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