SFX are reporting that
Stephen Mangan (Green Wing, Free Agents) has been cast as Dirk Gently, in BBC Four's adaptation of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
Darren Boyd (Smack The Pony, Little Dorrit) has also joined the cast as Dirk's sidekick Richard Macduff, with
Helen Baxendale (Cold Feet) as Macduff's girlfriend Susan. The one-off special has been written by Howard Overman (Merlin, Misfits) and directed by Damon Thomas (Crooked House), concerning the titular detective's belief that all things are interconnected. The story will follow a case involving the disappearance of an old woman's cat, which leads into a double murder case. Stephen Mangan:
"Ive been a fan of Douglas Adams ever since the Hitchhikers radio series which I used to record as a child and listen to over and over again in my bedroom. It's such a thrill to now be playing one of his brilliant characters. Dirk is a chaotic, anarchic force of nature with a totally unique take on the world. He is described as 'lazy, untidy, dismissive and unreliable'. Ive absolutely no idea why they thought Id be right for the role."