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Tolkien and the BBC
The list given below is sourced from the BBC publication The Radio Times and the text is largely reproduced ‘as was’ when originally printed. It will in time become a complete picture of the BBC’s Tolkien-related broadcasts, both radio and television. There are 3 general categories:
1) Adaptations of translations and original works by Tolkien in blue.
2) Biographical programmes about the professor in orange.
3) Programmes that refer to the professor in green.
This later category includes programmes like Desert Island Discs and Mastermind where guests on the show mention his works etc.
It will take some time to be fully up to date and will be gradually extended on an incremental basis.
Pearl
Broadcast: Fri 7th Aug 1936, 23:40 on Regional Programme London
'Pearl' is perhaps the loveliest of all old English poems.
It is a lament of a man for his little daughter, who is spoken of under the pseudonym of 'Pearl'. This poem has been modernised by J. R. R. Tolkien such a way that it keeps all the delicacy and atmosphere of the original mediaeval poem.
Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
Broadcast on The Third Programme
Sun 06th Dec 1953, 22:25 Part 1
Thu 10th Dec 1953, 19:35 Part 1 rpt *tbc
Sun 13th Dec 1953, 22:00 Part 2
Thu 17th Dec 1953, 19:35 Part 2 rpt
Sun 20th Dec 1953, 20:10 Part 3
Thu 24th Dec 1953, 19:35 Part 3 rpt *tbc
Wed 30th Dec 1953, 21:35 Part 4
Thu 31st Dec 1953, 19:20 Part 4 rpt
Sun 03rd Jan 1954, 17:55 Talk by J.R.R. Tolkien
Thu 07th Jan 1954, 22:50 Talk by J.R.R. Tolkien rpt
A medieval narrative poem in four parts, translated into modern English by J. R. R. Tolkien. The reading is introduced by the translator and in the final part he speaks about its meaning and place in the literature of the Chaucerian period.
Contributors:
Translator: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrator: James McKechnie
King Arthur: Alan Wheatley
Green Knight: Raf de la Torre
Sir Gawain: Peter Augustine
Sir Gawain and The Green Knight (repeat from 1953.12.06)
Broadcast on The Third Programme
Sat 04th Sep 1954, 21:55 Part 1
Sat 11th Sep 1954, 22:25 Part 2
Sat 18th Sep 1954, 22:40 Part 3
Sat 25th Sep 1954, 22:15 Part 4
Wed 29th Sep 1954, 22:30 Talk by J.R.R. Tolkien
A medieval narrative poem in four parts, translated into modern English by J. R. R. Tolkien. The reading is introduced by the translator and in the final part he speaks about its meaning and place in the literature of the Chaucerian period.
Contributors:
Translator: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrator: James McKechnie
King Arthur: Alan Wheatley
Green Knight: Raf de la Torre
Sir Gawain: Peter Augustine
The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son
Broadcast on The Third Programme
Fri 3rd Dec 1954, 22:15 on Third Programme
Sun 19th Jun 1955, 22:25 on Third Programme
An epilogue to the fragmentary Anglo-Saxon heroic poem 'The Battle of Maldon' by J. R. R. Tolkien with Gareth Jones
Produced by Rayner Heppenstall.
Talking of Books
Broadcast: Sun 30th Oct 1955, 14:30 on BBC Home Service Basic
Arthur Calder-Marshall
This week he talks about 'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien , of which Part 3, 'The Return of the King' has just been published.
Reader: Carleton Hobbs
The Fellowship of the Ring
Broadcast on Third Programme
Mon 14th Nov 1955, 22:10 Ep 1 The Meaning of the Ring
Tue 15th Nov 1955, 18:40 Ep 1 The Meaning of the Ring rpt
Mon 21st Nov 1955, 21:50 Ep 2 Black Riders and Others
Wed 23rd Nov 1955, 19:00 Ep 2 Black Riders and Others rpt
Tue 29th Nov 1955, 19:10 Ep 3 Aragorn
Wed 30th Nov 1955, 21:40 Ep 3 Aragorn rpt
Sun 4th Dec 1955, 21:30 Ep 4 Many Meetings
Mon 5th Dec 1955, 18:35 Ep 4 Many Meetings rpt
Sun 11th Dec 1955, 20:00 Ep 5 The Moria Gate
Mon 12th Dec 1955, 18:20 Ep 5 The Moria Gate rpt
Sun 18th Dec 1955, 19:20 Ep 6 The Breaking of the Fellowship
Wed 21st Dec 1955, 19:20 Ep 6 The Breaking of the Fellowship rpt
A radio adaptation in six parts from Volume I of 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. The music composed and conducted by Anthony Smith-Masters. The programme adapted and produced by Terence Tiller.
See main article for credits and more.
History, Feigned and Real
Broadcast: Wed 16th Nov 1955, 19:40 on Third Programme
W.H. Auden speaks about the trilogy The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the last volume of which has recently been published. The trilogy, which describes the adventures of Frodo and the One Ring of Power, is a fairy tale cast in an epic mould.
A dramatisation in six parts of the first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, is being broadcast in the Third Programme, beginning this week.
For The Schools: Adventures in English: The Lord of the Rings
Broadcast on Home Service Basic
Thu 19th Jan 1956, 14:00 Part 1 The Fellowship of the Ring
Thu 26th Jan 1956, 14:00 Part 2 The Old Forest
Thu 2nd Feb 1956, 14:00 Part 3 Strider
Thu 9th Feb 1956, 14:00 Part 4 The Council of Elrond
Thu 16th Feb 1956, 14:00 Part 5 Title Unknown
Thu 23rd Feb 1956, 14:00 Part 6 The Two Towers
Script by Silvia Goodall
Part 1
Bilbo Baggins gives a party for Hobbits and during it disappears, leaving his Ring to Frodo. Frodo is warned of the meaning of the Ring by Gandalf. He decides to leave the Shire on a quest and sets out with Sam Gamgee and Merry.
Part 2
To avoid the Black Riders, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin enter the Old Forest. Tom Bombadill rescues them from the willow tree, and sets them on their way.
Part 3
Frodo and his companions are joined by Strider at the inn of 'The Prancing Pony' kept bv Barliman Butterbur in Bree. The Black Riders raid the inn.
Part 3-6
No description given.
See main article for credits and more.
The Lord of the Rings
Broadcast on Third Programme
Mon 19th Nov 1956, 22:30 Ep 1 Fangorn
Thu 22nd Nov 1956, 19:50 Ep 1 Fangorn rpt
Mon 26th Nov 1956, 22:40 Ep 2 Rohan and Isengard
Thu 29th Nov 1956, 18:45 Ep 2 Rohan and Isengard rpt
Sun 2nd Dec 1956, 20:45 Ep 3 Into the Dark
Fri 7th Dec 1956, 19:20 Ep 3 Into the Dark rpt
Sun 9th Dec 1956, 20:05 Ep 4 The Siege of Gondor
Wed 12th Dec 1956, 18:15 Ep 4 The Siege of Gondor rpt
Sun 16th Dec 1956, 17:25 Ep 5 Minas Tirith and Mount Doom
Tue 18th Dec 1956, 19:10 Ep 5 Minas Tirith and Mount Doom rpt
Sun 23rd Dec 1956, 22:05 Ep 6 Many Partings
Thu 27th Dec 1956, 18:00 Ep 6 Many Partings rpt
An adaptation in six parts from volumes 2 and 3 of the trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. The music composed and conducted by Anthony Smith-Masters. The programme adapted and produced by Terence Tiller.
See main article for credits and more.
Children's Hour: The Hobbit
Broadcast on BBC Home Service Basic
Wed 4th Jan 1961, 17:00 Ep 1 An Unexpected Party
Wed 11th Jan 1961, 17:00 Ep 2 The Trolls
Wed 18th Jan 1961, 17:00 Ep 3 The Last Homely House
Wed 25th Jan 1961, 17:00 Ep 4 A Thunderstorm
Wed 1st Feb 1961, 17:00 Ep 5 Riddles in the Dark
Wed 8th Feb 1961, 17:00 Ep 6 The Wargs
Wed 15th Feb 1961, 17:00 Ep 7 The House of Beorn
Wed 22nd Feb 1961, 17:00 Ep 8 The Fire in the Woods
Wed 1st Mar 1961, 17:00 Ep 9 Escape by Water
Wed 8th Mar 1961, 17:00 Ep 10 A Welcome in Lake-Town
Wed 15th Mar 1961, 17:00 Ep 11 The Dragon's Lair
Wed 22nd Mar 1961, 17:00 Ep 12 Smaug's Vengeance
The book by J. R. R. Tolkien abridged by Barbara Henderson read in thirteen instalments by David Davis.
1. What is a hobbit? I suppose hobbits need some description nowadays, since they have become rare and shy of the Big People, as they call us. They are small people, very much larger than Lilliputians, but smaller than dwarfs -and they have no beards. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours-chiefly green and yellow; wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick brown hair like the stuff on their heads-which is curly; have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and deep fruity laughs.
2. Poor Bilbo's Hobbit Hole was positively invaded by dwarves: thirteen of them, not counting Gandalf the Wizard. They came to tea and stayed to supper. And as darkness gathered, they sang songs about a dragon's hoard of gold under the misty mountains.
3. Mr. Baggins, the Hobbit, had been dragged off on an expedition to recover a hoard of gold from a dragon. His companions were thirteen dwarves (the rightful owners of the gold) and Gandalf, the wizard. The party had not been travelling long when all the dwarves were captured by trolls and put into nasty, smelly sacks.
4. Bilbo and the dwarves escaped from the trolls and reached the house of Elrond, an elf-lord. They watched the elves dancing on midsummer eve, and then they set off once more on the road to the Misty Mountains.
5. In the Misty Mountains Bilbo and the others were dragged into a cavern full of goblins. Gandalf came to their rescue; but in escaping Bilbo bumped his head and was left all alone.
6. Inside the mountain Bilbo met Gollum and stole its magic ring. This made him invisible and he ran past the goblin guards, out into the sunlight.
7. No comment given.
8. The book by J.R.R. Tolkien abridged by Barbara Henderson read in thirteen instalments by David Davis
9. No comment given.
10. All the dwarves were imprisoned in dungeons by the Elven king. Bilbo, who had been overlooked because he was wearing his magic ring, found a way to rescue them. He led them out, while the gaoler slept, and stowed them into empty wine barrels which were thrown out of the elves' fortress to drift down to Lake-Town, where the wine came from.
11. When Thorin declared himself as the rightful King under the Mountain come to claim his inheritance, the Lakemen were overjoyed. The dwarves left them, laden with provisions, on their way to the Lonely Mountain. Here they found the secret door, and, as the moon-letters had foretold, a keyhole appeared in a ray of the setting sun. Thorin's key fitted it, and the lock snapped back.
12. The dwarves sent Bilbo by himself down the tunnel to the treasure-chamber. Here Smaug lay, on a mound of gold and jewels. Bilbo was wearing his ring, but the dragon smelled him and tried to confuse him into betraying his friends. Bilbo ran back up the tunnel, but not before he had seen the bare patch in Smaug's armour, just over the left breast.
See main article for credits and more.
For Schools: The Hobbit
Adventures in English series
Broadcast on BBC Home Service Basic
Thu 5th Oct 1961, 14:00 Part 1
Thu 12th Oct 1961, 14:00 Part 2
Thu 19th Oct 1961, 14:00 Part 3
Thu 26th Oct 1961, 14:00 Part 4
Script by Sam Langdon.
1. The first part of this story by J. R. R. Tolkien tells how Bilbo, the hobbit, sets off on an adventure.
2. The second part of this story by J. R. R. Tolkien tells how Bilbo Baggins meets Gollum.
3. The third part of this story by J. R. R. Tolkien tells how the travellers cross the forest of Mirkwood, and come to the mountain of the great dragon.
4. The last part of this story by J. R. R. Tolkien tells of the end of Smaug the dragon and the death of Thorin. and how Bilbo Baggins went back to his home.
See main article for credits and more.
Knowledge, Imagination, and Truth
Broadcast on BBC Home Service Basic
Tue 30th Oct 1962, 11:40 Part 1
Tue 6th Nov 1962, 11:40 Part 2
J. R. R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings a talk by Dr V. W. Turner.
The Sixth Form series: The Christian Religion and its Philosophy.
Desert Island Discs
Broadcast Sat 4th Jan 1964, 13:40 on BBC Home Service Basic
Roy Plomley's castaways are Latin-American folk singers Dorita & Pepe.
Favourite track: Mborayjhu Mombyry by Trio Los Paraguayos
Book: The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien and fashion magazines
Luxury: Guitar and a cine projecter with Silvester films
A World of Sound
Broadcast Fri 1st Jan 1965, 09:05 on BBC Home Service Basic
Reluctant Olympians
To the child the grown-up world is often incomprehensible. Decisions are taken for reasons that seem to be shrouded in the mists of Olympus.
Irene Slade examines the more easily understandable worlds that have been created by authors whose books have a particular appeal to the young. These Reluctant Olympians include: Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll, Walter de la Mare, E. Nesbitt, Rosemary Sutcliff, Philippa Pearce, J. R. R. Tolkien,
Produced by Denys Gueroult.
Desert Island Discs
Broadcast Sat 24th Dec 1966, 13:10 on BBC Home Service Basic
Roy Plomley's castaway is Matron of Great Ormond Street Hospital Gwendoline Kirby.
Favourite track: The Lord is My Shepherd (Brother James's Air) by The Orpington Junior Singers
Book: The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Luxury: Field glasses
Woman's Hour
Home For The Day
Broadcast Sat 16th Sep 1967, 15:15 on BBC Home Service Basic
A Saturday Supplement to Woman's Hour
Introduced by Pamela Creighton
Englishwoman Abroad: Madame Kitty Duchateau on her life as the wife of a Belgian in peace and war.
The Lord of the Rings: Jessica Jenkins talks about the trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Deaf Aid: Peta Riley investigates some complaints.
Spring in Cyprus: Janet Quigley stayed in Kyrenia.
My Kind of Poet: Archie Hill talks about the work of A. E. Housman.
Release
Broadcast Sat 30th Mar 1968, 10:00 on BBC Two Northern Ireland (Analogue) & BBC Two England
Edition of the magazine arts series. Includes an interview with sculptor Barbara Hepworth, who discusses her influences and style. And John Izzard meets with author JRR Tolkien at his home, walking with him through the Oxford locations that he loves while hearing the author's own views about his wildly successful high-fantasy novels. Tolkien shares his love of nature and beer and his admiration for 'trenchermen' in this genial and affectionate programme. The brief interviews with Oxford students that are dotted throughout reveal the full range of opinions elicited by The Lord of the Rings, from wild enthusiasm to mild contempt.
Desert Island Discs
Broadcast Mon 27th May 1968, 12:25 on BBC Home Service Basic
Roy Plomley's castaway is mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker.
Favourite track: Psalm 51 by King's College Chapel Choir
Book: The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien
Luxury: Doll's house.
The Hobbits
Broadcast Tue 28th May 1968, 11:40 on BBC Radio 4 FM
Harold Rogers invites you to meet these 'small people' from the Shire and the originator, Professor J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 FM
Sun 29th Sep 1968, 20:30 Part 1 An Unexpected Party
Tue 1st Oct 1968, 15:00 Part 1 An Unexpected Party rpt
Sun 6th Oct 1968, 20:30 Part 2 Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire
Tue 8th Oct 1968, 15:00 Part 2 Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire rpt
Sun 13th Oct 1968, 20:30 Part 3 Riddles in the Dark
Tue 15th Oct 1968, 15:00 Part 3 Riddles in the Dark rpt
Sun 20th Oct 1968, 20:30 Part 4 Strange Lodgings
Tue 22nd Oct 1968, 15:00 Part 4 Strange Lodgings rpt
Sun 27th Oct 1968, 20:30 Part 5 Barrels out of Bond
Tue 29th Oct 1968, 15:00 Part 5 Barrels out of Bond rpt
Sun 3rd Nov 1968, 20:30 Part 6 A Warm Welcome
Tue 5th Nov 1968, 15:00 Part 6 A Warm Welcome rpt
Sun 10th Nov 1968, 20:30 Part 7 The Gathering of the Clouds
Tue 12th Nov 1968, 15:00 Part 7 The Gathering of the Clouds rpt
Sun 17th Nov 1968, 20:30 Part 8 The Clouds Burst
Tue 19th Nov 1968, 15:00 Part 8 The Clouds Burst rpt
An epic of high adventure adapted as a serial for radio in eight parts by Michael Kilgarriff with music by David Cain starring Paul Daneman as Bilbo Baggins with John Justin, Heron Carvic and Anthony Jackson. 'Far over the misty mountains cold. To dungeons deep and caverns old. We must away ere break of day. To seek the pale enchanted gold'. Produced by John Powell.
See main article for credits and more.