With the publication of And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer imminent, and the 30th anniversary of the original Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy racing towards us, stick this date in your diary: Sunday 11 October 2009. That's when Hitchhiker's fans will be converging on the Southbank Centre at 11.30am.
A photo call of the largest number of Hitchhiker's fans ever will be kick-starting a day of celebrations. And remember to wear your dressing gown and take a towel - the first 150 fans in full Arthur Dent mode will win surprise Hitchhiker's gifts! The photo of fans taken on the terrace of the Royal Festival Hall in their dressing gowns will appear across the national press the following week.
Hitchcon 09 will tie-in with the publication of Colfer's new addition to the Hitchhiker's series, the sixth book in an increasingly inaccurately named trilogy begun 30 years ago.
After the photo call, the convention begins in earnest. First up, the Douglas Adams chat show will take place with a full panel of Hitchhiker experts and friends discussing Douglas Adams and his work. Then Eoin Colfer will give an exclusive reading from And Another Thing... and take questions from the audience. He'll be introduced by Ireland's multi-platinum selling group The Blizzards. After a short interval the next session will be Hitchhiker's live on stage! Simon Jones as Arthur Dent plus the original Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Marvin The Paranoid Android and Trillian are set to appear in person (Improbability Drive permitting) to re-create classic moments from the saga, radio-style. There will also be other events and entertainment dedicated throughout the day in the ballroom, including sessions hosted by members of the official fan club ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha .
For more information and tickets go to www.southbankcentre.co.uk and look under festivals, or call 0871 663 2500. Don't forget your towel.
