Play for Today 1970
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
Where to watch
Stream
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 314 episodes and an average 75-minute runtime.
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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.
Should you watch it?
“This long-running BBC anthology series presents a diverse collection of original dramas and literary adaptations.”
- wide variety of stories
- high volume of content
- classic television production
- 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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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 The Long Distance Piano Player Oct 15, 1970
- E2 The Right Prospectus Oct 22, 1970
- E3 The Lie Oct 29, 1970
- E4 Angels Are So Few Nov 5, 1970
- E5 The Write-Off Nov 12, 1970
- E6 I Can't See My Little Willie Nov 19, 1970
- E7 A Distant Thunder Nov 26, 1970
- E8 Hearts and Flowers Dec 3, 1970
- E9 Robin Redbreast Dec 10, 1970
- E10 The Hallelujah Handshake Dec 17, 1970
- E11 Alma Mater Jan 7, 1971
- E12 Circle Line Jan 14, 1971
- E13 Hell's Angel Jan 21, 1971
- E14 The Piano Jan 28, 1971
- E15 Billy's Last Stand Feb 4, 1971
- E16 The Rainbirds Feb 11, 1971
- E17 Reddick Feb 18, 1971
- E18 The Foxtrot Apr 29, 1971
- E19 When the Bough Breaks May 6, 1971
- E20 Orkney May 13, 1971
- E21 The Rank and File May 20, 1971
- E22 The Man in the Sidecar May 27, 1971
- E23 Everybody Say Cheese Jun 3, 1971
- E24 The Cellar and the Almond Tree Jun 10, 1971
Season 2 · 19 episodes
- E1 Traitor Oct 14, 1971
- E2 Edna, the Inebriate Woman Oct 21, 1971
- E3 Evelyn Oct 28, 1971
- E4 O Fat White Woman Nov 4, 1971
- E5 Thank You Very Much Nov 11, 1971
- E6 Michael Regan Nov 18, 1971
- E7 Skin Deep Nov 25, 1971
- E8 Pal Dec 2, 1971
- E9 The Pigeon Fancier Dec 9, 1971
- E10 Home Jan 6, 1972
- E11 Still Waters Jan 13, 1972
- E12 Stocker's Copper Jan 20, 1972
- E13 The House on Highbury Hill Jan 27, 1972
- E14 In the Beautiful Caribbean Feb 3, 1972
- E15 Ackerman, Dougall and Harker Feb 10, 1972
- E16 The Villa Maroc Feb 17, 1972
- E17 Cows Feb 24, 1972
- E18 A Time to Keep Apr 27, 1972
- E19 The Fishing Party Jun 1, 1972
Season 3 · 28 episodes
- E1 The Reporters Oct 9, 1972
- E2 A Life Is for Ever Oct 16, 1972
- E3 Carson Country Oct 23, 1972
- E4 Man Friday Oct 30, 1972
- E5 Triple Exposure Nov 6, 1972
- E6 Better than the Movies Nov 13, 1972
- E7 The General's Day Nov 20, 1972
- E8 The Bankrupt Nov 27, 1972
- E9 Just Your Luck Dec 4, 1972
- E10 The Bouncing Boy Dec 11, 1972
- E11 Shakespeare or Bust Jan 8, 1973
- E12 Land of Green Ginger Jan 15, 1973
- E13 Kisses at Fifty Jan 22, 1973
- E14 Highway Robbery Jan 29, 1973
- E15 Song at Twilight Feb 5, 1973
- E16 Only Make Believe Feb 12, 1973
- E17 For Sylvia or The Air Show Feb 19, 1973
- E18 The Operation Feb 26, 1973
- E19 Access to the Children Mar 5, 1973
- E20 Hard Labour Mar 12, 1973
- E21 Man Above Men Mar 19, 1973
- E22 Speech Day Mar 26, 1973
- E23 Steps Back May 14, 1973
- E24 Three's One Jun 4, 1973
- E25 Edward G.--Like the Film Star Jun 11, 1973
- E26 Blooming Youth Jun 18, 1973
- E27 The Stretch Jun 25, 1973
- E28 Making the Play Jul 2, 1973
Season 4 · 22 episodes
- E1 Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont Oct 18, 1973
- E2 Her Majesty's Pleasure Oct 25, 1973
- E3 Jack Point Nov 1, 1973
- E4 The Emergency Channel Nov 8, 1973
- E5 Mummy and Daddy Nov 15, 1973
- E6 Private Practice Nov 22, 1973
- E7 Shutdown Nov 29, 1973
- E8 Baby Blues Dec 6, 1973
- E9 Jingle Bells Dec 13, 1973
- E10 The Lonely Man's Lover Jan 17, 1974
- E11 All Good Men Jan 31, 1974
- E12 Joe's Ark Feb 14, 1974
- E13 Hot Fat Feb 21, 1974
- E14 Easy Go Mar 7, 1974
- E15 Headmaster Mar 14, 1974
- E16 Penda's Fen Mar 21, 1974
- E17 Pigeon--Hawk or Dove? Mar 28, 1974
- E18 Three for the Fancy Apr 11, 1974
- E19 The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil Jun 6, 1974
- E20 Schmoedipus Jun 20, 1974
- E21 The Childhood Friend Jun 27, 1974
- E22 A Follower for Emily Jul 4, 1974
Season 5 · 22 episodes
- E1 Leeds--United! Oct 31, 1974
- E2 Baby Love Nov 7, 1974
- E3 Back of Beyond Nov 14, 1974
- E4 The Bevellers Nov 21, 1974
- E5 Taking Leave Nov 28, 1974
- E6 Fugitive Dec 5, 1974
- E7 Eleanor Dec 12, 1974
- E8 Gangsters Jan 9, 1975
- E9 The After Dinner Game Jan 16, 1975
- E10 Breath Jan 23, 1975
- E11 The Death of a Young, Young Man Jan 30, 1975
- E12 Sunset Across the Bay Feb 20, 1975
- E13 Funny Farm Feb 27, 1975
- E14 Goodbye Mar 6, 1975
- E15 Just Another Saturday Mar 13, 1975
- E16 A Child of Hope Apr 24, 1975
- E17 The Saturday Party May 1, 1975
- E18 Wednesday Love May 8, 1975
- E19 The Dandelion Clock May 15, 1975
- E20 Brassneck May 22, 1975
- E21 The Floater May 29, 1975
- E22 By Common Consent Jun 5, 1975
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.