Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Special Edition

An announcement for the inhabitants of a measly speck of dust called Earth... The official trailer to the TV series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and various others.

BBC Presenters Charlie Stayt and Louise Minchin are joined on the couch by Simon Jones, best known for his multiple portrayals of Arthur Dent, protagonist of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Dirk Maggs, adapter, director and co-producer gives a breakdown of the technical treatment used to create Marvin the Paranoid Android's voice and the sounds of Zem, the mattress. With various contributions including Stephen Moore and Andy Taylor, the voices of Marvin and Zem.

A look at the sound processes used in 'Hitchhiker' using BBC sound dubbing suite 'Sypher 2', which at the time was considered state-of-the-art driven by a 28-channel, 16-group Neve desk largely aided by a computer. Sound Supervisor Mike McCarthy won a BAFTA for this TV series. Michael Rodd narrates.

Film extracts, deleted scenes and behind the scene captioned descriptions of the use of props, sets, special effects and technology.

BBC Micro Live presenter, Connor 'Freff' Cochran, talks to Douglas Adams about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy computing game and future software plans.

Filmed recordings of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy sixth radio series with contributors from the cast and the creator's brother, James Thrift.

Nick Webb, Douglas Adams' official biographer and commissioning editor of the first 'Hitchhiker' novel, reflects anecdotally on the author's life and work. Joining him are Douglas' half-brother, James Thrift and Geoffrey Perkins, producer of BBC Radio episodes.

A look at The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in ten short films, with Douglas Adams.

Saturday Review host, Russell Davies reflects on the rising popularity of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and its crossover into computer gaming, merchandise, conventions and even subject matter in school examinations. Introduced are presenter, Minette Marrin and Douglas Adams who explore the author's involvement in computer gaming.

A televised excerpt showing the outcome of Arthur Dent's query "What happens if I press this button?"

Marvin performs his Paranoid Android song on Blue Peter, followed by an update of his daily plans. Introduced by Peter Duncan.

Presenter Sue Cook interviews Douglas Adams on Nationwide, featuring the first televised footage of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, shown on BBC2 on 5th January 1981.

Behind the scene recordings of rehearsals and footage from the 'Hitchhiker' TV series, recorded at the end of the Universe...

A compilation of graphics used in the TV series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The hand animated "computer graphics" of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy have won multiple awards including a BAFTA, Design and Art Direction Silver award, several British Academy Television Awards and a London Film Festival award.

Robert Kee interviews Douglas Adams on BBC's weekly review programme, Paperbacks, discussing his career in radio, book and television. The approach to creating The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is compared with that of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

A candid interview with The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy creator, Douglas Adams. Looking at his perspective on life from childhood through to adulthood.

Graphics generated by starship Heart of Gold in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The first spacecraft to make use of the Infinite Improbability Drive.

Numerous outtakes from TV series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy revealing the scope of effort required to perfect the final piece.

A textless version of the opening title from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

An appearance by animator Rod Lord and producer/director Alan J W Bell on the January 23, 1981 edition of Pebble Mill at One, talking about Hitchhiker's with Donny McLoud.

Studio footage and filming of a rehearsal of the BBC radio series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with various cast, engineers, producer, Geoffrey Perkins and author, Douglas Adams.

Behind the Scenes of Episode 2

Deleted Scenes from Episode 2

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy televised pre-launch hosted by its narrator Peter Jones who provides an irreverent account of how he was chosen to unravel the mysteries of Douglas Adams's surreal epic, supplying reassuring explanations of the bizarre.

A muted clip of Earth exploding from the TV series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

A documentary looking at the making of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981), including interviews with leading members of the cast and production team, behind-the-scenes footage and out-takes.

Contributions from the author, cast and crew of TV series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Clips and interviews including an amateur video from Slartibartday '81 - a convention for the fans on 8th August 1981, London.