1992 Tales from the Perilous Realm (BBC)

Release Date: 1992.08.16
Readers: Full Cast
Language: English
Script: Brian Sibley
Organisation: BBC Radio 5
ISBN: See below
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes
Unabridged: n/a
Country: UK
Licenced: Yes
Formats: Cassette, CD, Digital

The 1992 BBC Radio 5 production of Tales from the Perilous Realm is a landmark dramatization in the history of Tolkien audio. It was adapted by Brian Sibley – the same writer behind the legendary 1981 Lord of the Rings radio play – and is some ways is a spiritual successor to that production.

Sibley had always rued the loss of the Tom Bombadil section of The Lord of the Rings, necessary as it was. This project gave him the opportunity to rectify this, however, and thus an adaptation of the three chapters; The Old Forest, In the House of Tom Bombadil and Fog on the Barrow-downs was played out. It wasn’t possible to reassemble the previous cast, although Michael Hordern returned in the role of as Tolkien himself, the narrator of these tales.

The adaptation of these three chapters was given the name The Adventures of Tom Bombadil which has been confusing as there was already a published collection of 16 of Tolkien’s poems, published in 1962, under that name, which has been subsequently narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi. In addition, Leaf by Niggle, Smith of Wootton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham where also adapted into full cast dramatisations.

Sibley named this collection of four stories Tales From the Perilous Realm and this was the first use of this collective title. It has subsequently been used by HaperCollins, without permission, for a very similar collection of four stories narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi. This collection also has Leaf by Niggle, Smith of Wootton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham as well as a reading of the 16 poems entitled The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Thus, superficially, they appear to be the same collections but in reality are quite different.

Broadcast History:

The series originally aired on BBC Radio 5 (now Radio 5 Live) in late 1992. It consisted of six ~30-minute episodes divided among the four distinct stories. It was repeated 1995.12.31 – 1996.02.04 on BBC Radio 4. The Radio 5 broadcast was AM/Medium Wave whereas the Radio 4 was in higher quality FM.

Release History:

Cast List:

Other roles across the productions were played by: Jonathan Adams, Matthew Morgan, Nicholas Murchie, Joanna Wake, John Webb. Judy Bennett, Chris Cook, Rachel Crocker, Jill Shilling, Jenny Smythe, Melinda Walker, Ann Windsor, David Holt, Melanie Hudson.