Play for Today (1970–1984)

1. S01E01The Long Distance Piano PlayerOctober 15, 1970—A man tries to break the world's record for nonstop piano playing
2. S01E02The Right ProspectusOctober 22, 1970—A couple look for the proper school, not for their children but for themselves.
3. S01E03The LieOctober 29, 1970—""The Lie"" refers to the 8-year marriage of a couple who are constantly hurting each other.
4. S01E04Angels Are So FewNovember 5, 1970—A man claiming to be an angel enters the household of a bored housewife and teaches the family a few lessons.
5. S01E05The Write-OffNovember 12, 1970—A man is made redundant but can't bring himself to let anyone know, plunging into a web of deceit as he keeps up the charade he is still in
6. S01E06I Can't See My Little WillieNovember 19, 1970—A man has a mid-life crisis in his brother's pub where sees life as a game show
7. S01E07A Distant ThunderNovember 26, 1970—A newly-appointed knight finds his celebrations cut short by someone who was witness to his treachery during the war.
8. S01E08Hearts and FlowersDecember 3, 1970—A TV host and his architect brother attend their father's funeral
9. S01E09Robin RedbreastDecember 10, 1970—A woman living in a country cottage thinks that someone is trying to get her.
10. S01E10The Hallelujah HandshakeDecember 17, 1970—A petty thief and social misfit finagles his way into a church congregation
11. S01E11Alma MaterJanuary 7, 1971—A civil servant working abroad revisits his old school
12. S01E12Circle LineJanuary 14, 1971—A cynical student has a radically different view of life from his landlady, leading to conflict. Matters come to a head when he sleeps with
13. S01E13Hell's AngelJanuary 21, 1971—A couple are distressed by the changes in their adopted teenage son when he joins a biker gang.
14. S01E14The PianoJanuary 28, 1971—An old couple refuse to move when they find out that they can't take their piano with them
15. S01E15Billy's Last StandFebruary 4, 1971—Billy, a self-employed coal-shoveller, gains a seedy business partner and competition in the form of a rival coal-shoveller.
16. S01E16The RainbirdsFebruary 11, 1971—A man who attempted suicide by jumping out a window is saved only to live in a coma, in which he has fantasies about his relatives and night
17. S01E17ReddickFebruary 18, 1971—Charges that the Rev 'Red' Reddick is exploiting his youth club members leads to an explosive confrontation.
18. S01E18The FoxtrotApril 29, 1971—An odd menage a trois results when a woman and her lover are visited by her long-lost husband
19. S01E19When the Bough BreaksMay 6, 1971—When an injured baby arrives at the hospital, a social worker looks for the parents
20. S01E20OrkneyMay 13, 1971—A trilogy of plays--A Time to Keep, The Whaler's Return, and Celia--exploring the life of the islanders in the past and present
21. S01E21The Rank and FileMay 20, 1971—The story of the Pilkington glass workers strike of 1970
22. S01E22The Man in the SidecarMay 27, 1971—A succesful novelist Edith lives with her husband and his friend, but she decides to ask the friend to leave.
23. S01E23Everybody Say CheeseJune 3, 1971—The story of a disintegrating marriage told through family photos
24. S01E24The Cellar and the Almond TreeJune 10, 1971—

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01TraitorOctober 14, 1971—A British aristocrat turned Russian spy is visited in Moscow by Western journalists
2. S02E02Edna, the Inebriate WomanOctober 21, 1971 9.0Edna, the Inebriate Woman is a British television drama written by Jeremy Sandford which was transmitted by the BBC as part of the Play for
3. S02E03EvelynOctober 28, 1971—Frank is worried that he's over the hill when he reaches his 38th birthday. Conversations with his wife, lover and best friend do nothing to
4. S02E04O Fat White WomanNovember 4, 1971—The wife of a headmaster discovers that he has been physically abusing his students
5. S02E05Thank You Very MuchNovember 11, 1971—A social satire in which advertisers realise that having a blind beggar as the public face of charities would help make them seem more appea
6. S02E06Michael ReganNovember 18, 1971—A man gets revenge on a pub owner
7. S02E07Skin DeepNovember 25, 1971—An awkward relationship develops between the families of a trade unionist and the regional manager when the son of the former wins a univers
8. S02E08PalDecember 2, 1971—Two sworn enemies, one black and the other white, are forced to confront their prejudices when they are forced together by circumstance.
9. S02E09The Pigeon FancierDecember 9, 1971—A retired miner devotes his waking hours to his racing pigeons.
10. S02E10HomeJanuary 6, 1972—A story about four elderly "loonies" living in a rest home
11. S02E11Still WatersJanuary 13, 1972—A marriage can be lonely when the children have left home, as Nelson and Maud find out. Maud leaves in the middle of an unloving picnic, and
12. S02E12Stocker's CopperJanuary 20, 1972—In Cornwall, just before World War I, a striking miner befriends a cop
13. S02E13The House on Highbury HillJanuary 27, 1972—A married couple move into the house on Highbury Hill and find some eccentric neighbours.
14. S02E14In the Beautiful CaribbeanFebruary 3, 1972—A story about unemployment and the Black Movement in Jamaica
15. S02E15Ackerman, Dougall and HarkerFebruary 10, 1972—A salesman learns a few lessons from the locals when he goes to Yorkshire for a business course
16. S02E16The Villa MarocFebruary 17, 1972—A couple and their daughter take a trip to Africa
17. S02E17CowsFebruary 24, 1972—A social worker tries to help a painfully shy young man and takes him for a visit to a country farm.
18. S02E18A Time to KeepApril 27, 1972—
19. S02E19The Fishing PartyJune 1, 1972—The adventures of three Derbyshire miners going fishing

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01The ReportersOctober 9, 1972—Two provincial newspaper reporters - one a young idealist starting out on his career, the other an embittered man who previously wrote for a
2. S03E02A Life Is for EverOctober 16, 1972—The story of a man serving a 30-year prison sentence for killing a cop
3. S03E03Carson CountryOctober 23, 1972—A story about the origin of the Stormont state
4. S03E04Man FridayOctober 30, 1972—The story of Robinson Crusoe from Man Friday's viewpoint
5. S03E05Triple ExposureNovember 6, 1972—A hippie breaks into the house of a middle-aged couple and forms a relationship with them
6. S03E06Better than the MoviesNovember 13, 1972—A man celebrating his birthday comes to appreciate the difference between media fantasy and mundane reality.
7. S03E07The General's DayNovember 20, 1972—An elderly general woos a shy school teacher.
8. S03E08The BankruptNovember 27, 1972—A washed-up executive is on the verge of bankruptcy.
9. S03E09Just Your LuckDecember 4, 1972—A pregnant teenager sets about wooing a sailor in a sectarian council estate in Greenock.
10. S03E10The Bouncing BoyDecember 11, 1972—A young couple have a baby boy. However, the new father doesn't take to his new position quite as well as expected.
11. S03E11Shakespeare or BustJanuary 8, 1973—The adventures of three Derbyshire miners going to Stratford-upon-Avon on a barge
12. S03E12Land of Green GingerJanuary 15, 1973—Faced with the prospect of being sent to work abroad, Sally Brown returns home from London to Hull, to see if she still feels the same attac
13. S03E13Kisses at FiftyJanuary 22, 1973—A long-married husband leaves his family for a barmaid.
14. S03E14Highway RobberyJanuary 29, 1973—A man fights council plans to demolish his home to make way for a new bypass.
15. S03E15Song at TwilightFebruary 5, 1973—The story of a defiant football manager in terminal decline
16. S03E16Only Make BelieveFebruary 12, 1973—As a playwright dictates notes about his newest play to his secretary, scenes from the play are acted out.
17. S03E17For Sylvia or The Air ShowFebruary 19, 1973—Was this the finest hour? Sifting the truth and fiction about the Battle of Britain, Burrows and Harding give their own account of how the n
18. S03E18The OperationFebruary 26, 1973—David Adler is an operator. He strips assets, other men's wives, and his oldest friend's soul - anything for a cool million.
19. S03E19Access to the ChildrenMarch 5, 1973—Malcolmson spends every Sunday taking his children to the zoo, reflecting on the breakdown of his marriage and the events that brought about
20. S03E20Hard LabourMarch 12, 1973—The trials of an overworked and underappreciated housecleaner
21. S03E21Man Above MenMarch 19, 1973—"I'm the judge's daughter - I think he's a monstrous old man. I think all men who say 'I'm only doing my job' are monstrous. I've despaired
22. S03E22Speech DayMarch 26, 1973—Three underachievers have fun at a school speech day
23. S03E23Steps BackMay 14, 1973—"Fifteen years since I was forced t' leave, forced t' leave me roots, the territory of me heart." When Gerry takes his fiancée Nita home to
24. S03E24Three's OneJune 4, 1973—Are Maggie and Tony using each other as a means of communicating with Dr Leafer? Or are they using Dr Leafer as a means of communicating wit
25. S03E25Edward G.--Like the Film StarJune 11, 1973—Edward G. is nothing like a film star; his life has been ordinary - until now. But he's just had a shattering experience. This edition is mi
26. S03E26Blooming YouthJune 18, 1973—The problems of four people sharing an apartment
27. S03E27The StretchJune 25, 1973—Everyone always looked after Maureen. But her husband comes home after two years in prison and finds she has grown up and he's not ready for
28. S03E28Making the PlayJuly 2, 1973—They no longer live together because, after 11 years, the marriage is over. So why is she always turning up to see him at the most embarrass

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01Mrs. Palfrey at the ClaremontOctober 18, 1973—Mrs Palfrey tries hard to be accepted by the other residents at the Claremont. But then she meets Ludo and a real friendship begins.
2. S04E02Her Majesty's PleasureOctober 25, 1973—They are all 'in' for life so the pleasures are sparse, and strictly of their own making. Their really big event is the Christmas pantomime,
3. S04E03Jack PointNovember 1, 1973—An amateur operatic society is preparing a Gilbert and Sullivan production, and someone new is needed for the role of Jack Point - but who w
4. S04E04The Emergency ChannelNovember 8, 1973—Dean has a rare talent. He can be made happy. He exudes happiness and confidence like a rare blossom. Both Sarah in the past, and Julia now,
5. S04E05Mummy and DaddyNovember 15, 1973—An early retirement and a seaside bungalow-for Arthur and Marion it's not a chance to miss, especially since their son is buying the bungalo
6. S04E06Private PracticeNovember 22, 1973—Why does Sylvia Payne , with her successful husband and luxurious home, get in such a flap about her daughter's school friend coming to visi
7. S04E07ShutdownNovember 29, 1973—Bernie gets a temporary job as an electrician during a factory's annual minimal workforce period. But what secrets is Bernie hiding, and is
8. S04E08Baby BluesDecember 6, 1973—After ten years of trying, Lavinia, and a large team of medics, finally manage to produce a live baby. She should now be able to start livin
9. S04E09Jingle BellsDecember 13, 1973—Family Christmas, presents, drink, Christmas Eve at the club, Boxing Day football - but, among the celebrations, some hard home-truths.
10. S04E10The Lonely Man's LoverJanuary 17, 1974—A young farmgirl begins a romance with an artist
11. S04E11All Good MenJanuary 31, 1974—An elderly politician looks back over his career while being interviewed by a TV producer.
12. S04E12Joe's ArkFebruary 14, 1974—A pet shop owner forsakes his religious beliefs when his daughter gets cancer
13. S04E13Hot FatFebruary 21, 1974—Sauna baths are supposed to relax you, but it rather depends who you meet in there.
14. S04E14Easy GoMarch 7, 1974—A group of Deptford youngsters hang about by the River Thames on a hot day. When they and some nearby dockers spot a valuable copper boiler
15. S04E15HeadmasterMarch 14, 1974—Fisher is good at his job but in new circumstances that isn't enough: he has to face the risks of competition for something bigger.
16. S04E16Penda's FenMarch 21, 1974 8.0Summer 1955, and pastor's son Stephen must come to terms with his own identity amid societal pressure, religious guilt and his own imagining
17. S04E17Pigeon--Hawk or Dove?March 28, 1974—At the climax of the School Sports something went drastically wrong. Now, Wallace Pidgeon faces the contradictory demands of the bird-watchi
18. S04E18Three for the FancyApril 11, 1974—Further adventures of three Derbyshire miners
19. S04E19The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black OilJune 6, 1974—The exploitation of the Scottish land and its people from the 18th century to the present
20. S04E20SchmoedipusJune 20, 1974—A young man persuades a woman that he is her son.
21. S04E21The Childhood FriendJune 27, 1974—On holiday, with his family, nothing to do and his wife ill, Sasha is only too pleased to meet again the girl he loved at 17.
22. S04E22A Follower for EmilyJuly 4, 1974—The friendship of two residents of a retirement home ends up in marriage

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01Leeds--United!October 31, 1974—About a strike in a textile factory, based on a true story
2. S05E02Baby LoveNovember 7, 1974—After the stillbirth of her illegitimate baby, a woman steals a baby at random and is sentenced to 9 months in prison.
3. S05E03Back of BeyondNovember 14, 1974—Olwen lives in a tumbledown farm up in the mountains - a lonely widow, virtually a recluse. Her only human contact is with the occasional sh
4. S05E04The BevellersNovember 21, 1974—The first (and last) day at work of a young apprentice in a bevelling shop at a Glasgow glass factory
5. S05E05Taking LeaveNovember 28, 1974—"Well, I hope I won'be seeing you come home in that uniform much more. Six years - that's long enough out of any man's life." Mike's time is
6. S05E06FugitiveDecember 5, 1974—After 18 years as a friar, Peter is no longer sure of his vocation. It is a happy life, maybe too much so, and now he has met Clare. Will hi
7. S05E07EleanorDecember 12, 1974—Eleanor is unable to communicate her inner thoughts as she's bullied at school and virtually ignored by her parents. With a mundane working
8. S05E08GangstersJanuary 9, 1975—A story exploring the Birmingham underworld
9. S05E09The After Dinner GameJanuary 16, 1975—Vice-Chancellor Bartley Humbolt has problems. His young university is almost bankrupt, his wife is threatening to leave him, his protége pro
10. S05E10BreathJanuary 23, 1975—A story about an asthma sufferer
11. S05E11The Death of a Young, Young ManJanuary 30, 1975—Three young students suspended from school face various problems.
12. S05E12Sunset Across the BayFebruary 20, 1975—A elderly couple become disillusioned when they retire to their favorite holiday resort.
13. S05E13Funny FarmFebruary 27, 1975—One day in the life a nurse in a mental hospital
14. S05E14GoodbyeMarch 6, 1975—"All I said was the gramophone's too loud." Tony and Zoe Lyle 's silly row starts like any other, but Tony finds that Zoe means it this time
15. S05E15Just Another SaturdayMarch 13, 1975—A young man participating in the Orange Parade in Glasgow becomes disillusioned with the pageant when he discovers its unpleasant and violen
16. S05E16A Child of HopeApril 24, 1975—Thirty-seven men from the disputed territory of South West Africa are on trial for their lives in Pretoria, 1,000 miles from their home. The
17. S05E17The Saturday PartyMay 1, 1975—When a stockbroker loses his job, he decides to throw a party.
18. S05E18Wednesday LoveMay 8, 1975—Two women, looking for amusement on their afternoons off, visit a drinking club.
19. S05E19The Dandelion ClockMay 15, 1975—In Belfast, a girl awaits the return of her missing father.
20. S05E20BrassneckMay 22, 1975—England, 1945-75: Builder Alfred Bagley makes a fortune, with a little help from his friends.
21. S05E21The FloaterMay 29, 1975—A comedy about the law - seen from the inside. All formality and procedure on the surface but not quite so convincing when you see the works
22. S05E22By Common ConsentJune 5, 1975—Political fantasy about a fascist regime

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

1. S06E01Plaintiffs and DefendantsOctober 14, 1975—A married barrister's life begins to unravel when it seems that his high-strung mistress may reveal all.
2. S06E02Two SundaysOctober 21, 1975—An author tells an old school chum that he is about to publish a novel revealing their old relationship.
3. S06E03MossOctober 28, 1975—Moss is a miser whose only love is his grandson. Then tragedy strikes, and Moss is "reborn."
4. S06E0484 Charing Cross RoadNovember 4, 1975—An American woman corresponds with a London bookshop owner over a period of 20 years
5. S06E05Keep an Eye on AlbertNovember 11, 1975—Terry has begun to neglect his wife for a life of drinking, weight lifting, pigeon racing and other women. But when his best friend Albert r
6. S06E06Children of the SunNovember 18, 1975—"You expect to face a bit of danger when you travel. Half the fun of it. But you keep cool and bluff your way out. After all, we're all Brit
7. S06E07After the SoloNovember 25, 1975—A boy enjoys success in the choir until his voice breaks at puberty.
8. S06E08Through the NightDecember 2, 1975—A woman goes into hospital to receive treatment for breast cancer.
9. S06E09A Passage to EnglandDecember 9, 1975—A group of Asians plans to sneak into England using a fishing boat
10. S06E10Rumpole of the BaileyDecember 16, 1975—Rumpole defends a young West Indian boy accused of attempted murder.
11. S06E11The Other WomanJanuary 6, 1976—An aggressive lesbian disrupts the lives of those around her.
12. S06E12Nuts in MayJanuary 13, 1976—Smug married couple Keith and Candice Marie “keen exponents of their belief in organic health food, exercise and the environment” are on a c
13. S06E13Doran's BoxJanuary 20, 1976—A long-distance lorry driver; a spaceman; a volunteer under reduced environmental conditions; a man in solitary confinement: the discomfort
14. S06E14Packman's BarnJanuary 27, 1976—John Barrett returns to his remote hill farm after 20 years to deal with some unfinished business, and finds himself once again in conflict
15. S06E15A Story to Frighten the ChildrenFebruary 3, 1976—A woman encounters trouble when she arrives home late at night, but her neighbors on a nearby estate claim to have seen and heard nothing.
16. S06E16The Happy Hunting GroundFebruary 10, 1976—The fish quay is a happy hunting ground for an ambitious young rogue like Bob, who has an eye on the boss's business - and all that goes wit
17. S06E17The Jumping Bean BagFebruary 17, 1976—An end-of-term play with a difference as Ozzie and the boys break into a hard rock number. But even though they make the big time, success h
18. S06E18Clay, Smeddum and GreendenFebruary 24, 1976—A play based on three short stories about the Scottish people and their relationship with the land: ""Clay"" concerns a farmer's obsession
19. S06E19Love Letters on Blue PaperMarch 2, 1976—Why has Sonia taken to writing letters to her husband, posted to him in the letter-box just outside their house - love letters, on blue pape
20. S06E20Willie RoughMarch 9, 1976—A story depicting life in a shipyard
21. S06E21Tiptoe through the TulipsMarch 16, 1976—A divorced woman is introduced to a separated man at an awkward dinner party.
22. S06E22The PeddlerMarch 23, 1976—One pill, and you're floating on air. A different one, and you're full of lead. Married, mortgaged, broke, a love-affair gone sour - which d
23. S06E23Early StrugglesMarch 30, 1976—A story about a father's attempts at single parenthood
24. S06E24Double DareApril 6, 1976—A playwright spends an afternoon in a hotel room with an actress who takes on the role of call girl for research purposes.
25. S06E25The House of Bernarda AlbaJuly 28, 1976—The eldest daughter of a domineering, overprotective mother becomes engaged to an unprincipled young man who has money.

Season 6 ranked & reviewed

1. S07E01The Bar Mitzvah BoySeptember 14, 1976—A story exploring the emotions of a boy undrgoing the traditional Jewish ceremony
2. S07E02Bet Your LifeSeptember 21, 1976—Like alcoholism, gambling is a disease. Ches, a compulsive gambler, is sent for medical help. A wonder drug perhaps? Or hypnosis maybe? Ches
3. S07E03Rocky Marciano Is DeadSeptember 28, 1976—Harry Marcus is a former welterweight champion mourning the loss of the past and dreaming of a return to the glory years of boxing. When a s
4. S07E04The Elephants' GraveyardOctober 12, 1976—Bunny’s wife thinks he is a postman, but in reality he spends his days in the Scottish hills. One day he meets Jody, a fellow walker.
5. S07E05Housewives' ChoiceOctober 19, 1976—When Joyce appears on the door-step she looks like the perfect 'kindly, respectable lady whom Marcia needs to look after her baby. But Joyce
6. S07E06Your Man from Six CountiesOctober 26, 1976—A young man from Belfast is sent south to stay with relatives in an attempt to keep him out of trouble.
7. S07E07BuffetNovember 2, 1976—Freddie is going through an existential crisis as everyone around him seems to doubt their own identity and the entire purpose of conversati
8. S07E08Love on a GunboatJanuary 4, 1977—In 1956 Britain staggers through crises in Suez and Cyprus while Leslie Potter pursues and marries Monica Dobbs. Twenty years later the nati
9. S07E09The Kiss of DeathJanuary 11, 1977—A young man's chances at romance are thwarted by his own shyness.
10. S07E10Our Flesh and BloodJanuary 18, 1977—How Mums and Dads feel when they have one.
11. S07E11Do As I SayJanuary 25, 1977—A quietly unhappy housewife finds a stranger in her house and is raped at knife-point by him. But when she turns to friends, neighbors and h
12. S07E12Spend, Spend, SpendMarch 15, 1977—The rags-to-riches-to-rags story of a 1960s football pools winner, based on a true story
13. S07E13A PhotographMarch 22, 1977—A couple receives a photograph in the mail of two girls sitting in front of a caravan and neither can identify the people or the place.
14. S07E14The Price of Coal: Meet The PeopleMarch 29, 1977—A pair of plays, broadcast over two weeks, about mining life: ""Meet the People,"" about a coal mining community preparing for a royal visi
15. S07E15The Price of Coal: Back To RealityApril 5, 1977—A pair of plays, broadcast over two weeks, about mining life: ""Meet the People,"" about a coal mining community preparing for a royal visi
16. S07E16GotchaApril 12, 1977—A student holds his teacher hostage in the classroom on the last day of school.
17. S07E17Campion's InterviewApril 12, 1977—A story about school.
18. S07E18A Choice of EvilsApril 19, 1977—The story of Father Borelli who in Rome during World War II must choose between freedom and his principles
19. S07E19The Country PartyApril 26, 1977—Richard Elkinson, the former stockbroker, is now running a country restaurant. His daughter decides to spring a surprise on him in an attemp

Season 7 ranked & reviewed

1. S08E01Stronger than the SunOctober 18, 1977—A worker discovers a radioactive leak at the nuclear power plant where she works and tries to make it public knowledge.
2. S08E02Come the RevolutionOctober 25, 1977—Mike and his commune have a performance of their musical theatre "Diver" at the local pub, and ITV's Beth Bailey is coming along to see it.
3. S08E03Abigail's PartyNovember 1, 1977—Comedy of manners focusing on the bourgeois affectation and sexual frustration of a young married couple. Abigail's mother Sue is invited to
4. S08E04Oy Vay MariaNovember 8, 1977—The story of the romance between a Jewish boy and an Irish Catholic girl
5. S08E05NipperNovember 15, 1977—Teenager Jimmy's life begins to unravel after the death of his father. With his mother promiscuous and his new stepfather and stepbrother di
6. S08E06One Day at a TimeNovember 22, 1977—"People coming to their first AA meeting, prosperous people, sometimes, accustomed to the best. They look round the places where we meet, an
7. S08E07The Mayor's CharityNovember 29, 1977—Olive Major is determined that her year of office as Mayor will be a happy and successful one. But her appointment of Ex-Warrant Officer Hig
8. S08E08Catchpenny TwistDecember 6, 1977—Three schoolteachers in Belfast give up teaching to become singers/songwriters.
9. S08E09CharadesDecember 13, 1977—"We've just got to get it right. It'll be our little secret. When all the other servants have gone out, we'll play this little game to amuse
10. S08E10The Thin End of the WedgeDecember 20, 1977—"Five days of darkness then. Unless you get it together we will have five days of darkness. And on the sixth day you will say, let there be
11. S08E11Scully's New Year's EveJanuary 3, 1978—A Liverpool teenager has a hectic night out on New Year's Eve.
12. S08E12Licking HitlerJanuary 10, 1978—During World War II, a young woman joins the propaganda department and makes radio broadcasts to Germany from a British country house.
13. S08E13Red ShiftJanuary 17, 1978—A stone axehead links three couples living at different times in the same place in Wales.
14. S08E14The SpongersJanuary 24, 1978—The story of a single mother of four living on welfare
15. S08E15DestinyJanuary 31, 1978—A story dealing with racial tensions and fascism during a by-election in a West Midlands town
16. S08E16Our Day OutFebruary 7, 1978—When a teacher takes a group of troubled school children on a school trip to Conwy in Wales, the children understand life outside of Liverpo
17. S08E17The After-Dinner JokeFebruary 14, 1978—The story of a well-meaning charity worker
18. S08E18The Legion Hall BombingAugust 22, 1978—The story of the trial of Willie Gallagher, convicted of bombing the Strabane British Legion Hall in 1976.

Season 8 ranked & reviewed

1. S09E01NinaOctober 17, 1978—The story of two Soviet dissidents living in London and slowly coming apart under the strain of his drinking and her enforced separation fro
2. S09E02Victims of ApartheidOctober 24, 1978—George, a black South African, finds it hard to settle down in London after his experiences in South Africa.
3. S09E03A Touch of the Tiny HackettsOctober 31, 1978—A young man is declared a hero when he catches a burglar until it's discovered that the burglar is a dwarf.
4. S09E04Dinner at the Sporting ClubNovember 7, 1978—A story about young boxers whose fighting provides entertainment for diners at a sporting club
5. S09E05Donal and SallyNovember 14, 1978—Adolescent love can be difficult at the best of times, but Donal and Sally have special problems - problems which alarm their families and t
6. S09E06SorryNovember 21, 1978—Consists of two plays ""Audience"" and ""Private View"" about a brewery worker and writer who incurs the wrath of the autocratic government
7. S09E07Butterflies Don't CountNovember 28, 1978—"Whether priest or thespian, never once let yourself doubt that the role you're playing is real. Lead your little flock from childhood to th
8. S09E08Soldiers Talking CleanlyDecember 5, 1978—A freelance TV presenter has been hired by the BBC to film a documentary about the British army stationed in Germany. Unfortunately the budg
9. S09E09One Bummer NewsdayDecember 12, 1978—What happens to provincial journalists when there's nothing in the news and they have a paper to fill?
10. S09E10The Out of Town BoysJanuary 2, 1979—"This could be a bit special, Maggie. This could be the first case of an office block falling down during the topping-out party."
11. S09E11VampiresJanuary 9, 1979—Three boys watch horror films on late night TV and see a man in a local cemetery whom they believe to be a vampire.
12. S09E12The Chief MournerJanuary 16, 1979—For a successful man with public responsibilities Alan Berry is strangely reluctant to help the police when his wife is murdered.
13. S09E13Waterloo SunsetJanuary 23, 1979—A young man and an old woman try to fit in when their neighborhood goes West Indian
14. S09E14Blue Remembered HillsJanuary 30, 1979—The play activities of seven children living in the countryside during the summer of 1943 end in tragedy; the children were played by adults
15. S09E15Who's WhoFebruary 6, 1979—Slice-of-life look at class divisions among employees of a brokerage house. Alan, with his portrait of the Queen and love of the peerage; hi
16. S09E16The Last Window CleanerFebruary 13, 1979—The Irish troubles as seen by residents of a boarding house called ""The Crumlin View""
17. S09E17Ploughman's ShareFebruary 27, 1979—"Ploughman. Nobody calls you that. You're a has-been. Your head and heart went into a museum wi' that lot you keep in there. Face it: you're
18. S09E18Degree of UncertaintyMarch 6, 1979—"I'm 37 years old, remember? I'm not a dead-pan, genned-up, discreetly nymphomaniac ex-head-girl like the majority of your female students.
19. S09E19LightMarch 13, 1979—A village in Cheshire. A deserted cinema. A poet murdered by Stalin. A blown fuse. Victor Silvester. Pickets on trial. Trimmers and fishwire
20. S09E20Coming OutApril 10, 1979—A closeted homosexual writer is content to lead a double life
21. S09E21Don't Be SillyJuly 24, 1979—A young wife tries to cope with her abusive husband.

Season 9 ranked & reviewed

1. S10E01Long Distance InformationOctober 11, 1979—A fanatical Elvis Presley fan is working as a disc jockey when his idol dies
2. S10E02Cries from a WatchtowerOctober 18, 1979—A watchmaker finds his livelihood is threatened by cheaply imported digital watches.
3. S10E03ComediansOctober 25, 1979—Budding comedians take an evening class taught by a retired performer and, for their final exam, must perform for an impresario in a nightcl
4. S10E04Even SolomonNovember 1, 1979—Stephen Piper is a quiet young man. A virgin, he shows no interest in sex, and is cruelly scorned by an aggressive female neighbour when he
5. S10E05Just a Boy's GameNovember 8, 1979—In Glasgow, a young man's sole aim is to be as tough as his dying grandfather once was
6. S10E06BillyNovember 15, 1979—A 4-year-old boy is abused by his father
7. S10E07A Hole in BabylonNovember 29, 1979—Exploration of the events leading up to 1975 Spaghetti House siege in London and the motivation of its three protagonists, T-Bone Wilson, Ar
8. S10E08The Slab-BoysDecember 6, 1979—The story of a young man who works in a carpet factory
9. S10E09Katie: The Year of a ChildDecember 13, 1979—A teenage girl from a family of Irish Travellers is left to look after her brothers and sisters while her father is away.
10. S10E10The NetworkDecember 20, 1979—What do Rose from Devon and Christina from Stuttgart have in common? And in what way is their fate linked to that of wealthy Fiona Dunkerley
11. S10E11Chance of a LifetimeJanuary 3, 1980—A young man quits school and joins the army.
12. S10E12Keep SmilingJanuary 10, 1980—Family picnics should not be like this: bugging devices, men with X-ray eyes. Mary doesn't understand what terrifies Simon, nor the bizarre
13. S10E13Dreams of LeavingJanuary 17, 1980—A journalist moves to London and gets caught up in the big city and his romance with a rich debutante.
14. S10E14Thicker Than WaterJanuary 24, 1980—Various characters have adventures on the way to a black pudding festival in Normandy.
15. S10E15Murder RapJanuary 31, 1980—An Englishman's home is his castle, and Wally aims to prove it.
16. S10E16Instant Enlightenment Including VATFebruary 7, 1980—Weekend enlightenment seminars serve as a form of brainwashing.
17. S10E17No DefenceFebruary 14, 1980—Mr. Germanou arrives from Cyprus with his family to settle in England. But on his arrival he's arrested for an historical rape with seemingl
18. S10E18That Crazy WomanFebruary 21, 1980—Twenty years ago, at the age of 56, this extraordinary woman became a national hero by walking from John O'Groats to Land's End. One of the
19. S10E19A Gift from NessusFebruary 28, 1980—The marital and career problems of a middle-aged, middle-class man in Glasgow in the 1960s
20. S10E20Kate, the Good NeighbourMarch 6, 1980—A compassionate elderly woman comes to the realization that she can no longer care for herself or others.
21. S10E21BusesMarch 13, 1980—A story about the regulation of the bus industry in 1930
22. S10E22Shadows on Our SkinMarch 20, 1980—The problems of an 11-year-old boy living in the Catholic part of Londonderry
23. S10E23LadiesMarch 27, 1980—The A Shift at the MHS department store are organising a wedding gift presentation for Elaine. But what's on Miriam's mind, and why does she
24. S10E24The Vanishing ArmyApril 3, 1980—A story about the highs and lows of peacetime army life
25. S10E25Not for the Likes of UsApril 10, 1980—"I dunno, years of putting up with it, waiting on you all, for what? Eh? To become a 14-stone invisible woman?"
26. S10E26The ExecutionerApril 17, 1980—Jan and Meg Citron are on holiday in Germany. Their car is stopped by the police. A simple traffic offence? But their seemingly innocent pas
27. S10E27The Imitation GameApril 24, 1980—During World War II, an idealistic young woman joins the Army Transport Service
28. S10E28A Walk in the ForestMay 14, 1980—A writer gets involved with a Soviet dissident

Season 10 ranked & reviewed

1. S11E01PasmoreOctober 21, 1980—Colin Pasmore tests his strength against his family ties but finds them stronger than he ever imagined.
2. S11E02C2H5OHOctober 28, 1980—"In heaven there is no drama - drama depends on failure and conflict. My trade is a scrutiny of hell. For any proud dramatist his style is h
3. S11E03The Adventures of Frank: Everybody's Fiddling SomethingNovember 4, 1980—Writer-director John McGrath deliberately shies away from naturalism in an experiment that mixes blue screen, songs, and characters realisin
4. S11E04The Adventures of Frank: Seeds of IceNovember 11, 1980—
5. S11E05Minor ComplicationsNovember 18, 1980—Kay Gilbert goes into hospital for a minor operation which goes badly wrong. This play tells the story of her fight for compensation.
6. S11E06Number on EndNovember 25, 1980—What could Steve Jackson's documentary film expose that must be concealed from the African leaders meeting in Brussels? Steve Jackson is on
7. S11E07JudeDecember 2, 1980—Twelve-year-old Jude has never met Dick, his father. One Sunday afternoon Dick impulsively engineers a meeting, which has distressing conseq
8. S11E08The Flipside of Dominick HideDecember 9, 1980—Dominick Hide, a time traveller from London in the year 2130, is studying the city's transport system of 1980. Breaking the rules, he lands
9. S11E09Name for the DayDecember 16, 1980—Clive admits himself to a psychiatric hospital after undergoing a breakdown. His wife wants him back home, but in order for Clive to be rele
10. S11E10JessieDecember 23, 1980—In Victorian times, a nanny cares for a mute boy, who becomes overly attached to her.
11. S11E11Beyond the PaleJanuary 6, 1981—A vacation at a seaside hotel in Ireland changes the lives of four friends.
12. S11E12The Muscle MarketJanuary 13, 1981—The problems of an owner of a building contractor company in Liverpool
13. S11E13A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El DoradoJanuary 20, 1981—"They're nice affable gobblers and we're in the nice affable gobbling business." Tom and Gwen soon find that their gastronomical retreat fro
14. S11E14Dear BrutusJanuary 27, 1981—"They say that in the wood you get what nearly everybody here is longing for - a second chance." J. M. Barrie's fantasy play, depicting alte
15. S11E15The CauseFebruary 3, 1981—A confused industrial dispute at a London hospital triggers off in trade unionist George Harley's mind memories of his days fighting in the
16. S11E16Beloved EnemyFebruary 10, 1981—The head of a multinational corporation wants to do business with the Soviets
17. S11E17The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion DinnerFebruary 17, 1981—A group of men hold a reunion dinner in Tokyo
18. S11E18The UnionFebruary 24, 1981—You know the nuts and bolts of our policy? To penetrate the unions. To use all sorts of stratagems, manoeuvres, illegal measures, evasions,
19. S11E19SorryMarch 3, 1981—Two very different women share an office, a common enemy, and a sense of humour.
20. S11E20Shai Mãlã Khani: The GarlandMarch 10, 1981—When her 17-year-old son Roy falls in love with a Muslim girl, and a Bangladeshi butcher seeks help from her husband Raji, Leela realizes th
21. S11E21The Sin BinMarch 17, 1981—Six lifers living in an experimental self-rehabilitation unit attached to an ordinary prison participate in a group therapy session. All of
22. S11E22Before Water LilliesMarch 24, 1981—An evening with the Parent-Teacher Association gets out of hand.
23. S11E23Bavarian NightMarch 31, 1981—When the dynamic young head-master of St Peter's Primary School decides to liven up a parents' fund-raising social by hiring a Bavarian band
24. S11E24The Good Time GirlsApril 7, 1981—Nancy and Ella are two bored housewives starved of affection when their husbands are away on the oil rigs. The rules are simple: have some f
25. S11E25Baby TalkApril 14, 1981—It's such a simple, natural thing to have a baby, thinks Mary. But she and husband Paul are preoccupied with their careers. Can their young
26. S11E26A Turn for the WorseApril 28, 1981—Soldiers are subjected to a brutal and sadistic kind of psychological training exercise
27. S11E27Psy-WarriorsMay 12, 1981—Soldiers are captured and interrogated by terrorists: but is it real or only a sadistic form of psychological training exercise?

Season 11 ranked & reviewed

1. S12E01CountryOctober 20, 1981—The story of the disintegration of an aristocratic country estate after World War II
2. S12E02London Is DrowningOctober 27, 1981—A docudrama about what would happen if London was hit by severe flooding
3. S12E03A Room for the WinterNovember 3, 1981—James, an expatriate South African anti-apartheid fighter, deals with his nightmares and his complaining landlady in a run-down area of Lond
4. S12E04No Visible ScarNovember 17, 1981—A nurse is subjected to an interrogation after giving medical treatment to a terrorist leader.
5. S12E05Iris in the Traffic, Ruby in the RainNovember 24, 1981—In Belfast, Ruby has a cold and is caught in the rain while Iris is looking for work and gets caught in traffic
6. S12E06ProtestDecember 1, 1981—In an adaptation of Václav Havel's play, a dissident, newly released from prison for political reasons, attempts to get his well-connected f
7. S12E07United KingdomDecember 8, 1981—Two men on a local council fight the system when forced with massive spending cuts.
8. S12E08PQ17December 15, 1981—During World War II, a British officer is ordered to abandon a Russian convoy.
9. S12E09The FactoryDecember 22, 1981—A manager, a foreman, and two workers are all that remains of a factory yet labor relations stay the same
10. S12E10England's Green and Pleasant LandJanuary 5, 1982—A planning decision must be made, and the motorway extension must go through on either the Golf Course or the Allotments - will the greens s
11. S12E11A Cotswold DeathJanuary 12, 1982—A police inspector investigates the murder of an Arab sheik who had become a village's Lord of the Manor.
12. S12E12Under the SkinJanuary 19, 1982—Three women involved in different ways in the women's movement.
13. S12E13CommitmentsJanuary 26, 1982—Politics and relationships during the last years of the Heath government
14. S12E14Life After DeathFebruary 2, 1982—Meg: We were so close, we loved each other, we made a whole together. I feel cut in half.
15. S12E15The Silly SeasonFebruary 9, 1982—Malcolm goes through life hating the mundanity of his existence as a factory worker and an unloved husband. But when students take up summer
16. S12E16Too Late to Talk to BillyFebruary 16, 1982—A family in Belfast deals with life after the death of the mother from cancer
17. S12E17Willie's Last StandFebruary 23, 1982—Willie and his friends notice the passage of time around them, and how society is changing as their marriages stagnate. Can Willie prove to
18. S12E18TishooMarch 9, 1982—Frank has dedicated 19 years to researching a cure for the common cold, and is almost ready to publish a paper. Yet budget cuts and his own
19. S12E19Home Sweet HomeMarch 16, 1982 6.4Three postal workers and their dysfunctional families interact over cups of tea and Sunday dinner. Home Sweet Home is a 1982 television film
20. S12E20A Sudden WrenchMarch 23, 1982—"My life is over - and I just didn't notice it passing." A call to a radio helpline leads to depressed housewife Christine finding a new dir
21. S12E21Eve Set the Balls of Corruption GoingMarch 30, 1982—Adolescents will always be obsessed by the same old subject, even when they are educated by nuns. Six ex-Classmates meet for the first time
22. S12E22Whistling WallyApril 6, 1982—While Wally was happy there wasn't much wrong with the world, and pints seemed a small price to pay for what he gave us. But don't forget wh

Season 12 ranked & reviewed

1. S13E01Soft TargetsOctober 19, 1982—A story about a homesick Russian journalist in London at the end of the cold war
2. S13E02Three Minute HeroesOctober 26, 1982—Out on the streets, young people looking for fun. They come together at nights to listen to their music. For as long as the song lasts, they
3. S13E03The Remainder ManNovember 2, 1982—Jack's obsession with the possibility of nuclear war sees him usher his family down into his home made fall out shelter after a nuclear stri
4. S13E04Intensive CareNovember 9, 1982—A man holds a lonely vigil at the bedside of his dying father.
5. S13E05A Mother Like HimNovember 16, 1982—A family of five orphaned children are going to be split up into different homes. What will happen if the eldest is officially made their fo
6. S13E06John DavidNovember 23, 1982—After giving birth to a Down's Syndrome baby, Judith decides she doesn't want to keep him. Obliged to register the birth she arbitrarily cho
7. S13E07AliensNovember 30, 1982—In June 1940 Italy entered the war. With Britain threatened by a German invasion thousands of Italians were seized and thrown into security
8. S13E08Another Flip for DominickDecember 14, 1982—Two years after his journey to the past, Dominick Hide has been promoted to instructor and is no longer a time traveller. Then one of his pu
9. S13E09Last LoveMarch 1, 1983—Annabel, an upper-middle-class widow, falls in love with Jack, a self-made man of humble origins. Her grown-up children do not approve.
10. S13E10Gates of GoldMarch 8, 1983—In 1959 County Antrim, two traveling evangelists help a mentally retarded teenager
11. S13E11Wayne and AlbertMarch 15, 1983—Wayne goes to live with his grandfather Albert. Initial generation gap hostilities between them are eventually overcome as a mutual respect
12. S13E12AtlantisMarch 22, 1983—Goff and Lytton have a dream - a canal boat of their own on which to cruise the inland waterways: The reality is the boatyard of Josh Adkins
13. S13E13The Last TermApril 5, 1983—Devon 1940. The boys of the local public school are alerted after a German parachute drop and as members of the Local Defence Volunteers the
14. S13E14Reluctant ChickensApril 12, 1983—Malcolm is a GP wrestling with ideas of retirement, while his wife Jo is a frustrated, would-be novelist. Together they dream of a more cont
15. S13E15Shall I Be Mother?April 19, 1983—Susan and Jenny are aged 13 and 14 and in care. Jenny's mother has died, Susan hasn't seen hers for years Both influence the close, stormy r
16. S13E16The Falklands FactorApril 26, 1983—The 18th century writer Samuel Johnson writes a political pamphlet protesting the British going to war with Spain after the 1790 invasion of
17. S13E17A Matter of Choice for BillyMay 10, 1983—When his father leaves Belfast to seek work in England, a young man looks after his sister
18. S13E18Floating OffAugust 24, 1983—A businessman tries to keep his son from finding out about an unconventional deal he and his secretary are making with a merchant bank.

Season 13 ranked & reviewed

1. S14E01Stan's Last GameOctober 25, 1983—James Grout and Bert Parnaby are rival chairmen of a northern football club in the run-up to an important cup match. As tempers fray, retiri
2. S14E02Young ShouldersFebruary 14, 1984—Cynical teenager Andrew Groves re-evaluates his attitude to life and his parents after his sister dies in a plane crash.
3. S14E03A Coming to Terms for BillyFebruary 21, 1984—When his father comes home to Belfast after more than 2 years in England, conflicts arise with Billy
4. S14E04Z for ZachariahFebruary 28, 1984—After a nuclear holocaust, only a man and a woman survive in a Welsh valley.
5. S14E05Moving on the EdgeMarch 6, 1984—A woman in a state of personal crisis finds it hard to communicate with her husband and family.
6. S14E06Desert of LiesMarch 13, 1984—An expedition tracing the path of long-lost missionaries meets with tragedy in the Kalahari Desert.
7. S14E07Hard FeelingsMarch 20, 1984—A group of unemployed Oxford drop-outs living in a Brixton commune get their come-uppance by one of them.
8. S14E08Under the HammerMarch 27, 1984—Concerning the life of the artist Vincent Van Gogh
9. S14E09KingApril 3, 1984—A man who has had a good life in England wants to retire to Jamaica, but the celebration with his daughters doesn't go as expected.
10. S14E10Rainy Day WomenApril 10, 1984—In 1940, during World War II, an officer is sent to investigate rumors of German spies in a sleepy village where various people are the vict
11. S14E11Dog EndsJuly 17, 1984 7.0In a future society where euthansia is common, a man signs papers to have his father put down
12. S14E12The Groundling and the KiteJuly 24, 1984—Peter is a songwriter, while his old friend Jimmy is an A and R (Artists and Repertoire) man. But when Jimmy tries to sell one of Peter's so
13. S14E13The CryJuly 31, 1984—In 1959 Ulster, a journalist witnesses the beating of a youth
14. S14E14It Could Happen to AnybodyAugust 14, 1984—A long-suffering Glasgow housewife puts up with years of her husband's violence and drunkenness - and then something happens which makes her
15. S14E15Only ChildrenAugust 21, 1984—A young woman's comfortable life is turned upside down when she has a baby.
16. S14E16The Amazing Miss Stella EstelleAugust 28, 1984—Miss Stella Estelle is a cabaret singer in working men's clubs, and she sings songs from the 1960s to support a large and difficult family.
17. S14E17The Long MarchNovember 20, 1984—A woman returns to Belfast after ten years in England and becomes involved in the Maze prison protest.
18. S14E18PuntersNovember 27, 1984—What is the secret of Joey and Spansky's success at the races?
19. S14E19Talk To MeDecember 11, 1984—Matthew and his wife are deeply suspicious of psychoanalysis. It's not their sort of thing at all.
20. S14E20Bird FancierJanuary 15, 1985—
21. S14E21BrigadistaFebruary 5, 1985—When best-selling author James Fuller Hayes comes to Glasgow to publicise his personal account of the Spanish Civil War, a surprise reunion

Season 14 ranked & reviewed