Hitchhikers' Fry-ed

Stephen to be The Book's voice

Stephen Fry is to be the voice of The Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy.

He will be the voice of The Book providing narration to the blockbuster movie now being completed.

Fry said: “As a friend of author Douglas Adams and a besotted fan, being asked to do the voice of The Guide is like having your birthday on Christmas Day, discovering a winning lottery ticket in your stocking and having chocolate poured all over you,"

MJ Simpson, biographer of Hitchhiker author Douglas Adams, says he has mixed feelings about the news.

Writing on his Planet Magrathea website, he said: “Without doubting Fry's skill as a narrator, I must confess to being personally disappointed at this choice.

“In my view, the Guide voice should not bring to mind a particular actor.”

Recording of the narration took place last week, and the film is released in Britain and the US on May 6.

The cast is headed by The Office’s Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent and also includes Bill Bailey, John Malkovich Anna Chancellor and the League Of Gentleman’s Steve Pemberton.

Published: 20 Jan 2005

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