The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV series)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV series) is a British science fiction comedy television series broadcast in 1981 on BBC Two. It is an adaptation of Douglas Adams's radio series of the same name, and the third adaptation of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy franchise, following the radio series and preceding the book series.

The series consists of six episodes, which closely follow the plot of the first four radio episodes (corresponding to the first novel). It features Peter Davison as Arthur Dent, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, Simon Jones (who also played Arthur in the radio series) as the voice of the Guide, David Dixon as Ford Prefect, and Sandra Dickinson as Trillian. The series retains the absurdist humor and philosophical themes of the radio series and books.

Key elements include the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass, Arthur Dent's escape with his friend Ford Prefect (who reveals himself to be an alien researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), and their subsequent adventures across the galaxy with Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian. Recurring characters and concepts, such as Marvin the Paranoid Android (voiced by Stephen Moore), Vogon poetry, and the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, are also featured.

The TV series is notable for its low-budget but imaginative special effects, which contributed to its distinctive visual style. It gained a cult following and has been praised for its faithfulness to the source material, its comedic timing, and its memorable performances. Despite its limited run, it remains a significant adaptation of Douglas Adams's work.