<P> A pilot episode was commissioned on 1 March 1977 and the recording was completed on 28 June 1977 . Brett and Adams recounted different parts of the pilot episode's genesis, including convincing the BBC that such a programme could not be recorded with a studio audience, and insisting that the programme be recorded in stereo sound . To win the latter argument, Hitchhiker's was briefly classified internally as a drama instead of a comedy, as in 1977 BBC Radio Drama programmes were allowed to be recorded in stereo, and BBC Radio Comedy programmes were not . </P> <P> A full series of six episodes (five new episodes, plus the pilot) was commissioned on 31 August 1977 . However, Adams had in the meantime sent a copy of the Hitchhiker's pilot episode to the BBC's Doctor Who production office, and was commissioned to write a four - part Doctor Who serial ("The Pirate Planet") a few weeks later . In addition, Brett had left the BBC, and the final five episodes in the first series were produced by Geoffrey Perkins . </P> <P> With conflicting writing commitments, Adams engaged his friend and flatmate John Lloyd to assist in writing the fifth and sixth episodes . The second episode was produced in November 1977 . The script of the last episode of the first series (later retitled "The Primary Phase") was completed in February 1978, and production (including sound mixing and effects) was completed on 3 March 1978 . </P> <P> Adams wrote the main parts of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect with actors Simon Jones and Geoffrey McGivern in mind . According to Jones, Adams telephoned him when he was writing the pilot to ask whether he would essentially play himself; Adams later stated that although Dent was not a portrayal of Jones, he wrote the part to play to Jones's strengths as an actor . </P>

What is the theme of the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy