Play for Today 1970
- Status
- Ended
- First Aired
- October 15, 1970
- Last Aired
- February 5, 1985
- Format
- 14 seasons · 314 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~392.5 hours (75 min/ep)
- Highest Rated Episode
- S2E2 "Edna, the Inebriate Woman" (★ 9/10)
- Network
- BBC One
- Where to Stream
- BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Apple TV Store
Streaming data from JustWatch
★ TMDB users: 6.6/10 from 10 votes Drama 14 seasons · 314 eps Ended
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Quick answer
What is Play for Today?
Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. Throughout its fourteen-year run, the series featured more than three hundred individual programs.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1970
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 314
- Runtime
- 75 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 15, 1970
- Last aired
- Feb 5, 1985
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC One
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
Series guide
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 6.6/10 from 10 votes
- Format
- 14 seasons · 314 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~75 minutes
- Status
- Ended
- Network
- BBC One
Availability by region
Where to watch in United Kingdom
Stream
Sky GoStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
Planning tool
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 314 episodes and an average 75-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. Throughout its fourteen-year run, the series featured more than three hundred individual programs. These broadcasts consisted of original television plays alongside adaptations of both stage plays and novels. The episodes varied in duration, typically ranging between fifty and one hundred minutes. The anthology series served as a platform for diverse dramatic works, and some of the individual plays were later developed into their own series, such as Rumpole of the Bailey and Gangsters. The production featured various actors, including Alison Steadman, Nigel Hawthorne, David Daker, and Tony Caunter. As a long-running strand of British television, the program provided a significant outlet for theatrical and literary storytelling on the BBC. The series concluded its run in 1984, having established a notable legacy in the history of television drama through its extensive collection of original and adapted content.
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Should you watch it?
“This long-running BBC anthology series presents a diverse collection of original dramas and literary adaptations.”
Reasons to watch
- wide variety of stories
- high volume of content
- classic television production
Keep in mind
- inconsistent episode lengths
- varied subject matter
Watch it if you enjoy exploring the evolution of British television drama through standalone plays.
The series features diverse dramatic themes typical of television plays produced between 1970 and 1984.
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Ask anything about Play for Today — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
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Cast
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Future titles & recaps blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any item to peek.
Season 1 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Long Distance Piano Player Mytharc Oct 15, 1970
- E2 The Right Prospectus Core Oct 22, 1970
- E3 The Lie Core Oct 29, 1970
- E4 Angels Are So Few Core Nov 5, 1970
- E5 The Write-Off Core Nov 12, 1970
- E6 I Can't See My Little Willie Core Nov 19, 1970
- E7 A Distant Thunder Core Nov 26, 1970
- E8 Hearts and Flowers Core Dec 3, 1970
- E9 Robin Redbreast Core Dec 10, 1970
- E10 The Hallelujah Handshake Core Dec 17, 1970
- E11 Alma Mater Core Jan 7, 1971
- E12 Circle Line Core Jan 14, 1971
- E13 Hell's Angel Core Jan 21, 1971
- E14 The Piano Core Jan 28, 1971
- E15 Billy's Last Stand Core Feb 4, 1971
- E16 The Rainbirds Core Feb 11, 1971
- E17 Reddick Core Feb 18, 1971
- E18 The Foxtrot Core Apr 29, 1971
- E19 When the Bough Breaks Core May 6, 1971
- E20 Orkney Core May 13, 1971
- E21 The Rank and File Core May 20, 1971
- E22 The Man in the Sidecar Core May 27, 1971
- E23 Everybody Say Cheese Mytharc Jun 3, 1971
- E24 The Cellar and the Almond Tree Mytharc Jun 10, 1971
Season 2 · 19 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Traitor Mytharc Oct 14, 1971
- E2 Edna, the Inebriate Woman Core Oct 21, 1971
- E3 Evelyn Core Oct 28, 1971
- E4 O Fat White Woman Core Nov 4, 1971
- E5 Thank You Very Much Core Nov 11, 1971
- E6 Michael Regan Core Nov 18, 1971
- E7 Skin Deep Core Nov 25, 1971
- E8 Pal Core Dec 2, 1971
- E9 The Pigeon Fancier Core Dec 9, 1971
- E10 Home Core Jan 6, 1972
- E11 Still Waters Core Jan 13, 1972
- E12 Stocker's Copper Core Jan 20, 1972
- E13 The House on Highbury Hill Core Jan 27, 1972
- E14 In the Beautiful Caribbean Core Feb 3, 1972
- E15 Ackerman, Dougall and Harker Core Feb 10, 1972
- E16 The Villa Maroc Core Feb 17, 1972
- E17 Cows Core Feb 24, 1972
- E18 A Time to Keep Mytharc Apr 27, 1972
- E19 The Fishing Party Mytharc Jun 1, 1972
Season 3 · 28 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Reporters Mytharc Oct 9, 1972
- E2 A Life Is for Ever Core Oct 16, 1972
- E3 Carson Country Core Oct 23, 1972
- E4 Man Friday Core Oct 30, 1972
- E5 Triple Exposure Core Nov 6, 1972
- E6 Better than the Movies Core Nov 13, 1972
- E7 The General's Day Core Nov 20, 1972
- E8 The Bankrupt Core Nov 27, 1972
- E9 Just Your Luck Core Dec 4, 1972
- E10 The Bouncing Boy Core Dec 11, 1972
- E11 Shakespeare or Bust Core Jan 8, 1973
- E12 Land of Green Ginger Core Jan 15, 1973
- E13 Kisses at Fifty Core Jan 22, 1973
- E14 Highway Robbery Core Jan 29, 1973
- E15 Song at Twilight Core Feb 5, 1973
- E16 Only Make Believe Core Feb 12, 1973
- E17 For Sylvia or The Air Show Core Feb 19, 1973
- E18 The Operation Core Feb 26, 1973
- E19 Access to the Children Core Mar 5, 1973
- E20 Hard Labour Core Mar 12, 1973
- E21 Man Above Men Core Mar 19, 1973
- E22 Speech Day Core Mar 26, 1973
- E23 Steps Back Core May 14, 1973
- E24 Three's One Core Jun 4, 1973
- E25 Edward G.--Like the Film Star Core Jun 11, 1973
- E26 Blooming Youth Core Jun 18, 1973
- E27 The Stretch Mytharc Jun 25, 1973
- E28 Making the Play Mytharc Jul 2, 1973
Season 4 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont Mytharc Oct 18, 1973
- E2 Her Majesty's Pleasure Core Oct 25, 1973
- E3 Jack Point Core Nov 1, 1973
- E4 The Emergency Channel Core Nov 8, 1973
- E5 Mummy and Daddy Core Nov 15, 1973
- E6 Private Practice Core Nov 22, 1973
- E7 Shutdown Core Nov 29, 1973
- E8 Baby Blues Core Dec 6, 1973
- E9 Jingle Bells Core Dec 13, 1973
- E10 The Lonely Man's Lover Core Jan 17, 1974
- E11 All Good Men Core Jan 31, 1974
- E12 Joe's Ark Core Feb 14, 1974
- E13 Hot Fat Core Feb 21, 1974
- E14 Easy Go Core Mar 7, 1974
- E15 Headmaster Core Mar 14, 1974
- E16 Penda's Fen Core Mar 21, 1974
- E17 Pigeon--Hawk or Dove? Core Mar 28, 1974
- E18 Three for the Fancy Core Apr 11, 1974
- E19 The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil Core Jun 6, 1974
- E20 Schmoedipus Core Jun 20, 1974
- E21 The Childhood Friend Mytharc Jun 27, 1974
- E22 A Follower for Emily Mytharc Jul 4, 1974
Season 5 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Leeds--United! Mytharc Oct 31, 1974
- E2 Baby Love Core Nov 7, 1974
- E3 Back of Beyond Core Nov 14, 1974
- E4 The Bevellers Core Nov 21, 1974
- E5 Taking Leave Core Nov 28, 1974
- E6 Fugitive Core Dec 5, 1974
- E7 Eleanor Core Dec 12, 1974
- E8 Gangsters Core Jan 9, 1975
- E9 The After Dinner Game Core Jan 16, 1975
- E10 Breath Core Jan 23, 1975
- E11 The Death of a Young, Young Man Core Jan 30, 1975
- E12 Sunset Across the Bay Core Feb 20, 1975
- E13 Funny Farm Core Feb 27, 1975
- E14 Goodbye Core Mar 6, 1975
- E15 Just Another Saturday Core Mar 13, 1975
- E16 A Child of Hope Core Apr 24, 1975
- E17 The Saturday Party Core May 1, 1975
- E18 Wednesday Love Core May 8, 1975
- E19 The Dandelion Clock Core May 15, 1975
- E20 Brassneck Core May 22, 1975
- E21 The Floater Mytharc May 29, 1975
- E22 By Common Consent Mytharc Jun 5, 1975
Season 6 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Plaintiffs and Defendants Mytharc Oct 14, 1975
- E2 Two Sundays Core Oct 21, 1975
- E3 Moss Core Oct 28, 1975
- E4 84 Charing Cross Road Core Nov 4, 1975
- E5 Keep an Eye on Albert Core Nov 11, 1975
- E6 Children of the Sun Core Nov 18, 1975
- E7 After the Solo Core Nov 25, 1975
- E8 Through the Night Core Dec 2, 1975
- E9 A Passage to England Core Dec 9, 1975
- E10 Rumpole of the Bailey Core Dec 16, 1975
- E11 The Other Woman Core Jan 6, 1976
- E12 Nuts in May Core Jan 13, 1976
- E13 Doran's Box Core Jan 20, 1976
- E14 Packman's Barn Core Jan 27, 1976
- E15 A Story to Frighten the Children Core Feb 3, 1976
- E16 The Happy Hunting Ground Core Feb 10, 1976
- E17 The Jumping Bean Bag Core Feb 17, 1976
- E18 Clay, Smeddum and Greenden Core Feb 24, 1976
- E19 Love Letters on Blue Paper Core Mar 2, 1976
- E20 Willie Rough Core Mar 9, 1976
- E21 Tiptoe through the Tulips Core Mar 16, 1976
- E22 The Peddler Core Mar 23, 1976
- E23 Early Struggles Core Mar 30, 1976
- E24 Double Dare Mytharc Apr 6, 1976
- E25 The House of Bernarda Alba Mytharc Jul 28, 1976
Season 7 · 19 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Bar Mitzvah Boy Mytharc Sep 14, 1976
- E2 Bet Your Life Core Sep 21, 1976
- E3 Rocky Marciano Is Dead Core Sep 28, 1976
- E4 The Elephants' Graveyard Core Oct 12, 1976
- E5 Housewives' Choice Core Oct 19, 1976
- E6 Your Man from Six Counties Core Oct 26, 1976
- E7 Buffet Core Nov 2, 1976
- E8 Love on a Gunboat Core Jan 4, 1977
- E9 The Kiss of Death Core Jan 11, 1977
- E10 Our Flesh and Blood Core Jan 18, 1977
- E11 Do As I Say Core Jan 25, 1977
- E12 Spend, Spend, Spend Core Mar 15, 1977
- E13 A Photograph Core Mar 22, 1977
- E14 The Price of Coal: Meet The People Core Mar 29, 1977
- E15 The Price of Coal: Back To Reality Core Apr 5, 1977
- E16 Gotcha Core Apr 12, 1977
- E17 Campion's Interview Core Apr 12, 1977
- E18 A Choice of Evils Mytharc Apr 19, 1977
- E19 The Country Party Mytharc Apr 26, 1977
Season 8 · 18 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Stronger than the Sun Mytharc Oct 18, 1977
- E2 Come the Revolution Core Oct 25, 1977
- E3 Abigail's Party Core Nov 1, 1977
- E4 Oy Vay Maria Core Nov 8, 1977
- E5 Nipper Core Nov 15, 1977
- E6 One Day at a Time Core Nov 22, 1977
- E7 The Mayor's Charity Core Nov 29, 1977
- E8 Catchpenny Twist Core Dec 6, 1977
- E9 Charades Core Dec 13, 1977
- E10 The Thin End of the Wedge Core Dec 20, 1977
- E11 Scully's New Year's Eve Core Jan 3, 1978
- E12 Licking Hitler Core Jan 10, 1978
- E13 Red Shift Core Jan 17, 1978
- E14 The Spongers Core Jan 24, 1978
- E15 Destiny Core Jan 31, 1978
- E16 Our Day Out Core Feb 7, 1978
- E17 The After-Dinner Joke Mytharc Feb 14, 1978
- E18 The Legion Hall Bombing Mytharc Aug 22, 1978
Season 9 · 21 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Nina Mytharc Oct 17, 1978
- E2 Victims of Apartheid Core Oct 24, 1978
- E3 A Touch of the Tiny Hacketts Core Oct 31, 1978
- E4 Dinner at the Sporting Club Core Nov 7, 1978
- E5 Donal and Sally Core Nov 14, 1978
- E6 Sorry Core Nov 21, 1978
- E7 Butterflies Don't Count Core Nov 28, 1978
- E8 Soldiers Talking Cleanly Core Dec 5, 1978
- E9 One Bummer Newsday Core Dec 12, 1978
- E10 The Out of Town Boys Core Jan 2, 1979
- E11 Vampires Core Jan 9, 1979
- E12 The Chief Mourner Mytharc Jan 16, 1979
- E13 Waterloo Sunset Core Jan 23, 1979
- E14 Blue Remembered Hills Core Jan 30, 1979
- E15 Who's Who Core Feb 6, 1979
- E16 The Last Window Cleaner Core Feb 13, 1979
- E17 Ploughman's Share Core Feb 27, 1979
- E18 Degree of Uncertainty Core Mar 6, 1979
- E19 Light Mytharc Mar 13, 1979
- E20 Coming Out Mytharc Apr 10, 1979
- E21 Don't Be Silly Mytharc Jul 24, 1979
Season 10 · 28 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 Long Distance Information Mytharc Oct 11, 1979
- E2 Cries from a Watchtower Core Oct 18, 1979
- E3 Comedians Core Oct 25, 1979
- E4 Even Solomon Core Nov 1, 1979
- E5 Just a Boy's Game Core Nov 8, 1979
- E6 Billy Core Nov 15, 1979
- E7 A Hole in Babylon Core Nov 29, 1979
- E8 The Slab-Boys Core Dec 6, 1979
- E9 Katie: The Year of a Child Core Dec 13, 1979
- E10 The Network Core Dec 20, 1979
- E11 Chance of a Lifetime Core Jan 3, 1980
- E12 Keep Smiling Core Jan 10, 1980
- E13 Dreams of Leaving Core Jan 17, 1980
- E14 Thicker Than Water Core Jan 24, 1980
- E15 Murder Rap Core Jan 31, 1980
- E16 Instant Enlightenment Including VAT Core Feb 7, 1980
- E17 No Defence Core Feb 14, 1980
- E18 That Crazy Woman Core Feb 21, 1980
- E19 A Gift from Nessus Core Feb 28, 1980
- E20 Kate, the Good Neighbour Core Mar 6, 1980
- E21 Buses Core Mar 13, 1980
- E22 Shadows on Our Skin Core Mar 20, 1980
- E23 Ladies Core Mar 27, 1980
- E24 The Vanishing Army Core Apr 3, 1980
- E25 Not for the Likes of Us Core Apr 10, 1980
- E26 The Executioner Core Apr 17, 1980
- E27 The Imitation Game Mytharc Apr 24, 1980
- E28 A Walk in the Forest Mytharc May 14, 1980
Season 11 · 27 episodes
Open the complete Season 11 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pasmore Mytharc Oct 21, 1980
- E2 C2H5OH Core Oct 28, 1980
- E3 The Adventures of Frank: Everybody's Fiddling Something Core Nov 4, 1980
- E4 The Adventures of Frank: Seeds of Ice Core Nov 11, 1980
- E5 Minor Complications Core Nov 18, 1980
- E6 Number on End Core Nov 25, 1980
- E7 Jude Core Dec 2, 1980
- E8 The Flipside of Dominick Hide Core Dec 9, 1980
- E9 Name for the Day Core Dec 16, 1980
- E10 Jessie Core Dec 23, 1980
- E11 Beyond the Pale Core Jan 6, 1981
- E12 The Muscle Market Core Jan 13, 1981
- E13 A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado Core Jan 20, 1981
- E14 Dear Brutus Core Jan 27, 1981
- E15 The Cause Core Feb 3, 1981
- E16 Beloved Enemy Core Feb 10, 1981
- E17 The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner Core Feb 17, 1981
- E18 The Union Core Feb 24, 1981
- E19 Sorry Core Mar 3, 1981
- E20 Shai Mãlã Khani: The Garland Core Mar 10, 1981
- E21 The Sin Bin Core Mar 17, 1981
- E22 Before Water Lillies Core Mar 24, 1981
- E23 Bavarian Night Core Mar 31, 1981
- E24 The Good Time Girls Core Apr 7, 1981
- E25 Baby Talk Core Apr 14, 1981
- E26 A Turn for the Worse Mytharc Apr 28, 1981
- E27 Psy-Warriors Mytharc May 12, 1981
Season 12 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 12 guide & lore primer →- E1 Country Mytharc Oct 20, 1981
- E2 London Is Drowning Core Oct 27, 1981
- E3 A Room for the Winter Core Nov 3, 1981
- E4 No Visible Scar Core Nov 17, 1981
- E5 Iris in the Traffic, Ruby in the Rain Core Nov 24, 1981
- E6 Protest Core Dec 1, 1981
- E7 United Kingdom Core Dec 8, 1981
- E8 PQ17 Core Dec 15, 1981
- E9 The Factory Core Dec 22, 1981
- E10 England's Green and Pleasant Land Core Jan 5, 1982
- E11 A Cotswold Death Core Jan 12, 1982
- E12 Under the Skin Core Jan 19, 1982
- E13 Commitments Core Jan 26, 1982
- E14 Life After Death Core Feb 2, 1982
- E15 The Silly Season Core Feb 9, 1982
- E16 Too Late to Talk to Billy Core Feb 16, 1982
- E17 Willie's Last Stand Core Feb 23, 1982
- E18 Tishoo Core Mar 9, 1982
- E19 Home Sweet Home Core Mar 16, 1982
- E20 A Sudden Wrench Core Mar 23, 1982
- E21 Eve Set the Balls of Corruption Going Mytharc Mar 30, 1982
- E22 Whistling Wally Mytharc Apr 6, 1982
Season 13 · 18 episodes
Open the complete Season 13 guide & lore primer →- E1 Soft Targets Mytharc Oct 19, 1982
- E2 Three Minute Heroes Core Oct 26, 1982
- E3 The Remainder Man Core Nov 2, 1982
- E4 Intensive Care Core Nov 9, 1982
- E5 A Mother Like Him Core Nov 16, 1982
- E6 John David Core Nov 23, 1982
- E7 Aliens Core Nov 30, 1982
- E8 Another Flip for Dominick Core Dec 14, 1982
- E9 Last Love Core Mar 1, 1983
- E10 Gates of Gold Core Mar 8, 1983
- E11 Wayne and Albert Core Mar 15, 1983
- E12 Atlantis Core Mar 22, 1983
- E13 The Last Term Core Apr 5, 1983
- E14 Reluctant Chickens Core Apr 12, 1983
- E15 Shall I Be Mother? Core Apr 19, 1983
- E16 The Falklands Factor Core Apr 26, 1983
- E17 A Matter of Choice for Billy Mytharc May 10, 1983
- E18 Floating Off Mytharc Aug 24, 1983
Season 14 · 21 episodes
Open the complete Season 14 guide & lore primer →- E1 Stan's Last Game Mytharc Oct 25, 1983
- E2 Young Shoulders Mytharc Feb 14, 1984
- E3 A Coming to Terms for Billy Core Feb 21, 1984
- E4 Z for Zachariah Core Feb 28, 1984
- E5 Moving on the Edge Core Mar 6, 1984
- E6 Desert of Lies Core Mar 13, 1984
- E7 Hard Feelings Core Mar 20, 1984
- E8 Under the Hammer Core Mar 27, 1984
- E9 King Core Apr 3, 1984
- E10 Rainy Day Women Core Apr 10, 1984
- E11 Dog Ends Core Jul 17, 1984
- E12 The Groundling and the Kite Core Jul 24, 1984
- E13 The Cry Core Jul 31, 1984
- E14 It Could Happen to Anybody Core Aug 14, 1984
- E15 Only Children Core Aug 21, 1984
- E16 The Amazing Miss Stella Estelle Core Aug 28, 1984
- E17 The Long March Core Nov 20, 1984
- E18 Punters Core Nov 27, 1984
- E19 Talk To Me Core Dec 11, 1984
- E20 Bird Fancier Mytharc Jan 15, 1985
- E21 Brigadista Mytharc Feb 5, 1985
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
What is Play for Today?
It is a British television anthology drama series produced by the BBC.
When did the series air?
The show was transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984.
How many episodes were produced?
The series consisted of more than three hundred individual programmes.
What kind of content does the show feature?
It includes original television plays as well as adaptations of novels and stage plays.
How long are the episodes?
Individual episodes range between fifty and a hundred minutes in duration.
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