1968 The Hobbit (BBC Radio Drama)

Release Date: 1968
Reader: Full Cast
Language: English
Adapted By: Michael Kilgarriff
Organization: BBC Radio 4
Copyright: © 1968 BBC Worldwide
Duration: 3 hours 45 mins
Unabridged: No
Country: UK
Licenced: Yes
Formats: Cassette, CD, Digital

Largely faithful adaptation with the addition of a narrator in the form of The Tale Bearer with whom Bilbo often interjects his own comments or corrections in a playful banter.

Originally made as 8 episodes, when repeated again in 1991, it was re-edited into 4. The 1997 CD release added a bonus disc of 4 extra music tracks by David Cain which have also been released on vinyl by BBC Records and were performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London. There was also a printed personal memoir by John Powell, the series producer.

In the 1970s, the BBC destroyed the master tapes, along with many others as the BBC did not usually retain recordings. The series was thankfully recovered from a taped off-air recording.

Cast

BalinPeter Pratt
Bard the BowmanPeter Williams
BeornDenys Hawthorne
Bert, Bifur, Dáin II IronfootBrian Haines
BilboPaul Daneman
BillVictor Lucas
Bofur, Great GoblinDenis McCarthy
BomburDuncan McIntyre
DoriAlexander John
DwalinLockwood West
Elf Guard, Elves, GoblinsHayden Jones
ElrondJohn Pullen
ElvenkingLeonard Fenton
FíliDavid Brierly
Herald of LaketownIan Thompson
Galion, GlóinPeter Baldwin
GandalfHeron Carvic
GollumWolfe Morris
Great GoblinDenis McCarthy
KíliNicholas Edmett
Master of LaketownJohn Bryning
NoriAnthony Viccars
ÓinRolf Lefebvre
OriWilfred Carter
RoäcJohn Wyse
SmaugFrancis de Wolff
SpiderGreta Gouriet
SpiderBetty Hardy
SpiderHilda Kriseman
The Tale BearerAnthony Jackson
ThorinJohn Justin
ThrushMarjorie Westbury

Crew

Music composedDavid Cain
Music performedDavid Munrow with The Early Music Consort
Special sound effects and voice treatmentsDavid Cain and Dick Mills, BBC Radiophonic Workshop
ProducedJohn Powell

Broadcast History

#BroadcastRepeatRepeatTitle
11968.09.291968.10.011991.12.25An Unexpected Party
21968.10.061968.10.081991.12.25Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire
31968.10.131968.10.151991.12.26Riddles in the Dark
41968.10.201968.10.221991.12.26Strange Lodgings
51968.10.271968.10.291991.12.27Barrels out of Bond
61968.11.031968.11.051991.12.27A Warm Welcome
71968.11.101968.11.121991.12.28The Gathering of the Clouds
81968.11.171968.11.191991.12.28The Clouds Burst