BBC
From Tolkien Gateway
The British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, is the world's largest broadcasting corporation. As such, the company, and especially BBC radio, have had a major influence on the adaptation of Tolkien's works. The BBC Repertory Company, as it was called at their founding in 1940, kept an ensemble cast of 30-35 actors up until the mid-1980's. These have included Anthony Daniels, Norman Bird and John Moffat. This section of the BBC is now called the National Radio Company or NRC, and has been awarded many times.
Programs
- January 14, 1938: An unspecified program on BBC Radio, where Tolkien gave a talk on Anglo-Saxon Verse.
- 1955-1956: The first adaptation of The Lord of the Rings is aired on BBC Radio.
- 1968: The BBC's radio version of The Hobbit is aired.
- 1978: Though shot in Spain, Ralph Bakshi recorded the voices of his The Lord of the Rings with several actors from the NRC.
- January 15, 1979: The popular children's show Jackanory starts their ten episodes on The Hobbit.
- 1981: The famous second radio series of The Lord of the Rings is aired.