Ford Prefect (David Dixon) has always claimed to be from Guildford. His friend Arthur Dent (Simon Jones) is extremely surprised when Ford reveals that he's actually from a small planet near Betelgeuse.
Arthur is even more surprised to learn that the Earth is about to be destroyed by a Vogon constructor fleet, to make way for a hyperspace bypass.
Ford manages to hitch a lift on a Vogon spacecraft for himself and Arthur. Shortly afterwards, the Earth is destroyed.
Discovered by the Vogons, Arthur and Ford are ejected into space, where they are rescued from certain death by a stolen spacecraft crewed by Zaphod Beeblebrox (Mark Wing-Davey), Trillian (Sandra Dickinson) and Marvin the Paranoid Android (body by David Learner, voice by Stephen Moore).
They all find themselves involved in the search for "the meaning of life, the universe and everything".
Series: 1
Episodes: 6
Transmitted: 1981
Channel: BBC2
BBC Television