TV Episodes Full List of Play For Today Episodes

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Below is a complete Play for Today episode list that spans the show's entire TV run. Photos from the individual Play for Today episodes are listed along with the Play for Today episode names when available, as are the dates of the original airing of the episode. Play for Today episodes from every season can be seen below, along with fun facts about who directed the episodes, the stars of the and sometimes even information like shooting locations and original air dates. This poll features “Home Sweet Home,” “Hard Labour” and more. Are you remembering a funny scene but can't think of the name that the Play for Today episode is from? Scroll below and you'll find what you're looking for.

1
Alma Mater Jan 07 1971 - A civil servant working abroad revisits his old school

2
Traitor Oct 14 1971 - Traitor is a BBC television drama written by Dennis Potter and directed by Alan Bridges, which featured in the Play for Today series on 14 October 1971. It stars John Le Mesurier as Adrian ...more

3
Hard Labour Mar 12 1973 - The trials of an overworked and underappreciated housecleaner

4
Dreams of Leaving Jan 17 1980 - A journalist moves to London and gets caught up in the big city and his romance with a rich debutante.

5
Brimstone and Treacle Sep 25 1987 - The Bates sadly care for their severely disabled daughter Pattie. Martin arrives at their door claiming to be her college friend. He charms them into accepting him as a lodger and carer for ...more

6
Long Distance Information Oct 11 1979 - A fanatical Elvis Presley fan is working as a disc jockey when his idol dies

7
Cries from a Watchtower Oct 18 1979 -

8
Comedians Oct 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 nightclub.

9
Even Solomon Nov 01 1979 -

10
Just a Boys' Game Just a Boys' Game is a 1979 Play for Today written by Peter McDougall and directed by John Mackenzie. It features Frankie Miller, Gregor Fisher, Ken Hutchison and Hector Nicol. The plot revolves ...more

11
Billy Nov 15 1979 - A 4-year-old boy is abused by his father

12
A Hole in Babylon Nov 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, Archie Pool, and Trevor Thomas.

13
The Slab-Boys Dec 06 1979 - The story of a young man who works in a carpet factory

14
Katie Dec 13 1979 -

15
The Network Dec 20 1979 -

16
Chance of a Lifetime Jan 03 1980 - A young man quits school and joins the army.

17
Keep Smiling Jan 10 1980 -

18
Thicker Than Water Jan 24 1980 -

19
Murder Rap Jan 31 1980 -

20
Instant Enlightenment Including VAT Feb 07 1980 - Weekend enlightenment seminars serve as a form of brainwashing.

21
No Defence Feb 14 1980 -

22
That Crazy Woman Feb 21 1980 -

23
A Gift from Nessus Feb 28 1980 - The marital and career problems of a middle-aged, middle-class man in Glasgow in the 1960s

24
Kate, the Good Neighbour Mar 06 1980 - A compassionate elderly woman comes to the realization that she can no longer care for herself or others.

25
Buses Mar 13 1980 - A story about the regulation of the bus industry in 1930

26
Shadows on Our Skin Mar 20 1980 - The problems of an 11-year-old boy living in the Catholic part of Londonderry

27
Ladies Mar 27 1980 -

28
The Vanishing Army Apr 03 1980 - A story about the highs and lows of peacetime army life

29
Not for the Likes of Us Apr 10 1980 -

30
The Executioner Apr 17 1980 -

31
The Imitation Game Apr 24 1980 - During World War II, an idealistic young woman joins the Army Transport Service

32
A Walk in the Forest May 14 1980 - A writer gets involved with a Soviet dissident

33
Pasmore Oct 21 1980 -

34
C2H5OH Oct 28 1980 -

35
The Adventures of Frank: Everybody's Fiddling Something Nov 04 1980 -

36
The Adventures of Frank: Seeds of Ice Nov 11 1980 -

37
Minor Complications Nov 18 1980 -

38
Number on End Nov 25 1980 -

39
Jude Dec 02 1980 -

40
Name for the Day Dec 16 1980 -

41
Jessie Dec 23 1980 - In Victorian times, a nanny cares for a mute boy, who becomes overly attached to her.

42
Beyond the Pale Jan 06 1981 - A vacation at a seaside hotel in Ireland changes the lives of four friends.

43
The Muscle Market Jan 13 1981 - The problems of an owner of a building contractor company in Liverpool

44
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado Jan 20 1981 -

45
Dear Brutus Jan 27 1981 -

46
The Cause Feb 03 1981 -

47
Beloved Enemy Feb 10 1981 - The head of a multinational corporation wants to do business with the Soviets

48
The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner Feb 17 1981 - A group of men hold a reunion dinner in Tokyo

49
The Union Feb 24 1981 -

50
The Garland Mar 10 1981 -

1 Alma Mater Jan 07 1971 - A civil servant working abroad revisits his old school

2 Traitor Oct 14 1971 - Traitor is a BBC television drama written by Dennis Potter and directed by Alan Bridges, which featured in the Play for Today series on 14 October 1971. It stars John Le Mesurier as Adrian ...more

3 Hard Labour Mar 12 1973 - The trials of an overworked and underappreciated housecleaner

4 Dreams of Leaving Jan 17 1980 - A journalist moves to London and gets caught up in the big city and his romance with a rich debutante.

5 Brimstone and Treacle Sep 25 1987 - The Bates sadly care for their severely disabled daughter Pattie. Martin arrives at their door claiming to be her college friend. He charms them into accepting him as a lodger and carer for ...more

6 Long Distance Information Oct 11 1979 - A fanatical Elvis Presley fan is working as a disc jockey when his idol dies

7 Cries from a Watchtower Oct 18 1979 -

8 Comedians Oct 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 nightclub.

9 Even Solomon Nov 01 1979 -

10 Just a Boys' Game Just a Boys' Game is a 1979 Play for Today written by Peter McDougall and directed by John Mackenzie. It features Frankie Miller, Gregor Fisher, Ken Hutchison and Hector Nicol. The plot revolves ...more

11 Billy Nov 15 1979 - A 4-year-old boy is abused by his father

12 A Hole in Babylon Nov 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, Archie Pool, and Trevor Thomas.

13 The Slab-Boys Dec 06 1979 - The story of a young man who works in a carpet factory

14 Katie Dec 13 1979 -

15 The Network Dec 20 1979 -

16 Chance of a Lifetime Jan 03 1980 - A young man quits school and joins the army.

17 Keep Smiling Jan 10 1980 -

18 Thicker Than Water Jan 24 1980 -

19 Murder Rap Jan 31 1980 -

20 Instant Enlightenment Including VAT Feb 07 1980 - Weekend enlightenment seminars serve as a form of brainwashing.

21 No Defence Feb 14 1980 -

22 That Crazy Woman Feb 21 1980 -

23 A Gift from Nessus Feb 28 1980 - The marital and career problems of a middle-aged, middle-class man in Glasgow in the 1960s

24 Kate, the Good Neighbour Mar 06 1980 - A compassionate elderly woman comes to the realization that she can no longer care for herself or others.

25 Buses Mar 13 1980 - A story about the regulation of the bus industry in 1930

26 Shadows on Our Skin Mar 20 1980 - The problems of an 11-year-old boy living in the Catholic part of Londonderry

27 Ladies Mar 27 1980 -

28 The Vanishing Army Apr 03 1980 - A story about the highs and lows of peacetime army life

29 Not for the Likes of Us Apr 10 1980 -

30 The Executioner Apr 17 1980 -

31 The Imitation Game Apr 24 1980 - During World War II, an idealistic young woman joins the Army Transport Service

32 A Walk in the Forest May 14 1980 - A writer gets involved with a Soviet dissident

33 Pasmore Oct 21 1980 -

34 C2H5OH Oct 28 1980 -

35 The Adventures of Frank: Everybody's Fiddling Something Nov 04 1980 -

36 The Adventures of Frank: Seeds of Ice Nov 11 1980 -

37 Minor Complications Nov 18 1980 -

38 Number on End Nov 25 1980 -

39 Jude Dec 02 1980 -

40 Name for the Day Dec 16 1980 -

41 Jessie Dec 23 1980 - In Victorian times, a nanny cares for a mute boy, who becomes overly attached to her.

42 Beyond the Pale Jan 06 1981 - A vacation at a seaside hotel in Ireland changes the lives of four friends.

43 The Muscle Market Jan 13 1981 - The problems of an owner of a building contractor company in Liverpool

44 A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado Jan 20 1981 -

45 Dear Brutus Jan 27 1981 -

46 The Cause Feb 03 1981 -

47 Beloved Enemy Feb 10 1981 - The head of a multinational corporation wants to do business with the Soviets

48 The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner Feb 17 1981 - A group of men hold a reunion dinner in Tokyo

49 The Union Feb 24 1981 -

50 The Garland Mar 10 1981 -