Category: Radio & Audio

Stephen Moore, actor, dies

Stephen MooreActor Stephen Moore, who originated the woeful voice of Marvin the Android in the original 1978 BBC Radio production of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, dies at the age of 81. Ironically, it was another voice role, in a Czechoslovakian-made production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1959, featuring only puppets, that started Moore’s screen career. He would later go on to play memorable roles in Rock Follies, The New Avengers, Solo, and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole. In 2010, he appeared as a war-weary Silurian elder opposite Matt Smith in the Doctor Who episode Cold Blood. Having played Marvin’s voice on radio in 1978 and 1979, and reprising the role for the 1981 BBC2 TV adaptation of Hitchhiker’s Guide, Moore returned to play Marvin again in BBC Radio’s early 21st century adaptations of the Hitchhiker’s Guide novels that weren’t directly based on the original radio series.

Doctor Who: Doom Coalition 1

Doom CoalitionBig Finish Productions releases the audio drama box set Doctor Who: Doom Coalition 1, beginning a new storyline for Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor. Nicola Walker, Hattie Morahan, Mark Bonnar, and John Woodvine guest star. Doom Coalition 1 is comprised of four single-CD stories: The Eleven, The Red Lady, The Galileo Trap, and The Satanic Mill.

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Doctor Who: The Last Adventure

The Last AdventureBilled as the final adventure of the sixth Doctor (who never got an exit story on TV), the lavish audio drama box set Doctor Who: The Last Adventure, starring Colin Baker, is released by Big Finish. Michael Jayston reprises his role of the Valeyard from the 1986 Trial Of A Time Lord TV story, with Bonnie Langford, Miranda Raison, India Fisher, Lisa Greenwood, Trevox Baxter and Christopher Benjamin reprising their roles as the Doctor’s companions and allies. The Last Adventure is comprised of four single-CD stories: End Of The Line, The Red House, Stage Fright, and The Brink Of Death.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 26

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 26th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, concluding Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of the novel Mostly Harmless. Maggs takes liberties with the end of Adams’ novel, negating the book’s original ending (for which Adams himself had expressed regret after publication) and reuniting most of the original cast for a happier ending than their characters met in print.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 23

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 23rd episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, the beginning of Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ final Hitchhiker’s Guide novel, Mostly Harmless. Jonathan Pryce, Rula Lenska, Mitch Benn, and Andrew Secombe guest star.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 22

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 22nd episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, concluding Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish. Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore appears as himself.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 21

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 21st episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish. Christian Slater (Mr. Robot, Heathers) guest stars.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 20

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 20th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish. Hitchhiker’s Guide TV regulars David Dixon and Sandra Dickinson make their first appearances in the radio series.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 19

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 19th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, commencing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish, featuring the entire surviving cast of the original 1970s radio series. Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) guest stars.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 18

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 18th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, concluding Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, The Universe, And Everything with most of the original radio cast. A radio version of the fourth novel, So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish, will follow in 2005.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 17

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 17th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, The Universe, And Everything with most of the original radio cast.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 16

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 16th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, The Universe, And Everything with most of the original radio cast. An archival audiobook recording of the late Douglas Adams allows the Hitchhiker’s Guide creator to play the part of Agrajag; Joanna Lumley (Sapphire & Steel, Absolutely Fabulous) also guest stars.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 15

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 15th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, The Universe, And Everything with most of the original radio cast. An archival audiobook recording of the late Douglas Adams allows the Hitchhiker’s Guide creator to play the part of Agrajag.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 14

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 14th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing Dirk Maggs’ adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, The Universe, And Everything with most of the original radio cast. Real-life BBC cricket commentators Henry Blofeld and Henry Trueman appear as themselves.

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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 13

Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyThe 13th episode of the radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, beginning a radio adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Life, The Universe, And Everything and reuniting most of the original radio cast (though even the late Peter Jones is represented via brief clips from the 1970s radio series before being “rebooted” to the voice of actor William Franklyn). Adapted by Dirk Maggs, this is the first Hitchhiker’s Guide radio project undertaken after Adams’ death in 2001. Toby Longworth guest stars.

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Star Wars Radio: Force And Counter Force

Star Wars RadioThe 13th episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill stars as Luke Skywalker and Brock Peters stars as Darth Vader. This episode concludes the radio retelling of the first movie, and has proven to be Public Radio’s most popular (and, during fundraising pledge drives, profitable) radio drama production.

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Star Wars Radio: The Jedi Nexus

Star Wars RadioThe 11th episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Brock Peters stars as Darth Vader and Bernard “Bunny” Behrens stars as Ben Kenobi.

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Star Wars Radio: Death Star’s Transit

Star Wars RadioThe eighth episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Brock Peters stars as Darth Vader, and Keene Curtis stars as Grand Moff Tarkin.

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Star Wars Radio: Jedi That Was, Jedi To Be

Star Wars RadioThe fifth episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill stars as Luke Skywalker, Anthony Daniels stars as C-3PO, and Bernard “Bunny” Behrens stars as Ben Kenobi.

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Star Wars Radio: Black Knight, White Princess…

Star Wars RadioThe third episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Ann Sachs stars as Princess Leia and Brock Peters (To Kill A Mockingbird) stars as Darth Vader.

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Star Wars Radio: Points Of Origin

Star Wars RadioThe second episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. This episode delves into events not depicted in the movie itself, namely the backstory of Princess Leia’s mission to hand the Death Star plans to the Rebellion. Ann Sachs stars as Princess Leia.

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Star Wars Radio: A Wind To Shake The Stars

Star Wars RadioThe first episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. The series is produced by the NPR affiliate at the University of Southern California, where George Lucas attended film school (and to whom he sold the radio adaptation rights for the princely sum of one dollar). Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels are the only actors to reprise their movie roles, with the rest of the characters being recast.

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