Mitch Benn Zaphod Beeblebrox Interview
As we mentioned in our September show, the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Radio Show Live is back on tour between September and November – a great opportunity to go and see the classic radio series on stage, performed with many of the original cast including Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect and Susan Sheridan as Trillian.
One name missing from the lineup is Mark Wing-Davey, a.k.a. Zaphod Beeblebrox. He was unable to make this year’s tour, and his replacement is musician and comedian Mitch Benn.
We caught up with Mitch after one of the season’s early shows, and he was kind enough to chat to us about the show, the character of Zaphod, and what fans can expect from this year’s tour.
Take a listen to the attached audio clip, where Mitch explains he originally asked if there was a chance of being one of the guest voices of the book, to discover that there may be a vacancy as the voice of his childhood hero, Zaphod:
“This is great fun, I’ve been a Hitchhikers fan since I was about 9 and a particular fan of Zaphod even though I kind of got the impression I wasn’t supposed to be. I got the impression I was mean to disapprove of Zaphod rather more actively than I did. I always found him kind of irresistible – The sheer relentless hedonism of him. He’s just literally out for a good time”
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Mitch will be familiar to listeners of BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show as the performer and composer of the satirical and topical songs that feature in that show. He’s also released several albums, performs in a band and released his first sci-fi novel earlier this year. Find out how he’s adapted to the role of Zaphod, and how the fans have reacted to a new Zaphod:
“The response from the fanbase to the announcement was very positive. I think I’m kind of regarded at legit in Hitchhiker terms because they haven’t just parachuted someone in. I’m a Radio 4 guy, I’m a comedy guy, I’m a sci-fi guy… I think the connection is there and I was in the radio series incredibly briefly. So I think I’m regarded as ‘proper’.
Free-owww.
Below, you’ll find the link to the audio interview. We’ll also be making a YouTube audio-only version available shortly too.
Thanks very much to Mitch Benn for taking the time to talk to us. The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Radio Show Live runs to the 30th of November 2013 and you can find out more and book tickets at hitchhikerslive.com.
You can find out what Mitch Benn is up to, and find out more about his new sci-fi novel Terra over at www.mitchbenn.com
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