I feel that most of North America was introduced to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy when this version of the novel, adapted from the BBC radio broadcast, jumped the pond. I remember 1980, at Christmas the novel was under the Christmas Tree for me.

I may have been a little young for it at the time, I was ten. I didn’t realize genres could mix so hilariously. I’ve read it a number of times since, and always laugh aloud.

The novel was adapted into a six-part series with episode one debuting on 5 January, 1981. Douglas Adams wrote the screenplay, based on his previous iterations. I remember seeing at least the first episode, when it was broadcast on PBS, and I’m pretty sure that instigated my first reread of the book, because I then understood it could be kind of funny.

Arthur Dent (Simon Jones) could never get a handle on Thursdays, but this one is going to be a lot worse. His house is scheduled for destruction, to make way for a bypass. His friend, Ford Prefect (David Dixon) reveals he’s an alien who writes for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! And things get even odder,an alien fleet arrives to destroy the Earth to make way for an intergalactic bypass! The plans have been available, it’s Earth’s fault for not attending any of the meetings.

Peter Jones provides the voice of the book, delivering hilarious entries on all things from Babel fish to Vogon construction fleets. It’s this fleet that Arthur and Ford escape on, thanks to an electronic thumb just as the Earth is destroyed.

Arthur learns the importance of a towel, and things seem to be going pretty well, until the pair are captured before they can disembark, and are about to be threatened with some Vogon poetry.

The second episode aired on the 12 of January, 1981.

After the torture of some Vogon poetry, Arthur and Ford find themselves ejected into space, where they are almost immediately (and improbably) rescued by the starship, Heart of Gold whic runs on an improbability drive.

The ship is crewed by a number of strange characters, a depressed robot, Marvin (voiced by Stephen Moore (honestly Alan Rickman’s was pitch perfect)), the double-headed president of the universe, Zaphod Beeblebrox (Mark Wing-Davey) and a girl Arthur meant at a party once, Trillian (Sandra Dickinson).

In fact, they all know one another, Trillian left the party Arthur was at, with Zaphod, and Zaphod knows Ford! Ford’s a little upset to learn that Zaphod was on Earth and didn’t look him up, or pick him up, Arthur is less than thrilled to meet Zaphod aka Phil again, and Zaphod orders a big drink to deal with the problems.

All thanks to the wonders of the improbability drive.

Episode three aired the following week on 19 January, 1981.

Aboard the starship Heart of Gold, Zaphod reveals that he may have discovered the planet of Magrathea, where dream planets are constructed. They think it’s deserted, but when they are fired upon, and the improbability drive saves them, improbably, Zaphod is convinced there’s something down on the surface.

Arthur encounters planetary architect Slartibartfast (Richard Vernon), we learn about the fact that dolphins and mice were two of the smartest species on the planet, and that Slartibartfast is overseeing the construction of Earth 2, and that he was essential in the creation of Norway and its fjords.

And as the episode closes out we learn that the original Earth was constructed at the commission of mice! They were conducting an experiment that was about to come to fruition, when it was destroyed.

Next week I’ll conclude my journey and discover some amazing things along the way as I travel with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. So much fun, so witty, well-written, and the effects, and performances are perfect.