As a two-week long story with a narrator and a cast it was something special for Jackanory, but it was also something special for me. This was the start of my passion for the writings and characters of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit is a excellent book (one of my favourites) and part of the saga which contains the better known epic 'The Lord Of The Rings' (my favourite book), of which it is a vital prequel. Alongside 'The Father Christmas Letters' and 'Farmer Giles of Ham' one of the best ways into Tolkien for young children. The Jackanory cast of readers were a mix of very well and less well-known actors and actress, the main characters being played by an individual reader, with two or three actors sharing the other roles of the minor dwarfs and other characters we meet upon the way. Jackanory was an excellent programme, a regular of my childhood viewing, with many other memorable stories and readers (Willie Rushton, Bernard Cribbins etc.) and introductions to many wonderful authors and their creations. This was the best of a very high quality series. Over 30 years later I can still picture this story and hope that the BBC will soon release it as a DVD !
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
