"Actor: Stephen Tate"

• The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy | DVD | (28/01/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The original BBC radio adventures of Arthur Dent (an ape-descendant whose anger at the apparently inexplicable destruction of his home planet Earth, situated in an obscure corner of the outer spiral arm of the galaxy, is expressed in frequent irritation at friendly automatic doors and vending machines) and his travelling companions, Ford Prefect (an itinerant towel-carrying hitch-hiker originally from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse), Zaphod Beeblebrox (the notorious ex-Galactic President and patron of Eccentrica Galumbits, the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon Six) and Marvin the Paranoid Android (who's still suffering from that terrible pain in all the diodes down his left side) proved to be such a success for the BBC that its transition to TV was (almost) inevitable. In 1981 several key members of the radio cast made the move to the small screen. Simon Jones' bewildered Arthur Dent remains the central character, shambling around in his dressing gown (a fact easy to forget on radio); Mark Wing-Davey's Zaphod Beeblebrox is the same as his boastful radio persona, even if the second head utterly fails to convince. Unfortunately, newcomers David Dixon (as Ford Prefect) and the irritating Sandra Dickinson (as Trillian) are no match for their radio predecessors.The problem here is not so much the low-budget look as the script itself, which is lovingly faithful to the radio series in a way that Douglas Adams' novels aren't. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a lucid, satirical, occasionally profound, utterly unique comic invention on radio. As such, it has nothing to gain from TV. The script needs no visual elaboration--that's best left to the listener's own imagination. Only the animated renditions of the Guide itself enhance Peter Jones' wonderfully dry narration; otherwise--paradoxically, perhaps--by supplying images the concept is oddly diminished here.On the DVD: A suitably eclectic not to say eccentric collection of extra features makes this a wholly satisfying two-disc set, neatly packaged in a fold-out slipcase. On the second disc there's an hour-long "making of" documentary from 1992 featuring contributions from the cast and crew, including Douglas Adams; and then there's even more in a 20-minute section entitled "Don't Panic!". A fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at filming as the clock runs out on studio time and a look at the recording of the original radio series complete the first part. Then navigate to the "Outer Planets" to find outtakes, a deleted scene, Zaphod's animatronic second head on Tomorrow's World and Peter Jones's witty and shambolic introduction to the first episode, plus more besides. The series itself is presented in standard 4:3 ratio and Dolby stereo. --Mark Walker

• The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Special Edition | Blu Ray | (01/10/2018) from £12.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (38.49%)   |  RRP £17.99

  For the first time in the history of the universe, the complete Hitcher's Guide to the Galaxy is available in high definition! The cult classic British series from the mind of Douglas Adams is back in this very special edition. Featuring all episodes in full HD and 5.1 audio plus over 5 ½ hours of new and existing bonus material. Unbeknownst to its inhabitants, Earth is to be demolished to make way for an intergalactic highway. Arthur Dent (Simon Jones), an unassuming Englishman, is whisked off the planet to safety by his alien friend Ford Prefect (David Dixon), and launched on a dizzying journey through space and time (with only a towel, and a fish to help them) to discover the meaning of life itself.

• Big Deal - Series 1 | DVD | (24/07/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Life's a gamble. Robbie Box is one of life's good guys. Except that his gambling addiction threatens everything. In the lowlife circuit of pubs bookies and smoky gambling dens he rides a rollercoaster from bankruptcy to wealth and back again but when it jeopardises his relationship with his long-suffering family Robbie is determined to give it all up. Until the next big game all-night poker session or race meeting...

• Survivors - The Complete Series 3 | DVD | (14/11/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  Conceived by Dr Who's Terry Nation 'Survivors' is a groundbreaking and startlingly realistic television drama series. First aired in 1975 at the height of the Cold War the post-apocalyptic storylines immediately gripped the imagination of the British public and remains compelling viewing to this day. Episodes comprise: 1. Manhunt 2. A Little Learning 3. Law Of The Jungle 4. Mad Dog 5. Bridgehead 6. Reunion 7. The Peacemaker 8. Sparks 9. The Enemy 10. The Last Laugh 11. Long

• Survivors - The Complete Series 2 | DVD | (26/03/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  Conceived by Dr Who's Terry Nation Survivors is a groundbreaking and startlingly realistic television drama series. First aired in 1975 at the height of the Cold War the post-apocalyptic storylines immediately gripped the imagination of the British public and remains compelling viewing to this day. This digitally remastered DVD release includes all eleven hours of the second series.

• Strauss: Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Opus Arte: OABD7104D) | Blu Ray | (26/03/2012) from £25.65   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A