Without a shadow of a doubt, the Star Wars films are among the most famous in movie history. And while the three prequels between 1999 and 2005 may have failed to live up to the exceptions placed upon them, the original movies are still hailed as classics of the genre.

But what many people may not be aware of is that all three of the movies were subsequently adapted for radio by Brian Daley, best known to Star Wars fans of a certain age for writing Han Solo at Stars' End, Han Solo's Revenge and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy — three original novels published between 1979 and 1980, and which follow the adventures of everyone's favourite Corellian smuggler and his Wookie friend in the years prior to Episode IV: A New Hope.

Produced in 1981, Daley's adaptation of Star Wars ran to thirteen episodes, and even managed to enlist the services of Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels, who reprised their roles as Luke Skywalker and C-3PO. The adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back duly arrived in 1983 and added Billy Dee Williams to the mix as Lando Calrissian.

Things fell quite until 1996, by which time a carefully orchestrated merchandising campaign had seen a whole slew of tie-in novels being released, new toys appearing on the market, and plans being well advanced for the release of special editions of the original trilogy as a prelude to the production and release of Episodes I-III.

As with the earlier productions, Brian Daley was in charge of adapting the original movie script, and the serial was eventually broadcast in six thirty-minute installments. The only cast member from the original movies to appear this time around was Anthony Daniels, although the majority of the actors who had starred in the earlier adaptations reprised their roles.

All three of the Star Wars radio serials have since been released on CD and cassette, and are well worth tracking down as they not only contain new scenes which expand upon various aspects of the movies, but also some material which was cut from the movie versions prior to them being released.