BBC: The Lord of the Rings (1999)

It doesn't get much better than this. In 13 hours the entire story is told in rich and vivid detail that captures the essence of the books more completely than any other version - and I've heard a few... The all-star cast give mesmerising performances with Ian Holm in particularly fine form. If you never read the books, never hear anything else by Tolkien - hear this.

Amazon customer, 2 April 2000

I was lent this recording by a friend at the age of 11 and I knew I had to get my own copy as soon as possible. What can I say - the atmosphere of Middle-Earth is conjured up brilliantly with help from a superb soundtrack, and despite others' gripes about the omission of certain chapters, I really do believe that this cannot be bettered. The stunning performances from a cast of Britain's finest actors really make Tolkien's epic tale come alive - the only problem now is that nothing will measure up to it! Much as I am looking forward to the film version, it's just a shame this cast can't be used - each of the actors IS their character as far as I'm concerned, and anyone else just wouldn't seem right... 13 hours of high-class, gripping drama - what more can I say? Tolkien would be proud.

(Amazon customer, 30 Oct 2000)

Originally dramatised by the BBC in 1981 in 26 half-hour stereo installments. In 1999, the 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes. The 13-part series was later released as a BBC Radio Collection Audiobook.

This 13-part version was recorded from BBC radio (rerun on Radio 4 in 2002) and issued as a torrent from http://radioarchive.cc.

Narrator: Gerard Murphy
Frodo Baggins: Ian Holm
Gandalf the Grey/
Gandalf the White: Michael Hordern
Sam Gamgee: William Nighy
Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry): Richard O'Callaghan
Peregrin Took (Pippin): John McAndrew
Farmer Maggot: John Bott
Barliman Butterbur: James Grout
Bilbo Baggins: John Le Mesurier
Aragorn (Strider): Robert Stephens
Gimli: Douglas Livingstone
Legolas: David Collings
Boromir: Michael Graham Cox
Elrond: Hugh Dickson
Arwen Evenstar: Sonia Fraser
Saruman the White: Peter Howell
Galadriel: Marian Diamond
Celeborn: Simon Cadell
Gollum/Sméagol: Peter Woodthorpe
Théoden: Jack May
Éowyn: Elin Jenkins
Éomer: Anthony Hyde
Gríma Wormtongue: Paul Brooke
Treebeard: Stephen Thorne
Faramir: Andrew Seear
Denethor: Peter Vaughan
Glorfindel: John Webb
Gamling: Patrick Barr
Céorl: Michael McStay
Hama: Michael Spice
Lord of the Nazgûl: Philip Voss
The Mouth of Sauron: John Rye
Shelob: BBC Radiophonic Workshop

Dramatisation: Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell
Music: Stephen Oliver
Radiophonic sound: Elizabeth Parker
Produced and directed by Jane Morgan and Penny Leicester


01. The Shadow Of The Past 56:23
02. The Black Riders 55:51
03. The Knife In The Dark 57:02
04. The Ring Goes South 55:02
05. The Mirror Of Galadriel 55:30
06. The Breaking Of The Fellowship 56:50
07. The King Of The Golden Hall 55:25
08. The Voice of Saruman 56:41
09. The Two Towers 58:55
10. The Choices of Master Samwise 59:13
11. The Battle Of Pelennor Fields 57:12
12. Mount Doom 58:03
13. The Grey Havens 58:44


More info


Download - 169MB (2 files)

folder password: perilous
RAR password: quest

Sample 1 - In Moria (5'19, 1.22MB)

Sample 2 - Seeking an entrance to Mordor (4'17, 0.98MB)