Compact 1962
★ 5.0/10 · 3 votes DramaSoap 4 seasons · 373 eps Ended
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Quick answer
What is Compact?
Compact was a British television series that aired from 1962 to 1965. The show was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, who also devised another series called Crossroads.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1962
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 373
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 2, 1962
- Last aired
- Jul 30, 1965
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC One
- Genres
- Drama, Soap
- Updated
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Estimate the schedule using 373 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Compact was a British television series that aired from 1962 to 1965. The show was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, who also devised another series called Crossroads. Compact was a soap opera that differed from other shows of its time, such as Coronation Street, in its focus on the middle class. The series was set in the world of magazine publishing, which provided a unique backdrop for the characters' personal and professional storylines. The show was broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays by the BBC. Compact is described as an early "avarice" soap, exploring the intersection of business and personal lives. The series was shown on the BBC during its run. The creators of Compact went on to work on other projects, with Hazel Adair and Peter Ling being credited as the minds behind the series.
Sources & verification
Compact — The Movie Database (TMDB)
COMPACT-TV - YouTube
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Should you watch it?
“A British soap opera set within the professional and personal world of a magazine publishing company.”
Reasons to watch
- explores business workplace dynamics
- contrasts with kitchen sink realism
Keep in mind
- limited availability of surviving episodes
Watch it if you are interested in the evolution of British daytime television serials.
The series features middle-class characters and professional workplace drama typical of early 1960s British television.
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Episode guide
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Season 1 · 105 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 The First Issue Mytharc Jan 2, 1962
- E2 Advice To Readers Core Jan 4, 1962
- E3 Efficiency Expert Core Jan 9, 1962
- E4 Cover Photograph Core Jan 11, 1962
- E5 Tea Break Core Jan 16, 1962
- E6 Personal Problem Core Jan 18, 1962
- E7 The New Broom Core Jan 23, 1962
- E8 Sally Speaks Up Core Jan 25, 1962
- E9 Question Of Identity Core Jan 30, 1962
- E10 Wedding Grove Core Feb 1, 1962
- E11 Suspicion Of Theft Core Feb 6, 1962
- E12 Happy Birthday Core Feb 8, 1962
- E13 Valentine's Day Core Feb 13, 1962
- E14 Testing Time Core Feb 15, 1962
- E15 Something To Celebrate Core Feb 20, 1962
- E16 Press Reception Core Feb 22, 1962
- E17 A True Story Core Feb 27, 1962
- E18 Circulation Figures Core Mar 1, 1962
- E19 News From New York Core Mar 6, 1962
- E20 A Breath Of Air Core Mar 8, 1962
- E21 The Party Core Mar 13, 1962
- E22 After The Ball Core Mar 15, 1962
- E23 Shocks And Bruises Core Mar 20, 1962
- E24 Weekend Core Mar 22, 1962
- E25 Action Stations Core Mar 27, 1962
- E26 The Ideal Husband Core Mar 29, 1962
- E27 Future Plans Core Apr 3, 1962
- E28 Facing The Facts Core Apr 5, 1962
- E29 A Night Out Core Apr 10, 1962
- E30 Point Of Departure Core Apr 12, 1962
- E31 Surprises By Post Core Apr 17, 1962
- E32 A Piece Of Cake Core Apr 19, 1962
- E33 Pets Corner Core Apr 24, 1962
- E34 The Man For The Job Core Apr 26, 1962
- E35 Down The Hatch Core May 1, 1962
- E36 Stormy Weather Core May 3, 1962
- E37 Musical Evening Core May 8, 1962
- E38 Talent Contest Core May 10, 1962
- E39 Visting Hours Core May 15, 1962
- E40 Mixed Receptions Core May 17, 1962
- E41 Home And Away Core May 22, 1962
- E42 Day Of Frenzy Core May 24, 1962
- E43 Moment Of Truth Core May 29, 1962
- E44 In A Spin Core May 31, 1962
- E45 The Big Chance Core Jun 5, 1962
- E46 Garden Party Core Jun 7, 1962
- E47 Happy Returns Core Jun 12, 1962
- E48 Man And Wife Core Jun 14, 1962
- E49 Blackmail Core Jun 19, 1962
- E50 Take-Over Time Core Jun 21, 1962
- E51 The Proposal Core Jun 26, 1962
- E52 Faraway Places Core Jun 28, 1962
- E53 Barbecue Core Jul 3, 1962
- E54 A Day Of Problems Core Jul 5, 1962
- E55 Comings And Goings Core Jul 10, 1962
- E56 Looking Ahead Core Jul 12, 1962
- E57 Weekend Plans Core Jul 17, 1962
- E58 Settlement Day Core Jul 19, 1962
- E59 Gone Astray Core Jul 24, 1962
- E60 Evening Date Core Jul 26, 1962
- E61 A Night Out Core Jul 31, 1962
- E62 Pay Off Core Aug 2, 1962
- E63 Moving Up Core Aug 7, 1962
- E64 Surprise Party Core Aug 9, 1962
- E65 Riding For A Fall Mytharc Aug 14, 1962
- E66 Unguarded Moment Core Aug 16, 1962
- E67 Skin Deep Core Aug 21, 1962
- E68 The Contest Core Aug 23, 1962
- E69 Ebb And Flow Core Aug 28, 1962
- E70 Budget Leak Core Aug 30, 1962
- E71 Andiamo Core Sep 4, 1962
- E72 Out For The Count Core Sep 6, 1962
- E73 Finger Of Suspicion Core Sep 11, 1962
- E74 Detective Work Core Sep 13, 1962
- E75 The Elopement Core Sep 18, 1962
- E76 Heartbeat Core Sep 20, 1962
- E77 The First Clue Core Sep 25, 1962
- E78 Trapped Core Sep 27, 1962
- E79 The Morning After Core Oct 2, 1962
- E80 Facing The Facts Core Oct 4, 1962
- E81 Heart To Heart Core Oct 9, 1962
- E82 Day Of Revolutions Core Oct 11, 1962
- E83 True To Type Core Oct 16, 1962
- E84 Where There's Smoke Core Oct 18, 1962
- E85 Burns And Shock Core Oct 23, 1962
- E86 Who's Who? Core Oct 25, 1962
- E87 Horoscope Core Oct 30, 1962
- E88 Point Of Departure Core Nov 1, 1962
- E89 The Truth Of The Matter Core Nov 6, 1962
- E90 A Case Of Identity Core Nov 8, 1962
- E91 Questions And Answers Core Nov 13, 1962
- E92 French Leave Core Nov 15, 1962
- E93 Lost And Found Core Nov 20, 1962
- E94 Art And Craft Core Nov 22, 1962
- E95 The Best Laid Plans Core Nov 27, 1962
- E96 Profit And Loss Core Nov 29, 1962
- E97 Setting A Trap Core Dec 4, 1962
- E98 Sparks Flying Core Dec 6, 1962
- E99 The Bad Penny Core Dec 12, 1962
- E100 All That Jazz Core Dec 14, 1962
- E101 Five More Shopping Days Core Dec 18, 1962
- E102 Christmas Spirit Core Dec 20, 1962
- E103 Business As Usual Core Dec 27, 1962
- E121 Unofficial Strike Core Feb 28, 1963
- E279 Many questions Mytharc Sep 7, 1964
Season 2 · 105 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Happy Birthday Mytharc Jan 1, 1963
- E2 Merely Players Core Jan 3, 1963
- E3 Picture Page Core Jan 8, 1963
- E4 Research Pays Off Core Jan 10, 1963
- E5 Waiting For News Core Jan 15, 1963
- E6 Staff Changes Core Jan 17, 1963
- E7 The New Editor Core Jan 22, 1963
- E8 To See Ourselves Core Jan 24, 1963
- E9 Changing Step Core Jan 29, 1963
- E10 Military Honours Core Jan 31, 1963
- E11 Vital Talks Core Feb 5, 1963
- E12 The Man For The Job Core Feb 7, 1963
- E13 Black Ice Core Feb 12, 1963
- E14 The Magpie's Hoard Core Feb 14, 1963
- E15 The Thief Core Feb 19, 1963
- E16 United We Stand Core Feb 21, 1963
- E17 Shrove Tuesday Core Feb 26, 1963
- E18 Unofficial Strike Core Feb 28, 1963
- E19 Emergency Core Mar 5, 1963
- E20 Normal Working Core Mar 7, 1963
- E21 On The Edge Core Mar 12, 1963
- E22 Shock Tactics Core Mar 14, 1963
- E23 The Winner Core Mar 19, 1963
- E24 Chicken And Champagne Core Mar 21, 1963
- E25 The Highway Man Core Mar 26, 1963
- E26 A List Of Names Core Mar 28, 1963
- E27 The Wrong Idea Core Apr 2, 1963
- E28 Fire And Water Core Apr 4, 1963
- E29 A Question Of Age Core Apr 9, 1963
- E30 Tangled Web Core Apr 11, 1963
- E31 Little Boy Lost Core Apr 16, 1963
- E32 Sent To Coventry Core Apr 18, 1963
- E33 Money Trouble Core Apr 23, 1963
- E34 Mr Bruce Remembers Core Apr 25, 1963
- E35 Echo From The Past Core Apr 30, 1963
- E36 The Puffing Doctor Core May 2, 1963
- E37 A Novel Situation Core May 7, 1963
- E38 Bitter Wine Core May 9, 1963
- E39 Moments Of Truth Core May 14, 1963
- E40 The New Understanding Core May 16, 1963
- E41 I'll Be In Scotland Before Ye Core May 21, 1963
- E42 Auld Acquaintance Core May 23, 1963
- E43 Family Crisis Core May 28, 1963
- E44 The McDee In London Core May 30, 1963
- E45 A Day At The Seaside Core Jun 4, 1963
- E46 Run Away Core Jun 6, 1963
- E47 Truth Will Out Core Jun 11, 1963
- E48 Living In The Past Core Jun 13, 1963
- E49 Big Brother Core Jun 18, 1963
- E50 Out In Limbo Core Jun 20, 1963
- E51 A Case Of Desperation Core Jun 26, 1963
- E52 Welcome Home Core Jun 28, 1963
- E53 Missing Facts Core Jul 2, 1963
- E54 Artist Unknown Core Jul 4, 1963
- E55 Back To Work Core Jul 9, 1963
- E56 Where Is The Skeleton? Core Jul 11, 1963
- E57 A Mystery Solved Core Jul 16, 1963
- E58 Highland Fling Core Jul 17, 1963
- E59 The Ultimatum Core Jul 23, 1963
- E60 Power Play Core Jul 25, 1963
- E61 The Reluctant Heroine Core Jul 30, 1963
- E62 Principles Won't Stop James Core Aug 1, 1963
- E63 Who Pays For Leadership? Core Aug 6, 1963
- E64 Because Of Alan Core Aug 8, 1963
- E65 Stolen - One Cigarette Case, Gold Core Aug 13, 1963
- E66 Man Proposes Core Aug 15, 1963
- E67 Investigations Proceed Core Aug 20, 1963
- E68 A Shower Of Confetti Core Aug 22, 1963
- E69 On The Run Core Aug 27, 1963
- E70 The Gamblers Core Aug 29, 1963
- E71 Lost, Stolen, Or Strayed Core Sep 3, 1963
- E72 A Ring For Iris Core Sep 5, 1963
- E73 Faith And Begorra Core Sep 10, 1963
- E74 A Touch Of The Blarney Core Sep 12, 1963
- E75 Surprise Packet Core Sep 17, 1963
- E76 The Sound Of Fury Core Sep 19, 1963
- E77 Aftermath Core Sep 24, 1963
- E78 The Party Member Core Sep 26, 1963
- E79 The Mighty Fallen Core Oct 1, 1963
- E80 The Reception Core Oct 3, 1963
- E81 Alarms And Excursions Core Oct 8, 1963
- E82 Two Faced Core Oct 10, 1963
- E83 Stranded Core Oct 15, 1963
- E84 Two Lovely Black Eyes Core Oct 17, 1963
- E85 Chain Of Events Core Oct 22, 1963
- E86 Night Call Core Oct 24, 1963
- E87 Dinner At Eight Core Oct 29, 1963
- E88 Marmot James Again Core Oct 31, 1963
- E89 Fireworks All Round Core Nov 5, 1963
- E90 Wine and a Weekend Core Nov 7, 1963
- E91 You Have Talent - We Want It Core Nov 12, 1963
- E92 They Fell Among Thieves Core Nov 14, 1963
- E93 The News Breaks Core Nov 19, 1963
- E94 Happy Birthday Core Nov 21, 1963
- E95 The Tax Man Cometh Core Nov 26, 1963
- E96 Bottled On The Premises Core Nov 28, 1963
- E97 Celebration Core Dec 3, 1963
- E98 Afterthoughts Core Dec 5, 1963
- E99 No Promises - I'll Take Cash Core Dec 10, 1963
- E100 Wait For The Bang Core Dec 12, 1963
- E101 The New Editor Core Dec 17, 1963
- E102 A Job For The Boy Core Dec 19, 1963
- E103 Dress Rehearsal Core Dec 24, 1963
- E104 On Stage Mytharc Dec 26, 1963
- E105 Happy New Year Mytharc Dec 31, 1963
Season 3 · 103 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Weekend Guest Mytharc Jan 2, 1964
- E2 A Place Of Your Own Core Jan 4, 1964
- E3 A Question Of Morals Core Jan 6, 1964
- E4 The Enquiry Core Jan 14, 1964
- E5 The Opening Core Jan 16, 1964
- E6 Hand In Marriage Core Jan 21, 1964
- E7 The Best Policy Core Jan 23, 1964
- E8 One Of Us Must Go Core Jan 28, 1964
- E9 Love You And Leave You Core Jan 30, 1964
- E10 Battle Of The Sexes Core Feb 4, 1964
- E11 Unexpected Guests Core Feb 6, 1964
- E12 Mutual Understanding Core Feb 11, 1964
- E13 Surprises Core Feb 13, 1964
- E14 Walls Have Ears Core Feb 16, 1964
- E15 In The Air Core Feb 17, 1964
- E16 The Poison Spreads Core Feb 25, 1964
- E17 The Fatal Call Core Feb 27, 1964
- E18 An End And A Beginning Core Mar 3, 1964
- E19 The Night Visitors Core Mar 5, 1964
- E20 Plots And Plans Core Mar 10, 1964
- E21 Secrets And Lies Core Mar 12, 1964
- E22 The Ides Of March Core Mar 17, 1964
- E23 False Evidence Core Mar 19, 1964
- E24 A Difficult Assignment Core Mar 24, 1964
- E25 The Eve Of The Wedding Core Mar 26, 1964
- E26 Just Married - Good Luck Core Mar 31, 1964
- E27 Honeymoon And Holidays Core Apr 2, 1964
- E28 Rush Job Core Apr 7, 1964
- E29 Moment Of Truth Core Apr 9, 1964
- E30 Hot And Cold Core Apr 14, 1964
- E31 Home And Away Core Apr 16, 1964
- E32 Ian In Danger Core Apr 19, 1964
- E33 Investigations Core Apr 24, 1964
- E34 Guilty Conscience Core Apr 28, 1964
- E35 To Be Delivered By Hand Core Apr 30, 1964
- E36 Business Not Blackmail Core May 5, 1964
- E37 A Ray Of Hope Core May 7, 1964
- E38 Success Story Core May 12, 1964
- E39 Wine, Women, And Song Core May 14, 1964
- E40 Delicate Negotiations Core May 19, 1964
- E41 Parties And Quarrels Core May 21, 1964
- E42 Who Is Eddie Pritchard? Core May 26, 1964
- E43 Crossed Swords Core May 28, 1964
- E44 A Question Of Loyalties Core Jun 2, 1964
- E45 Picture Clue Core Jun 4, 1964
- E46 To Catch A Thief Core Jun 9, 1964
- E47 Play On Crime Core Jun 11, 1964
- E48 The Unexpected Core Jun 16, 1964
- E49 Encounter Core Jun 18, 1964
- E50 The Verdict Was Guilty Core Jun 23, 1964
- E51 Emergency Call Core Jun 25, 1964
- E52 The Kiss Of Life Core Jun 30, 1964
- E53 Have You Anything To Say? Core Jul 2, 1964
- E54 Hide And Seek Core Jul 7, 1964
- E55 Find The Lady Core Jul 9, 1964
- E56 Responsibilities Core Jul 14, 1964
- E57 Time Of Trial Core Jul 16, 1964
- E58 A Boy Comes Home Core Jul 21, 1964
- E59 Old Friends And Familiar Faces Core Jul 23, 1964
- E60 The Offer Core Jul 28, 1964
- E61 The Dilemma Core Jul 30, 1964
- E62 The Bowler Hat Trick Core Aug 4, 1964
- E63 A Game Of Consequences Core Aug 6, 1964
- E64 Model Mystery Core Aug 11, 1964
- E65 Unexpected Temperament Core Aug 17, 1964
- E66 Paradise - My Island Home Core Aug 20, 1964
- E67 Departures Core Aug 24, 1964
- E68 Backfire Core Aug 27, 1964
- E69 Business With Pleasure Core Aug 31, 1964
- E70 Treasure Hunt Core Sep 3, 1964
- E71 Many Questions Core Sep 7, 1964
- E72 Blow The Wind - Westerly Core Sep 9, 1964
- E73 Dear Mister Bruce Core Sep 14, 1964
- E74 Unconditional Surrender Core Sep 17, 1964
- E75 Best Laid Plans Core Sep 22, 1964
- E76 Credit Where Credit's Due Core Sep 25, 1964
- E77 The Warning Core Sep 29, 1964
- E78 Departure And Return Core Oct 2, 1964
- E79 Friends And Relations Core Oct 6, 1964
- E80 Goodbye Forever Core Oct 9, 1964
- E81 The Shadow Of Danger Core Oct 13, 1964
- E82 Between Life And Death Core Oct 16, 1964
- E83 A Spy In The Camp Core Oct 20, 1964
- E84 Smugglers Gold Core Oct 23, 1964
- E85 Kooky Christening Core Oct 27, 1964
- E86 Moving On Core Oct 30, 1964
- E87 To The Rescue Core Nov 3, 1964
- E88 Over The Wall Core Nov 6, 1964
- E89 Mistaken Identity Core Nov 10, 1964
- E90 Home And Dry Core Nov 13, 1964
- E91 Maiden Voyage Core Nov 17, 1964
- E92 Tangled Web Core Nov 20, 1964
- E93 Secrets All Round Core Nov 24, 1964
- E94 Lost Property Core Nov 27, 1964
- E95 The Truth Will Out Core Dec 1, 1964
- E96 Weekend Plans Core Dec 3, 1964
- E97 Accident - Presumed Drowned Core Dec 8, 1964
- E98 On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner And Blitzen! Core Dec 11, 1964
- E99 Seven More Shopping Days Core Dec 15, 1964
- E100 Change Partners Core Dec 18, 1964
- E101 Do Me A Favour! Core Dec 22, 1964
- E102 A Surprise For Christmas Mytharc Dec 25, 1964
- E103 A Partridge In A Pear Tree Mytharc Dec 29, 1964
Season 4 · 61 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Ring In The New Mytharc Jan 1, 1965
- E2 Day Of Deliverance Core Jan 5, 1965
- E3 Fare Thee Well, For I Must Leave Thee Core Jan 8, 1965
- E4 Discoveries Of The Day Core Jan 12, 1965
- E5 Togetherness Core Jan 15, 1965
- E6 Troublemaker Core Jan 19, 1965
- E7 The Last Straw Core Jan 22, 1965
- E8 Heart To Heart Core Jan 26, 1965
- E9 Late Call Core Jan 29, 1965
- E10 A Marriage Has Been Arranged… Core Feb 2, 1965
- E11 Many A Slip Core Feb 5, 1965
- E12 Thunder On The Left Core Feb 9, 1965
- E13 Tell It Not In Faith Core Feb 12, 1965
- E14 A Family Affair Core Feb 16, 1965
- E15 Change Of Plan Core Feb 19, 1965
- E16 Kidnapped Core Feb 23, 1965
- E17 It Happens To Other People Core Feb 26, 1965
- E18 Where There's Smoke Core Mar 2, 1965
- E19 Patience On A Monument Core Mar 5, 1965
- E20 Blow Hot, Blow Cold Core Mar 9, 1965
- E21 Change Of Heart Core Mar 12, 1965
- E22 Food For Thought Core Mar 16, 1965
- E23 The End Of A Song Core Mar 19, 1965
- E24 The Man From Paris Core Mar 23, 1965
- E25 The Wrong Set Core Mar 26, 1965
- E26 The Egnet Sings Core Mar 30, 1965
- E27 A Cigarette That Bears A Lipstick's Trace Core Apr 2, 1965
- E28 The Last Act Core Apr 6, 1965
- E29 A Tangled Web Core Apr 9, 1965
- E30 Who's Who? Core Apr 13, 1965
- E31 Never Trust A Woman Core Apr 16, 1965
- E32 Travellers Return Core Apr 20, 1965
- E33 Gone Away Core Apr 23, 1965
- E34 Publish And Be Damned Core Apr 27, 1965
- E35 Action For Libel Core Apr 30, 1965
- E36 Testing Time Core May 4, 1965
- E37 Plots, Plans, And A Party Core May 7, 1965
- E38 True Or False? Core May 11, 1965
- E39 Hide And Seek Core May 14, 1965
- E40 Wild Goose Chase Core May 18, 1965
- E41 High Court, Low Court Core May 21, 1965
- E42 Hostilities Called Off Core May 25, 1965
- E43 Best Laid Schemes Core May 28, 1965
- E44 Trouble Brewing Core Jun 1, 1965
- E45 Any Other Business? Core Jun 4, 1965
- E46 Time Flies Core Jun 8, 1965
- E47 Friends And Enemies Core Jun 11, 1965
- E48 Day Of Decision Core Jun 15, 1965
- E49 Hidden Depths Core Jun 18, 1965
- E50 Appearances Can Be Deceptive Core Jun 22, 1965
- E51 The Truth Will Out Core Jun 25, 1965
- E52 The Off-White Elephant Core Jun 29, 1965
- E53 Winners And Losers Core Jul 2, 1965
- E54 Engagements At Sea Core Jul 6, 1965
- E55 Storm Warning Core Jul 9, 1965
- E56 Change Of Plans Core Jul 13, 1965
- E57 Trouble Across The Water Core Jul 16, 1965
- E58 Destination - Paris Core Jul 20, 1965
- E59 Paris Is For Lovers Core Jul 23, 1965
- E60 If The Shoe Fits… Mytharc Jul 27, 1965
- E61 Journey's End Mytharc Jul 30, 1965
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
When did Compact air?
The series was broadcast on the BBC between 1962 and 1965.
Who created the show?
Compact was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling.
What was the setting of the series?
The show was set in the arena of magazine publishing.
How often was it broadcast?
The program was scheduled for broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Who else did the creators work with?
Hazel Adair and Peter Ling went on to devise the series Crossroads.
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