 12:00am Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Frank Middlemass Radox the Green
Paul Eddington King Yulfric the Wise III
Simon Callow Crown Prince Veganin
Maggie Steed Queen Elfreda
Jonathan Lynn Golin Longshanks
Christian Rodska Agar son of Athar
Patrick Magee Narrator
Guest cast
Aubrey Woods Ensemble Actor
Jonathan Lynn Ensemble Actor
Ballard Berkeley Ensemble Actor
Bob Grant Ensemble Actor
Michael Cule Ensemble Actor
Writing team
Andrew Marshall (as A. P. R. Marshall) Writer
John Lloyd (as J. H. W. Lloyd) Writer
Production team
Geoffrey Perkins Producer

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