The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a 1981 television adaptation of the Douglas Adams book series of the same name. This version stars Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, a normal English man who is forced into a life of interstellar space travel when an alien race known as the Vogons destroy the Earth. Luckily for Arthur, his long time friend Ford Prefect (David Dixon) is in actuality an alien in disguise. Seconds before the destruction of the Earth, Ford and Arthur hitch a ride on the a Vogon spaceship. After hearing some of the most reviled poetry in the galaxy, Arthur and Ford escape to the Heart of Gold spaceship. The Heart of Gold is piloted by none other than Zaphod Beeblebrox (Mark Wing-Davey), the president of the galaxy. Ford and Zaphod are old friends and get on just fine, but Arthur is confused in this new world. Luckily he meets a fellow Earthling named Trillian (Sandra Dickinson) who he confides in. Also on the Heart of Gold is Marvin the Paranoid Android, a pessimistic robot. The rest of the series focuses on Zaphod's renegade attempt to find the legendary planet of Magrethea and the secrets this ancient planet supposedly holds. MORE