BBC Radio 4 Extra is to celebrate the 42nd anniversary the very first episode of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy with a number of new programmes and retrospectives

There will be an evening of celebrations from 8pm on Sunday 8th March, entitled The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is 42. Over five hours, Dan Mersh and Helen Keen will be talking all about Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, as well as introducing specially made features and archive programmes including the original series of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in its entirety. 

New programmes across the evening will be: 

We Love H2G2 – Brian Cox, Robin Ince, Lucy Porter (pictured), Angela Barnes and Neil Sleat share their affection for Douglas Adams’ sci-fi comedy.

Vogon Poetry Extra – The poet Daljit Nagra discusses Vogon Poetry. Should it be lauded as the third worse poetry in the universe?

Geoffrey McGivern - The original Ford Prefect, Geoffrey McGivern, talks to Dan Mersh and Helen Keen. 

No Such Thing as a Babel Fish – The QI Elves and fact hunters, Dan Schreiber and Andrew Hunter Murray, investigate some of Douglas Adams’ predictions and inventions.

Why 42? - The stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, from Festival of the Spoken Nerd, delves into the rich significance of the number 42.

Bookclub: Douglas Adams - A special edition of Bookclub featuring The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy creator.

In addition to the evening of special programming, there will also be a special Podcast Radio Hour on Friday 6 March, exploring the best sci-fi comedy podcasts and series 2 – 6 of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy every Saturday at 6pm from 14 March.

Lucy Porter picture by Steve Ullathorne