12
BBC Lord of the Rings - Vinyl and CD
9 hours ago
(edited)
2026-7-22 11:27:54 AM UTC
2026-7-22 11:27:54 AM UTC
Presenting 'The Lord of the Rings', a limited edition deluxe 14LP vinyl box set of the original 1981. BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation of JRR Tolkien's masterpiece, released for the first time in its original 26-episode broadcast format. Over 13 hours of newly-mastered audio drama in superb stereo sound with every tense cliffhanger (and stirring theme music reprise) intact, plus a standalone bonus disc of the series' celebrated soundtrack by the renowned composer Stephen Oliver.
Known to be admired by The Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson, the BBC radio drama, chronicling Frodo Baggins’ epic quest in Middle-earth, features acting legends including Ian Holm (Alien, The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit, Chariots of Fire) as Frodo, Michael Hordern (Barry Lyndon, Gandhi, Paddington) as Gandalf, John Le Mesurier (Dad’s Army) as Bilbo, Bill Nighy (Love Actually) as Sam, and Robert Stephens (Romeo and Juliet) as Aragorn, as well as Gerard Murphy (Waterworld, Batman Begins), Peter Vaughan (Game of Thrones), Simon Cadell (Watership Down)and Michael Graham Cox (The Stone Tape).
The highly collectable Deluxe Limited Edition Box Set, sumptuously packaged and individually numbered, comes with the LPs pressed on Clear and Forged Gold coloured Vinyl, and includes newly commissioned, exquisitely detailed artwork re-imagining the landscape of Tolkien’s Middle-earth on the packaging and record sleeves, full cast and credits for each episode, and an 8-page booklet featuring behind-the-scenes cast photos and a note about the making of the series by dramatist Brian Sibley. It is also available as an individually numbered 14-CD box set in 7” size with deluxe packaging and booklet.
I have been wanting to post about this for quite a long time.
The BBC are re-issuing the 1981 broadcasts of the Lord of the Rings in time for Christmas.
I have been told that these are the original 30-minute episodes, which were only ever broadcast twice in 1981. The subsequent releases were two episodes combined into one 60-minute episode.
The episodes did have cliffhangers at every 30 minutes and these will now be available to listen to again. The recordings are also from the original master-tapes which the BBC still have.
I will add more details when they are announced by the BBC.
Release Date : 4th December 2026
https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/the- ... e-complete-bbc-radio-full
AndyBirdUK Thread on collecting these items - https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... php?topic_id=5718&start=0
12
6