Two brand new BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy novels, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish and Mostly Harmless, will be launched for the very first time on audio this May and June.
The Quandary Phase (published on 23rd May) and the Quintessential Phase (published on 20th June) each include around 30 minutes of exclusive footage that will not be included in the Radio 4 broadcast.
The cast of last year’s Tertiary Phase, which was based on Adams’ book Life, the Universe and Everything, are once again reunited in these excellent new productions. Starring are Simon Jones (Arthur Dent), Susan Sheridan (Trillian), Mark Wing-Davey (Zaphod Beeblebrox), Stephen Moore (Marvin the Paranoid Android) and William Franklyn (as the voice of The Book). The productions also feature a host of spectacular guest stars including Christian Slater, Stephen Fry, June Whitfield, Bill Paterson, Arthur Smith, Sir Patrick Moore, Miriam Margolyes, Griff Rhys Jones, John Challis and Roy Hudd.
A stroke of casting genius, that will delight fans of Hitchhiker’s, sees Sandra Dickinson take the role of the alternative Tricia McMillan (Trillian). Sandra Dickinson played the role of Trillian in the 1981 BBC television adaptation.
Produced by Above the Title Productions Ltd, and with a fantastic musical score by Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens, Quandary Phase and Quintessential Phase will be released on 23rd May and 20th June respectively, and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 3rd May until 21st June 2005. Each release will be published on CD (RRP £12.99) and cassette (RRP £10.99) you can order it here now.
If you can't wait to get your hands on these why not download the MP3 now (right click and save target - then stick it on your iPod and annoy your friends quoting it at them continuously).
