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23 Episodes 1970 - 1971
Episode 1
80 mins
Play For Today began with Alan Sharp's script about a man whose marriage is under strain when he undertakes a piano-playing marathon over four days. Starring Ray Davies, it remains in the BBC archives only as a black and white copy.
Episode 2
77 mins
This second Play For Today episode sees George Cole star in a John Osborne script about a man and his wife who want to return to school to complete their education.
Episode 3
90 mins
An award-winning adaptation of an Ingmar Bergman play, featuring a passionless marriage breaking down. Made under the heading "The Largest Theatre in the World", it was part of the series' intent to make annual international productions.
Episode 4
63 mins
For the BBC's WEDNESDAY PLAY series, Dennis Potter offered one of his "visitation dramas": Housewife Cynthia Nicholls is married to prudish Richard Nicholls. One day, her mundane household chores are interrupted by the arrival on her front step of scruffy, coarse Michael Biddle. He claims to be an angel, but on the face of it, he could simply be a deranged street person. She challenges the angel Michael by pointing out that he has no wings.
Episode 5
66 mins
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 work.
Episode 6
75 mins
When it's time to wet the baby's head, it's surprising the secrets that emerge. This edition is missing from the BBC archives, though a domestic copy of the soundtrack exists.
Episode 7
55 mins
A newly-appointed knight finds his celebrations cut short by someone who was witness to his treachery during the war. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.
Episode 8
75 mins
A TV host and his architect brother attend their father's funeral. This edition remains in the BBC archives only in black and white.
Episode 9
76 mins
After a long-term relationship ends, Norah moves to a remote house in the country. The locals are friendly., if eccentric. She starts a flirtatious relationship with young gamekeeper, Rob. But events at a festival have her feeling manipulated. Only later, do the consequences of that relationship leave her trapped in a nightmare.
Episode 10
75 mins
The story - based on a real life anecdote Welland heard from a friend who happened to be a Minister - concerns a lonely and compulsive misfit called Henry who one day arrives at a church social and subsequently throws himself passionately into helping that parish, ingratiating himself deeply with the Minister and others. He is shown to work with youth groups, Sunday School and Scouts and delivers lectures allegedly based on personal experiences of travel but in reality are just parroted recitals from holiday brochures. Slowly but surely this habit of exaggeration and lying, along with some unusual personality traits and actions begin to strike each of them as odd and potentially dangerous and the play explores the church's well meaning but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to integrate and rehabilitate such a clearly disturbed man.
Episode 11
A civil servant working abroad revisits his old school. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.
Episode 12
65 mins
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 her fourteen-year-old brother. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.
Episode 13
A couple are distressed by the changes in their adopted teenage son when he joins a biker gang. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.
Episode 14
65 mins
An old couple refuse to move when they find out that they can't take their piano with them.
Episode 15
50 mins
Billy, a self-employed coal-shoveller, gains a seedy business partner and competition in the form of a rival coal-shoveller. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.
Episode 16
64 mins
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 nightmare creatures.
Episode 17
75 mins
Charges that the Reverend 'Red' Reddick is exploiting his youth club members leads to an explosive confrontation.
Episode 18
70 mins
The lives of Gwen and Arthur are complicated when Gwen's long-lost husband comes back on the scene, and none of them seem to notice when their situation is reflected on TV. This edition remains in the BBC archives only in black and white.
Episode 19
75 mins
Margaret is a social worker investigating how a small baby could suffer three fractures while in the care of its parents. She has to work out not only how the baby was injured, but what to do to prevent it happening again.
Episode 20
91 mins
A trilogy of plays - "A Time to Keep", "The Whaler's Return" and "Celia" - exploring the life of the Orkney islanders in the past and present.
Episode 21
78 mins
When a pay discrepancy continues without any resolution, glass factory workers turn to their union for support. But when it is not forthcoming, they take things into their own hands.
Episode 22
75 mins
Edith is a very successful writer. Her husband, Gerald, is a very much less successful one, as she never fails to remind him. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.
Episode 23
75 mins
The story of a disintegrating marriage told through family photos. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.