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{{disambig-more|The Lord of the Rings|[[The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation)]]}}[[Image:Hordern, LeMesurier, Holm 1981 lotr.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Michael Hordern]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Ian Holm]], as [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].]]
In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''' in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.
In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''' in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.


It followed a previous 13-part BBC Radio version in 1956 (of which no recordings are known to have survived).
It followed [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|a previous 12-part BBC Radio version]] from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived.
 
Like the novel on which it is based, ''The Lord of the Rings'' is the story of an epic struggle against the Dark Lord [[Sauron]] of [[Mordor]], the primary villain of the work, who created a [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] to control the nineteen [[Rings of Power]], and an alliance of heroes who join forces to save the world from falling under his shadow.


==Broadcast history==
==Broadcast history==
Line 9: Line 8:
Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).
Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).


The series was also broadcast in the US on NPR with a new synopsis preceding each episode, narrated by [[Tammy Grimes]]. It was also aired in Australia.


The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues.
The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in [[1982]].


The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).
The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).


A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of [[Stephen Oliver|Stephen Oliver's]] music was released in 1981.
A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of [[Stephen Oliver]]'s music was released in 1981.
 
===1981 broadcast===
# "[[The Long Awaited Party]]", [[8 March|March 8]]
# "[[The Shadow Of The Past (1981 episode)]]", [[15 March|March 15]]
# "[[The Black Riders (1981 episode)]]", [[22 March|March 22]]
# "[[Trouble At The Prancing Pony]]", [[29 March|March 29]]
# "[[The Knife In The Dark (1981 episode)]]", [[5 April|April 5]]
# "[[The Council Of Elrond (1981 episode)]]", [[12 April|April 12]]
# "[[The Fellowship Of The Ring (episode)]]", [[19 April|April 19]]
# "[[The Mines Of Moria (1981 episode)]]", [[26 April|April 26]]
# "[[The Mirror Of Galadriel (1981 episode)]]", [[3 May|May 3]]
# "[[The Breaking Of The Fellowship (1981 episode)]]", [[10 May|May 10]]
# "[[The Riders Of Rohan (episode)]]", [[17 May|May 17]]
# "[[Treebeard Of Fangorn]]", "[[24 May|May 24]]
# "[[The King Of The Golden Hall  (1981 episode)]]", [[31 May|May 31]]
# "[[Helm's Deep (episode)]]", [[7 June|June 7]]
# "[[The Voice Of Saruman (episode)]]", [[14 June|June 14]]
# "[[The Black Gate Is Closed (episode)]]", [[21 June|June 21]]
# "[[The Window On The West (episode)]]", [[28 June|June 28]]
# "[[Minas Tirith (episode)]]", [[5 July|July 5]]
# "[[Shelob's Lair (episode)]]", [[12 July|July 12]]
# "[[The Siege Of Gondor (episode)]]", [[19 July|July 19]]
# "[[The Battle Of Pelennor Fields (1981 episode)]]", [[26 July|July 26]]
# "[[The Houses Of Healing (episode)]]", [[2 August|August 2]]
# "[[Mount Doom (1981 episode)]]", [[9 August|August 9]]
# "[[The Return Of The King (episode)]]", [[16 August|August 16]]
# "[[Homeward Bound (episode)]]", [[23 August|August 23]]
# "[[The Grey Havens (1981 episode)]]", [[30 August|August 30]]
 
===1982 broadcast===
# "[[The Shadow Of The Past (1982 episode)]]", [[17 July|July 17]]
# "[[The Black Riders (1982 episode)]]", [[24 July|July 24]]
# "[[The Knife In The Dark (1982 episode)]]", [[31 July|July 31]]
# "[[The Ring Goes South (1982 episode)]]", [[7 August|August 7]]
# "[[The Mirror Of Gadladriel (1982 episode)]]", [[14 August|August 14]]
# "[[The Breaking Of The Fellowship (1982 episode)]]", [[21 August|August 21]]
# "[[The King Of The Golden Hall (1982 episode)]]", [[28 August|August 28]]
# "[[The Voice Of Saruman (1982 episode)]]", [[4 September|September 4]]
# "[[The Two Towers (1982 episode)]]", [[11 September|September 11]]
# "[[The Choices Of Master Samwise (1982 episode)]]", [[18 September|September 18]]
# "[[The Battle Of Pelennor Fields (1982 episode)]]", [[25 September|September 25]]
# "[[Mount Doom (1982 episode)]]", [[2 October|October 2]]
# "[[The Grey Havens (1982 episode)]]", [[9 October|October 9]]


==Discrepancies==
==Differences from the book==


The script by [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]] attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original novels, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:
The script by [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]] attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original novels, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:


*At one point, [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Tirith]] are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same fictional city.
*At one point, [[Minas Anor]] and [[Minas Tirith]] are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city.


*[[Aragorn]] receives a black standard from [[Arwen]] as a sign that he should rouse the [[army of the dead]]. In a later scene in the book the standard is no longer black but bears the [[White Tree of Gondor]]; there is no reference to this apparent transformation in the radio series.
*Part of the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields|Battle of Pelennor Fields]] sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.


*Part of the [[Rohirrim|Riders of Rohan]] sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which tends to distance the listeners from the action.
*The journey through [[Drúadan Forest]] and the subsequent alliance with [[Ghân-buri-Ghân]]'s wild men, or "woses" is removed from the radio drama.


*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. This sequence was also excised from the [[Peter Jackson]] film version, because, according to Jackson, it contributed nothing to the long-range narrative of the story.
*[[Quickbeam]] the Ent does not appear in the story.


==Links to other ''Lord of the Rings'' productions==
*[[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] does not appear in the story.


[[Peter Woodthorpe]] ([[Gollum]]/[[Smeagol]]) and [[Michael Graham Cox]] ([[Boromir]]) played roles they had already played in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]].
*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their swords from the [[Barrow-downs]] and so it remained a mystery how the Witch-king was able to be so wounded with Merry's blade.


[[Ian Holm]], who played [[Frodo Baggins]] in the radio serial, went on to play [[Bilbo Baggins]] in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]. (Bilbo was played by [[John Le Mesurier]] in the radio serial.)
==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Role !! Actor
|-
| Narrator || [[Gerard Murphy]]
|-
| [[Frodo Baggins]] || [[Ian Holm]]
|-
| [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] || [[Michael Hordern]]
|-
| [[Aragorn]] || [[Robert Stephens]]
|-
| [[Samwise Gamgee]] || [[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]]
|-
| [[Boromir]] || [[Michael Graham Cox]]
|-
| [[Bilbo Baggins]] || [[John Le Mesurier]]
|-
| [[Gollum|Gollum/Sméagol]] || [[Peter Woodthorpe]]
|-
| [[Gimli]] || [[Douglas Livingstone]]
|-
| [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] || [[Richard O'Callaghan]]
|-
| [[Legolas]] || [[David Collings]]
|-
| [[Faramir]] || [[Andrew Seear]]
|-
| [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] || [[Peter Howell]]
|-
| [[Denethor]] || [[Peter Vaughan]]
|-
| [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] || [[Philip Voss]]
|-
| [[Elrond]] || [[Hugh Dickson]]
|-
| [[Éomer]] || [[Anthony Hyde]]
|-
| [[Éowyn]] || [[Elin Jenkins]]
|-
| [[Théoden]] || [[Jack May]]
|-
| [[Peregrin Took]] || [[John McAndrew]]
|-
| [[Galadriel]] || [[Marian Diamond]]
|-
| [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]] || [[Paul Brooke]]
|-
|
|-
|
|-
| [[Odo Proudfoot]] || [[Sean Arnold]] 
|-
| [[Gamling]] ||  [[Patrick Barr]]
|-
| [[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins]] || [[Diana Bishop]]
|-
| [[Farmer Maggot]] || [[John Bott]]
|-
| [[Ruffians|Ruffian]] || [[John Bott]]
|-
| [[Celeborn]] || [[Simon Cadell]]
|-
| [[Gaffer Gamgee]] || [[John Church]]
|-
| The Bard || [[Oz Clarke]]
|-
| [[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]] || [[Alan Dudley]]
|-
| [[Shagrat]] || [[Chris Fairbank]]
|-
| [[Déagol]] || [[Graham Faulkner]]
|-
| [[Bill Ferny]] || [[Graham Faulkner]]
|-
| [[Daddy Twofoot]] || [[Leonard Fenton]]
|-
| [[Arwen|Arwen Evenstar]] || [[Sonia Fraser]]
|-
| [[Radagast]] || [[Donald Gee]]
|-
| [[Barliman Butterbur]] || [[James Grout]]
|-
| [[Uglúk]] || [[Brian Haines]]
|-
| [[Rose Cotton]] || [[Kathryn Hurlbutt]]
|-
| The Eagle || [[David James]]
|-
| [[Gwaihir]] || [[Alexander John]]
|-
| [[Ioreth]] || [[Pauline Letts]]
|-
| [[Éothain]] || [[John Livesey]]
|-
| [[Otho Sackville-Baggins]] || [[John Livesey]]
|-
| [[Ceorl]] || [[Michael McStay]]
|-
| [[Halbarad]] || [[Martyn Read]]
|-
| [[Sandyman]] || [[Gordon Reid]]
|-
| [[Snaga (Orc of Isengard)|Snaga of Isengard]] || [[Gordon Reid]]
|-
| [[Snaga (Orc of Mordor)|Snaga of Mordor]] || [[Gordon Reid]]
|-
| [[The Mouth of Sauron]] || [[John Rye]]
|-
| [[Beregond (soldier of Gondor)|Beregond]] || [[Christopher Scott]]
|-
| [[Gorbag]] || [[David Sinclair]]
|-
| [[Háma]] || [[Michael Spice]]
|-
| [[Treebeard]] || [[Stephen Thorne]]
|-
| [[Glorfindel]] || [[John Webb]]
|-
| [[Haldir]] || [[Haydn Wood]]
|-
| [[Nob]] ||  [[Haydn Wood]]
|}


==Re-release in 2002==
==Re-release in 2002==
In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]], the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').


In 2002, to cash in on the success of Jackson's movies, the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').
This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.
 
This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm.


The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.
The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.
Line 47: Line 211:
The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.
The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.


The series has not been heard on the digital BBC archive station BBC 7, despite frequent requests, reportedly because of copyright issues.
==External links==
 
* {{WP|{{PAGENAME}}}}
==Cast and Credits==
*[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com.br/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Making of BBC Radio'sThe Lord of the Rings] by Brian Sibley
 
{{title|italics}}
*Narrator: [[Gerard Murphy (narrator)|Gerard Murphy]]
*[[Frodo Baggins]]: [[Ian Holm]]
*[[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey/Gandalf the White]]: [[Michael Hordern]]
*[[Aragorn]] (Strider): [[Robert Stephens]]
*[[Sam Gamgee]]: [[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]]
*[[Farmer Maggot]]: [[John Bott]]
*[[Barliman Butterbur]]: [[James Grout]]
*[[Galadriel]]: [[Marian Diamond]]
*[[Celeborn]]: [[Simon Cadell]]
*[[Boromir son of Denethor II|Boromir]]: [[Michael Graham Cox]]
*[[Arwen Evenstar]]: [[Sonia Fraser]]
*[[Gimli]]: [[Douglas Livingstone]]
*[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] (Merry): [[Richard O'Callaghan]]
*[[Peregrin Took]] (Pippin): [[John McAndrew]]
*[[Legolas Greenleaf|Legolas]]: [[David Collings]]
*[[Saruman|Saruman the White]]: [[Peter Howell]]
*[[Elrond]]: [[Hugh Dickson]]
*[[Bilbo Baggins]]: [[John Le Mesurier]]
*[[Gollum|Gollum/Sméagol]]: [[Peter Woodthorpe]]
*[[Théoden]]: [[Jack May]]
*[[Gríma Wormtongue]]: [[Paul Brooke]]
*[[Éowyn]]: [[Elin Jenkins]]
*[[Éomer]]: [[Anthony Hyde]]
*[[Faramir son of Denethor II|Faramir]]: [[Andrew Seear]]
*[[Treebeard]]: [[Stephen Thorne]]
*[[Denethor II|Denethor]]: [[Peter Vaughan]]
*[[Glorfindel]]: [[John Webb]]
*[[Gamling]]: [[Patrick Barr]]
*[[Ceorl]]: [[Michael McStay]]
*[[Hama]]: [[Michael Spice]]
*[[Witch-king of Angmar|Lord of the Nazgûl]]: [[Philip Voss]]
*[[The Mouth of Sauron]]: [[John Rye]]
*[[Shelob]]: [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]]
 
*Dramatisation: [[Brian Sibley]] and [[Michael Bakewell]]
*Music: [[Stephen Oliver]]
*Radiophonic sound: [[Elizabeth Parker]]
*Produced and directed by [[Jane Morgan]] and [[Penny Leicester]]
 
==Mind's Eye radio serial==
 
There is a second radio dramatisation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s '''''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''''', produced by The Mind's Eye, and featuring a different cast. It is sometimes confused with the BBC production, but is distinguished by the fact that the most widely circulated US edition comes in a wooden box, whether on compact discs or cassette tapes.
 
It was recorded prior to the BBC version, and because its cast recorded their tracks separately (unlike the BBC production which, like most British radio serials, assembled the cast to record their dialogue together) is often criticised as being inferior to the BBC version.
 
The cast includes [[Ray Reinhardt]] (Bilbo), [[James Arrington]] (Frodo), [[Pat Franklyn]] (Merry), [[Mac McCaddon]] (Pippin), [[Lucille Bliss|Lou Bliss]] (Sam), [[Bernard Mayes]] (Gandalf), [[Gail Chugg]] (Narrator), [[Bernard Mayes]] (Tom Bombadil), [[Tom Luce]] (Strider/Aragorn).  Franklyn,  McCaddon, Chugg , Reinhardt, Bob Lewis, [[John Vickery]], [[Erik Bauersfeld]] and [[Carl Hague]] were credited for "additional voices".
 
The Mind's Eye version has also been idenfitied as the Soundelux version, and most recently, the Highbridge version. (The name changes correspond to the studios/companies which owned the rights at the time.)
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[de:Der Herr der Ringe (Hörspiele)]]

Revision as of 08:07, 23 December 2014

The name The Lord of the Rings refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation).
Michael Hordern, John Le Mesurier and Ian Holm, as Gandalf, Bilbo and Frodo.

In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in 26 half-hour stereo instalments.

It followed a previous 12-part BBC Radio version from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived.

Broadcast history

Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).


The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in 1982.

The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).

A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of Stephen Oliver's music was released in 1981.

1981 broadcast

  1. "The Long Awaited Party", March 8
  2. "The Shadow Of The Past (1981 episode)", March 15
  3. "The Black Riders (1981 episode)", March 22
  4. "Trouble At The Prancing Pony", March 29
  5. "The Knife In The Dark (1981 episode)", April 5
  6. "The Council Of Elrond (1981 episode)", April 12
  7. "The Fellowship Of The Ring (episode)", April 19
  8. "The Mines Of Moria (1981 episode)", April 26
  9. "The Mirror Of Galadriel (1981 episode)", May 3
  10. "The Breaking Of The Fellowship (1981 episode)", May 10
  11. "The Riders Of Rohan (episode)", May 17
  12. "Treebeard Of Fangorn", "May 24
  13. "The King Of The Golden Hall (1981 episode)", May 31
  14. "Helm's Deep (episode)", June 7
  15. "The Voice Of Saruman (episode)", June 14
  16. "The Black Gate Is Closed (episode)", June 21
  17. "The Window On The West (episode)", June 28
  18. "Minas Tirith (episode)", July 5
  19. "Shelob's Lair (episode)", July 12
  20. "The Siege Of Gondor (episode)", July 19
  21. "The Battle Of Pelennor Fields (1981 episode)", July 26
  22. "The Houses Of Healing (episode)", August 2
  23. "Mount Doom (1981 episode)", August 9
  24. "The Return Of The King (episode)", August 16
  25. "Homeward Bound (episode)", August 23
  26. "The Grey Havens (1981 episode)", August 30

1982 broadcast

  1. "The Shadow Of The Past (1982 episode)", July 17
  2. "The Black Riders (1982 episode)", July 24
  3. "The Knife In The Dark (1982 episode)", July 31
  4. "The Ring Goes South (1982 episode)", August 7
  5. "The Mirror Of Gadladriel (1982 episode)", August 14
  6. "The Breaking Of The Fellowship (1982 episode)", August 21
  7. "The King Of The Golden Hall (1982 episode)", August 28
  8. "The Voice Of Saruman (1982 episode)", September 4
  9. "The Two Towers (1982 episode)", September 11
  10. "The Choices Of Master Samwise (1982 episode)", September 18
  11. "The Battle Of Pelennor Fields (1982 episode)", September 25
  12. "Mount Doom (1982 episode)", October 2
  13. "The Grey Havens (1982 episode)", October 9

Differences from the book

The script by Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original novels, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:

  • At one point, Minas Anor and Minas Tirith are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city.
  • Part of the Battle of Pelennor Fields sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.
  • Quickbeam the Ent does not appear in the story.
  • The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with Tom Bombadil. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their swords from the Barrow-downs and so it remained a mystery how the Witch-king was able to be so wounded with Merry's blade.

Cast

Role Actor
Narrator Gerard Murphy
Frodo Baggins Ian Holm
Gandalf the Grey Michael Hordern
Aragorn Robert Stephens
Samwise Gamgee William Nighy
Boromir Michael Graham Cox
Bilbo Baggins John Le Mesurier
Gollum/Sméagol Peter Woodthorpe
Gimli Douglas Livingstone
Meriadoc Brandybuck Richard O'Callaghan
Legolas David Collings
Faramir Andrew Seear
Saruman the White Peter Howell
Denethor Peter Vaughan
Lord of the Nazgûl Philip Voss
Elrond Hugh Dickson
Éomer Anthony Hyde
Éowyn Elin Jenkins
Théoden Jack May
Peregrin Took John McAndrew
Galadriel Marian Diamond
Gríma Wormtongue Paul Brooke
Odo Proudfoot Sean Arnold
Gamling Patrick Barr
Lobelia Sackville-Baggins Diana Bishop
Farmer Maggot John Bott
Ruffian John Bott
Celeborn Simon Cadell
Gaffer Gamgee John Church
The Bard Oz Clarke
Farmer Cotton Alan Dudley
Shagrat Chris Fairbank
Déagol Graham Faulkner
Bill Ferny Graham Faulkner
Daddy Twofoot Leonard Fenton
Arwen Evenstar Sonia Fraser
Radagast Donald Gee
Barliman Butterbur James Grout
Uglúk Brian Haines
Rose Cotton Kathryn Hurlbutt
The Eagle David James
Gwaihir Alexander John
Ioreth Pauline Letts
Éothain John Livesey
Otho Sackville-Baggins John Livesey
Ceorl Michael McStay
Halbarad Martyn Read
Sandyman Gordon Reid
Snaga of Isengard Gordon Reid
Snaga of Mordor Gordon Reid
The Mouth of Sauron John Rye
Beregond Christopher Scott
Gorbag David Sinclair
Háma Michael Spice
Treebeard Stephen Thorne
Glorfindel John Webb
Haldir Haydn Wood
Nob Haydn Wood

Re-release in 2002

In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings (film series), the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King).

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the Red Book, as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.

The soundtrack, now digitally remastered, was also included with The Return of the King set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing Bilbo's Last Song included as a bonus track.

The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

External links

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