Talk:Play for Today

The Black Stuff and other productions possibly associated with Play for Today

The Black Stuff was not a Play for Today. --User:DRR (comment was added to the main page, moved here by Angmering 17:07, 29 June 2006 (UTC))

According to Episode list Part 2: 1977-84, it wasn't; but, according to rest, it was. --213.216.199.6 10:08, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

The Black Stuff was made for Play for Today in 1978, but eventually transmitted on 2 January 1980 as a one-off play, i.e. not as a PfT. In fact, the series was running at the time, the closest episode (Chance of a Lifetime) being shown the following day. Nick Cooper 23:36, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

I have removed a reference to BftB, presumably added in the years since the above comments were made, because it is a convoluted argument to count it as a spin off series:

...Boys from the Blackstuff, a hard-hitting 1982 BBC2 drama serial by Alan Bleasdale which spun-off from his play The Black Stuff, made in 1978 although not screened until 1980, and only then as a one-off play and not part of PfT.

Its connection to PfT though, is mentioned in the Wikipedia piece on Boys from the Blackstuff. That ought to do. Philip Cross (talk) 14:47, 30 June 2010 (UTC)

Other productions currently listed elsewhere as associated with Play for Today but not listed as such according to the BBC Genome database are:

• Act of Betrayal (BBC1, 23 Mar 1972; repeat of 3 Jan 1971 Play of the Month) (BBC Television Drama site)
• Emma's Time (BBC1, 6 Apr 1972; repeat of 13 May 1970 Wednesday Play) (BBC Television Drama site)
• The Evacuees (BBC2, 5 March 1975) (TV Cream website)
• By Common Consent (BBC1, 5 June 1975) (BFI database and TV Cream website)
• The House of Bernarda Alba (BBC2, 28 July 1976) (TV Cream website)
• Number On End (BBC1, 25 November 1980) (TV Cream website)
• Dear Brutus (BBC1, 27 January 1981) (TV Cream website and U. of Reading spreadsheet 'Single Plays 1955-1994')
• Play Not-Quite-For Today: Series One (TV Cream website)
  • Being Normal (BBC1, 27 July 1983)
  • Gunfight At The Joe Kaye Corral (BBC1, 3 August 1983)
  • Ring Of Keys (BBC1, 10 August 1983)
  • Bazaar and Rummage (BBC1, 17 August 1983)
  • Floating Off (BBC1, 24 August 1983) (also BFI database and U. of Reading spreadsheet 'Single Plays 1955-1994')
  • Stan’s Last Game (BBC1, 25 October 1983) (also BFI database and U. of Reading spreadsheet 'Single Plays 1955-1994')
  • Submariners (BBC1, 1 November 1983)
  • Martin Luther – Heretic (BBC1, 8 November 1983)
  • Reith (BBC1, 14 & 15 November 1983)
  • One of Ourselves (BBC1, 22 November 1983)
  • An Englishman Abroad (BBC1, 29 November 1983 and subsequent repeats on BBC2 and BBC4)
  • The Aerodrome (BBC1, 13 December 1983)
  • Orwell on Jura (BBC1, 20 December 1983)
• Keep On Running (BBC2, 6 April 1984) (TV Cream website)
• Long Live the Babe (BBC2, 11 April 1984) (BFI database and TV Cream website)
• Fire At Magilligan (BBC2, 27 June 1984) (TV Cream website)
• Play Not-Quite-For Today: Series Two (TV Cream website)
  • Terra Nova (BBC1, 13 November 1984)
  • The Long March (BBC1, 20 November 1984)
  • Punters (BBC1, 27 November 1984)
  • Stars of the Roller State Disco (BBC1, 4 December 1984)
  • Talk to Me (BBC1, 11 December 1984)
  • More Lives Than One (BBC1, 18 December 1984)
  • The Last Evensong (BBC1, 8 January 1985)
  • Bird Fancier (BBC1, 15 January 1985)
  • The Exercise (BBC1, 22 January 1985)
  • Four Days in July (BBC1, 29 January 1985)
  • Brigadista (BBC1, 5 February 1985)

It's not fully clear on what basis the other sources assign these productions to Play for Today. My opinion is that these should be added to the main list (with explanatory caveats in the Notes column) only if it can be shown that when transmitted they were introduced (either on screen or by the continuity announcer) as Plays for Today, or if they were produced as Plays for Today, albeit not billed or transmitted as such. CaptainZond (talk) 17:15, 20 December 2020 (UTC)

I would agree. I am going to make a start by putting in The Black Stuff. pyrococcal (talk) 12:27, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

References

Additions

I've added Rhys Adrian's The Foxtrot to the list of famous/notable plays featured in the series. Even the stinkers are of note! Absurdtrousers (talk) 18:23, 31 March 2010 (UTC)

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Controversies

Does anyone know where this comment should be placed?

Towards the end of the run, three plays set in Northern Ireland were written by Graham Reid. Known as the Billy Plays, they starred Kenneth Branagh as Billy Martin in his first acting role following his graduation from RADA.

It's currently in the "controversies" section, but reads as a simple statement of uncontroversial fact. --Northernhenge (talk) 11:05, 10 March 2013 (UTC)

'History' is the best option, and it is where the passage is now located. Philip Cross (talk) 12:13, 10 March 2013 (UTC)

The complete broadcast details

Having researched the BBC Genome Database, this is the complete list of plays broadcast under the Play For Today strand, excluding repeats, unless the repeat was a first showing under the play strand (such as Our Day Out, which was not billed as Play For Today under its first broadcast on BBC2). I have excluded anything such as The Black Stuff or An Englishman Abroad that were shown as single plays on BBC1 and are often associated with the strand as, according to the Genome database, they were never given Play For Today billing.

I am not a wikipedian, so I don't know how you format for the site to create a table, hence my posting it here in 'raw' format, grouped by broadcast series. Hopefully someone with knowledge of the site can format it and move it to the actual page? That would be great!

1st Broadcast - Channel - Title - Author - Director - Lead Actor

15-Oct-70 - BBC1 - The Long Distance Piano Player - Alan Sharp - Philip Saville - Ray Davies
22-Oct-70 - BBC1 - The Right Prospectus - John Osborne - Alan Cooke - George Cole
29-Oct-70 - BBC1 - The Largest Theatre In The World: The Lie - Ingmar Bergman & Paul Britten Austin - Alan Bridges - Frank Finlay
5-Nov-70 - BBC1 - Angels Are So Few - Dennis Potter - Gareth Davis - Tom Bell
12-Nov-70 - BBC1 - The Write-Off - George Salverson - Rudi Dorin - Cecil Linder
19-Nov-70 - BBC1 - I Can't See My Little Willie - Douglas Livingstone - Alan Clarke - Nigel Stock
26-Nov-70 - BBC1 - A Distant Thunder - Maurice Edelmax - James Ferman - Adrienne Cori
3-Dec-70 - BBC1 - Hearts And Flowers - Peter Nichols - Christopher Morahan - Anthony Hopkins
10-Dec-70 - BBC1 - Robin Redbreast - John Bowen - James McTaggart - Anna Cropper
17-Dec-70 - BBC1 - The Hallelujah Handshake - Colin Welland - Alan Clarke - Tony Calvin
7-Jan-71 - BBC1 - Alma Mater - David Hodson - James Ferman - Ian Carmichael
14-Jan-71 - BBC1 - Circle Line - W. Stephen Gilbert - Claude Watham - Michael Feast
21-Jan-71 - BBC1 - Hell's Angel - David Agnew - Alan Cooke - Katharine Blake
28-Jan-71 - BBC1 - The Piano - Julia Jones - James Cellan Jones - Glyn Owen
4-Feb-71 - BBC1 - Billy's Last Stand - Barry Hines - John Glenister - Dudley Foster
11-Feb-71 - BBC1 - The Largest Theatre In The World: The Rainbirds - Clive Exton - Philip Saville - Madge Ryan
18-Feb-71 - BBC1 - Reddick - Munroe Scott - Mervyn Rosenzveig - Donald Harron
11-Mar-71 - BBC1 - No Trams To Lime Street - Alun Owen, Marty Wilde & Ronnie Scott - Piers Haggard - Anthony May
18-Mar-71 - BBC1 - Mad Jack - Tom Clarke - Jack Gold - Michael Jayston
25-Mar-71 - BBC1 - Scenes From Family Life - Barry Bermange - Naomi Capon - Denholm Elliott
1-Apr-71 - BBC1 - Wind Versus Polygamy - Obi Egbuna - Naomi Capon - Earl Cameron
8-Apr-71 - BBC1 - Playmates - Johnny Speight - John McGrath - Marty Feldman
15-Apr-71 - BBC1 - Sovereign's Company - Don Shaw - Alan Clarke - Ronald Culver
22-Apr-71 - BBC1 - Season Of The Witch - Desmond McCarthy & Johnny Byrne - Desmond McCarthy - Julie Driscoll
29-Apr-71 - BBC1 - The Foxtrot - Rhys Adrian with Michael Bates - Philip Saville - Donald Pleasence
6-May-71 - BBC1 - When The Bough Breaks - Tony Parker - James Ferman - Hannah Gordon
13-May-71 - BBC1 - Orkney - George Mackay Brown & John McGrath - James McTaggart - Maurice Roeves
20-May-71 - BBC1 - The Rank And File - Jim Allen - Ken Loach - Peter Kerrigan
27-May-71 - BBC1 - The Man In The Sidecar - Simon Gray - James McTaggart - Gemma Jones
3-Jun-71 - BBC1 - Everybody Say Cheese - Douglas Livingstone - Alan Clarke - Roy Kinnear
10-Jun-71 - BBC1 - The Cellar And The Almond Tree - David Mercer - Alan Bridges - Celia Johnson
17-Jun-71 - BBC1 - The Italian Table - William Trevor - Herbert Wise - Leonard Rossiter
24-Jun-71 - BBC1 - There is Also Tomorrow - Hugo Charteris - John Mackenzie - Glyn Houston
1-Jul-71 - BBC1 - Chariot Of Fire - Tony Parker - James Ferman - Rosemary Leach
- - - - -
14-Oct-71 - BBC1 - Traitor - Dennis Potter - Alan Bridges - John Le Mesurier
21-Oct-71 - BBC1 - Edna, The Inebriate Woman - Jeremy Sandford - Ted Kotcheff - Patricia Hayes
28-Oct-71 - BBC1 - Evelyn - Rhys Adrian - Piers Haggard - Edward Woodward
4-Nov-71 - BBC1 - O Fat White Woman - William Trevor - Philip Saville - Peter Jeffrey
11-Nov-71 - BBC1 - Thank You Very Much - N. F. Simpson - Claude Watham - Julian Holloway
18-Nov-71 - BBC1 - Michael Regan - Robert Holles - John Gorrie - David Burke
25-Nov-71 - BBC1 - Skin Deep - Michael O'Neill & Jeremy Seabrook - Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Donald Pleasence
2-Dec-71 - BBC1 - Pal - Alun Owen - Silvio Narizzano - Robin Phillips
9-Dec-71 - BBC1 - The Pigeon Fancier - Peter Hankin - James Ferman - Bert Palmer
6-Jan-72 - BBC1 - Home - David Storey - Lindsay Anderson - John Gielgud
13-Jan-72 - BBC1 - Still Waters - Julia Jones - James McTaggart - Margery Mason
20-Jan-72 - BBC1 - Stocker's Copper - Tom Clarke - Jack Gold - Bryan Marshall
27-Jan-72 - BBC1 - The House On Highbury Hill - Piers Paul Read - John Glenister - Colin Farrell
3-Feb-72 - BBC1 - In The Beautiful Caribbean - Barry Reckord - Philip Saville - Calvin Lockhart
10-Feb-72 - BBC1 - Ackerman, Dougall And Harker - Don Shaw - Ted Kotcheff - Martin C. Thurley
17-Feb-72 - BBC1 - The Villa Maroc - Willis Hall - Herbert Wise - Thora Hird
24-Feb-72 - BBC1 - Cows - Howard Barker - John Gorrie - Alison Leggatt
1-Jun-72 - BBC1 - The Fishing Party - Peter Terson - Michael Simpson - Brian Glover
- - - - -
9-Oct-72 - BBC1 - The Reporters - Arthur Hopcraft - Michael Apted - Robert Urquhart
16-Oct-72 - BBC1 - A Life Is Forever - Tony Parker - Alan Clarke - Maurice O'Connell
23-Oct-72 - BBC1 - Carson Country - Dominic Behan - Piers Haggard - J. G. Devlin
30-Oct-72 - BBC1 - Man Friday - Adrian Mitchell - James McTaggart - Colin Blakely
6-Nov-72 - BBC1 - Triple Exposure - David Halliwell - Alan Cooke - Alec McCowen
13-Nov-72 - BBC1 - Better Than The Movies - John Elliot - Roy Battersby - Bryan Marshall
20-Nov-72 - BBC1 - The General's Day - William Trevor - John Gorrie - Alistair Sim
27-Nov-72 - BBC1 - The Bankrupt - David Mercer - Christopher Morahan - Joss Ackland
4-Dec-72 - BBC1 - Just Your Luck - Peter McDougall - Mike Newell - Lesley Mackie
11-Dec-72 - BBC1 - The Bouncing Boy - John McGrath - Maurice Hatton - Norman Eshley
8-Jan-73 - BBC1 - Shakespeare - Or Bust - Peter Terson - Brian Parker - Janet Suzman
15-Jan-73 - BBC1 - Land Of Green Ginger - Alan Plater - Brian Parker - Gwen Taylor
22-Jan-73 - BBC1 - Kisses At Fifty - Colin Welland - Michael Apted - Bill Maynard
29-Jan-73 - BBC1 - Highway Robbery - Michael O'Neal & Jeremy Seabrook - Michael Apted - John Collin
5-Feb-73 - BBC1 - Song At Twilight - Willis Hall - Herbert Wise - Colin Blakely
12-Feb-73 - BBC1 - Only Make Believe - Dennis Potter - Robert Knights - Keith Barron
19-Feb-73 - BBC1 - For Syliva Or The Air Show - John Burrows & John Harding - Barry Davis - John Burrows
26-Feb-73 - BBC1 - The Operation - Roger Smith - Roy Battersby - George Lazenby
5-Mar-73 - BBC1 - Access To The Children - William Trevor - Philip Saville - Joss Ackland
12-Mar-73 - BBC1 - Hard Labour - Mike Leigh - Mike Leigh - Liz Smith
19-Mar-73 - BBC1 - Man Above Men - David Hare - Alan Clarke - Gwen Watford
26-Mar-73 - BBC1 - Speech Day - Barry Hines - John Goldschmidt - David Smith
14-May-73 - BBC1 - Steps Back - David Halliwell - Brian Parker - David Hill
4-Jun-73 - BBC1 - Three's One - Penelope Mortimer - Alistair Reid - Hywel Bennett
11-Jun-73 - BBC1 - Edward G - Like The Film Star - John Harvey-Flint - James Ferman - Robert Lang
18-Jun-73 - BBC1 - Blooming Youth - Leslie Blair - Leslie Blair - Philip Jackson
25-Jun-73 - BBC1 - The Stretch - Julia Jones - Peter Dews - June Ellis
2-Jul-73 - BBC1 - Making The Play - Terence Brady & Charlotte Bingham - Michael Hayes - James Bolam
- - - - -
18-Oct-73 - BBC1 - Mrs. Palfrey At The Claremont - Elizabeth Taylor - Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Celia Johnson
25-Oct-73 - BBC1 - Her Majesty's Pleasure - Jimmy O'Connor - Barry Davis - John Bindon
1-Nov-73 - BBC1 - Jack Point - Colin Welland - Michael Apted - Stephen Murray
8-Nov-73 - BBC1 - The Emergency Channel - John Bowen - Robert Knights - Richard Pascoe
15-Nov-73 - BBC1 - Mummy And Daddy - Douglas Livingstone - Barry Davis - Neil Wilson
22-Nov-73 - BBC1 - Private Practice - Peter Hankin - Peter Cregeen - Priscilla Morgan
29-Nov-73 - BBC1 - Shutdown - Tony Perrin - John Mackenzie - Freddie Fletcher
6-Dec-73 - BBC1 - Baby Blues - Nemone Lethbridge - James McTaggart - Zena Walker
13-Dec-73 - BBC1 - Jingle Bells - Arthur Hopcraft - Claude Whathan - Colin Farrell
17-Jan-74 - BBC1 - The Lonely Man's Lover - Barry Collins - Brian Parker - Jan Francis
31-Jan-74 - BBC1 - All Good Men - Trevor Griffiths - Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Bill Fraser
7-Feb-74 - BBC1 - Easy Go - Brian Clark & Ronnie King - Michael Tuchner - Alun Armstrong
14-Feb-74 - BBC1 - Joe's Ark - Dennis Potter - Alan Bridges - Freddie Jones
21-Feb-74 - BBC1 - Hot Fat - Jack Rosenthal - Derek Bennett - Richard O'Callaghan
14-Mar-74 - BBC1 - Headmaster - John Challen - Anthony Page - Frank Windsor
21-Mar-74 - BBC1 - Penda's Fen - David Rudkin - Alan Clarke - Spencer Banks
28-Mar-74 - BBC1 - Pigeon, Hawk Or Dove? - Michael Sadler - David Rose - Iain Cuthbertson
11-Apr-74 - BBC1 - Three For The Fancy - Peter Terson - Matthew Robinson - Brian Glover
6-Jun-74 - BBC1 - The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black, Black Oil - John McGrath - John Mackenzie - Charles Kearney
20-Jun-74 - BBC1 - Schmoedipus - Dennis Potter - Barry Davis - Anna Cropper
27-Jun-74 - BBC1 - The Childhood Friend - Piers Paul Read - Mike Newell - Anthony Hopkins
4-Jul-74 - BBC1 - A Follower For Emily - Brian Clark - Alan Clarke - Herbert Ramskill
- - - - -
31-Oct-74 - BBC1 - Leed's - United! - Colin Welland - Roy Battersby - Lynne Perrie
7-Nov-74 - BBC1 - Baby Love - David Edgar - Barry Davis - Patti Love
14-Nov-74 - BBC1 - Back Of Beyond - Julia Jones - Desmond Davis - Rachel Roberts
21-Nov-74 - BBC1 - The Levellers - Roddy McMillan - Moira Armstrong - Roddy McMillan
28-Nov-74 - BBC1 - Taking Leave - Joyce Neary - John Mackenzie - George Sewell
5-Dec-74 - BBC1 - Fugitive - Sean Walsh - Peter Gill - Stephen Rea
12-Dec-74 - BBC1 - Eleanor - William Trevor - Barry Davis - Colin Douglas
9-Jan-75 - BBC1 - Gangsters - Philip Martin - Philip Saville - Maurice Colbourne
16-Jan-75 - BBC1 - The After Dinner Game - Malcolm Bradbury & Christopher Rigsby - Robert Knights - Timothy West
23-Jan-75 - BBC1 - Breath - Elaine Feinstein - Matthew Robinson - Angela Pleasence
30-Jan-75 - BBC1 - The Death Of A Young Man - Willy Russell - Viktors Ritelis - Gary Brown
20-Feb-75 - BBC1 - Sunset Across The Bay - Alan Bennett - Stephen Frears - Gabrielle Daye
27-Feb-75 - BBC1 - Funny Farm - Roy Minton - Alan Clarke - Tim Preece
6-Mar-75 - BBC1 - Goodbye - Hugh Whitemore - Gavin Millar - Jeremy Kemp
13-Mar-75 - BBC1 - Just Another Saturday - Peter McDougall - John Mackenzie - John Morrison
24-Apr-75 - BBC1 - Child Of Hope - John Elliot - Graham Evans - Leon Gluckman
1-May-75 - BBC1 - The Saturday Party - Brian Clark - Barry Davis - Peter Barkworth
8-May-75 - BBC1 - Wednesday Love - Arthur Hopcraft - Michael Apted - Lois Daine
15-May-75 - BBC1 - The Dandelion Clock - Wilson John Haire - John Bruce - Verona O'Hara
22-May-75 - BBC1 - Brassneck - Howard Brenton & David Hare - Mike Newell - Jeremy Kemp
29-May-75 - BBC1 - The Floater - Peter Prince - Barry Davis - Richard Beckinsale
- - - - -
14-Oct-75 - BBC1 - Plaintiffs & Defendants - Simon Gray - Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Alan Bates
21-Oct-75 - BBC1 - Two Sundays - Simon Gray - Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Alan Bates
28-Oct-75 - BBC1 - Moss - Bernard Kops - Philip Saville - Warren Mitchell
4-Nov-75 - BBC1 - 84 Charing Cross Road - Helen Hanff & Hugh Whitemore - Mark Cullingham - Frank Finlay
11-Nov-75 - BBC1 - Keep An Eye On Albert - Brian Glover - Michael Tuchner - Susan Tracy
18-Nov-75 - BBC1 - Children Of The Sun - Michael O'Neill & Jeremy Seabrook - Viktors Ritelle - Godfrey James
25-Nov-75 - BBC1 - After The Solo - John Challen - Moira Armstrong - Leonard Rossiter
2-Dec-75 - BBC1 - Through The Night - Trevor Griffiths - Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Alison Steadman
9-Dec-75 - BBC1 - A Passage To England - Leon Griffiths - John Mackenzie - Colin Welland
16-Dec-75 - BBC1 - Rumpole Of The Bailey - John Mortimer - John Gorrie - Leo McKern
6-Jan-76 - BBC1 - The Other Woman - Watson Gould - Michael Simpson - Jane Lapotaire
13-Jan-76 - BBC1 - Nuts In May - Mike Leigh - Mike Leigh - Roger Sloman
20-Jan-76 - BBC1 - Doran's Box - Eric Coltart - Matthew Robinson - Peter Eyre
27-Jan-76 - BBC1 - Packman's Barn - Alick Rowe - Chris Menaul - John Barrett
3-Feb-76 - BBC1 - A Story To Frighten The Children - John Hopkins - Herbert Wise - Geoffrey Palmer
10-Feb-76 - BBC1 - The Happy Hunting Ground - Tom Hadaway - Brian Parker - Neil Phillips
17-Feb-76 - BBC1 - Jumping Bean Bag - Robin Chapman - Alan Cooke - David Dixon
24-Feb-76 - BBC1 - Clay, Smeddum And Greenden - Lewis Grassic Gibbon & Bill Craig - Moira Armstrong - Fulton Mackay
2-Mar-76 - BBC1 - Love Letters On Blue Paper - Arnold Wesker - Waris Hussein - Patrick Troughton
9-Mar-76 - BBC1 - Willie Rough - Bill Bryden - Bob McIntosh - James Grant
16-Mar-76 - BBC1 - Tiptoe Through The Tulips - Beryl Bainbridge - Claude Whatham - Rosemary Leach
23-Mar-76 - BBC1 - The Peddler - E. A. Whitehead - Claude Whatham - John Hurt
30-Mar-76 - BBC1 - Early Struggles - Peter Prince - Stephen Frears - Paul Nicholas
6-Apr-76 - BBC1 - Double Dare - Dennis Potter - John Mackenzie - Alan Dobie
- - - - -
14-Sep-76 - BBC1 - Bar Mitzvah Boy - Jack Rosenthal - Michael Tuchner - Jeremy Steyn
21-Sep-76 - BBC1 - Bet Your Life - Leslie Blair - Leslie Blair - Reginald Stewart
28-Sep-76 - BBC1 - Rocky Marciano Is Dead - Bernard Kops - Graham Evans - Ron Moody
12-Oct-76 - BBC1 - The Elephant's Graveyard - Peter McDougall - John Mackenzie - Billy Connolly
19-Oct-76 - BBC1 - Houswive's Choice - Roy Kendall - Chris Thomson - Frances de la Tour
26-Oct-76 - BBC1 - Your Man From Six Counties - Colin Welland - Barry Davis - Donal McCann
2-Nov-76 - BBC1 - Buffet - Rhys Adrian - Mike Newell - Tony Britton
4-Jan-77 - BBC1 - Love On A Gunboat - Malcolm Bradbury - Robert Knights - Stephen Moore
11-Jan-77 - BBC1 - The Kiss Of Death - Mike Leigh - Mike Leigh - David Threlfall
18-Jan-77 - BBC1 - Our Flesh And Blood - Mike Stott - Pedr James - Bernard Hill
25-Jan-77 - BBC1 - Do As I Say - Charles Wood - Barry Davis - Angela Down
15-Mar-77 - BBC1 - Spend, Spend, Spend! - Jack Rosenthal - John Goldschmidt - Susan Littler
22-Mar-77 - BBC1 - A Photograph - John Bowen - John Glenister - John Stride
12-Apr-77 - BBC1 - Gotcha / Campion's Interview - Barrie Keefe / Brian Clarke - Barry Davis - Philip Davis
19-Apr-77 - BBC1 - A Choice For Elvis - Jim Allen - Jane Howell - Stephen Murray
26-Apr-77 - BBC1 - The Country Party - Brian Clark - Barry Davis - Peter Barkworth
- - - - -
18-Oct-77 - BBC1 - Stronger Than The Sun - Stephen Poliakoff - Michael Apted - Francesca Annis
25-Oct-77 - BBC1 - Come The Revolution - Robin Chapman - Michael Darlow - Vivian Pickles
1-Nov-77 - BBC1 - Abigail's Party - Mike Leigh - Mike Leigh - Alison Steadman
8-Nov-77 - BBC1 - Oy Vey Maria - Mary O'Malley - Richard Loncraine - Cheryl Hall
15-Nov-77 - BBC1 - Nipper - Barrie Keefe - Brian Farnham - Coral Atkins
22-Nov-77 - BBC1 - One Day At A Time - Denis Cannan - Ronald Wilson - Stephanie Cole
29-Nov-77 - BBC1 - The Mayor's Charity - Henry Livings - Mike Newell - Thora Hird
5-Dec-77 - BBC1 - Catchpenny Twist - Stewart Parker - Robert Knights - Sam Dale
13-Dec-77 - BBC1 - Charades - Antonia Fraser - Roderick Graham - Jennifer Hilary
20-Dec-77 - BBC1 - The Thin End Of The Wedge - Sean McCarthy - John Black - Tom Marshall
3-Jan-78 - BBC1 - Scully's New Year's Ever - Alan Bleasdale - Michael Simpson - Andrew Schofield
10-Jan-78 - BBC1 - Licking Hitler - David Hare - David Hare - Kate Nelligan
17-Jan-78 - BBC1 - Red Shift - Alan Garner - John Mackenzie - Stephen Petcher
24-Jan-78 - BBC1 - The Spongers - Jim Allen - Ronald Joffe - Christine Hargreaves
31-Jan-78 - BBC1 - Destiny - David Edgar - Mike Newell - Colin Jeavons
7-Feb-78 - BBC1 - Our Day Out - Willy Russell - Pedr James - Alun Armstrong
14-Feb-78 - BBC1 - The After Dinner Joke - Caryl Churchill - Colin Bucksey - Paula Wilcox
18-Apr-78 - BBC1 - Days Of Hope: 1916 - Joining Up - Jim Allen - Ken Loach - Paul Copley
25-Apr-78 - BBC1 - Days Of Hope: 1921 - Every Pit In Britain Is Idle - Jim Allen - Ken Loach - Paul Copley
2-May-78 - BBC1 - Days Of Hope: 1924 - A Miracle - Jim Allen - Ken Loach - Paul Copley
9-May-78 - BBC1 - Days Of Hope: 1926 - General Strike - Jim Allen - Ken Loach - Paul Copley
1-Aug-78 - BBC1 - The Price Of Coal: Meet The People - Barry Hines - Ken Loach - Bobby Knutt
8-Aug-78 - BBC1 - The Price Of Coal: Back To Reality - Barry Hines - Ken Loach - Bobby Knutt
22-Aug-78 - BBC1 - The Legion Hall's Bombing - Caryl Churchill - Roland Joffe - David Kelly
- - - - -
17-Oct-78 - BBC1 - Nina - Jehane Markham - Alan Clarke - Jack Shepherd
24-Oct-78 - BBC1 - Victims Of Apartheid - Tom Clarke - Stuart Burge - John Kani
31-Oct-78 - BBC1 - A Touch Of The Tiny Hacketts - John Esmonde & Bob Larbey - James Cellan Jones - Ray Brooks
7-Nov-78 - BBC1 - Dinner At The Sporting Club - Leon Griffiths - Brian Gibson - John Thaw
14-Nov-78 - BBC1 - Donal And Sally - James Duthie - Brian Parker - Gerard Kelly
21-Nov-78 - BBC1 - Sorry… - Vaclav Havel & Vera Blackwell - Claude Whatham - Michael Crawford
28-Nov-78 - BBC1 - Butterflies Don't Count - Wally K. Daly - Kenneth Ives - Frank Mills
5-Dec-78 - BBC1 - Soldiers Talking, Cleanly - Mike Stott - Alan Dossor - Bob Mason
12-Dec-78 - BBC1 - One Bummer Newsday - Andy McSmith - Michael Darlow - Simon Rouse
2-Jan-79 - BBC1 - The Out Of Town Boys - Ron Hutchinson - Robert Knights - Joe Lynch
9-Jan-79 - BBC1 - Vampires - Dixie Williams - John Goldschmidt - Peter Moran
16-Jan-79 - BBC1 - The Chief Mourner - John Elliot - David Rose - Richard Pasco
23-Jan-79 - BBC1 - Waterloo Sunset - Barrie Keefe - Richard Eyre - Queenie Watts
30-Jan-79 - BBC1 - Blue Remembered Hills - Dennis Potter - Brian Gibson - Colin Welland
5-Feb-79 - BBC1 - Who's Who? - Mike Leigh - Mike Leigh - Simon Chandler
13-Feb-79 - BBC1 - The Last Window Cleaner - Run Hutchinson - Bill Craske - Patrick Magee
27-Feb-79 - BBC1 - Ploughman's Share - Douglas Dunn - Fiona Cumming - Duncan Brewster
6-Mar-79 - BBC1 - Degree Of Uncertainty - Alma Cullen - Paul Annett - Jennie Linden
13-Mar-79 - BBC1 - Coming Out - James Andrew Hall - Carol Wiseman - Anton Rogers
24-Jul-79 - BBC1 - Don't Be Silly - Rachel Billington - Kenneth Ives - Susan Fleetwood
- - - - -
11-Oct-79 - BBC1 - Long Distance Information - Neville Smith - Stephen Frears - Neville Smith
18-Oct-79 - BBC1 - Cries From A Watchtower - Stephen Lowe - Giles Foster - Paix Copley
25-Oct-79 - BBC1 - Comedians - Trevor Griffiths - Richard Eyre - Bill Fraser
1-Nov-79 - BBC1 - Even Solomon - Andrew Taylor - Roger Bamford - Paul Henley
8-Nov-79 - BBC1 - Just A Boy's Game - Peter McDougall - John Mckenzie - Frankie Miller
13-Nov-79 - BBC1 - Billy - G. F. Newman - Charles Stewart - Jason Plenderleith
22-Nov-79 - BBC1 - Instant Enlightenment Including VAT - Andrew Carr - John Bruce - Simon Callow
29-Nov-79 - BBC1 - A Hole In Babylon - Jim Hawkins & Horace Ove - Horace Ove - T-Bone Wilson
6-Dec-79 - BBC1 - The Slab Boys - John Byrne - Bob Hird - Gerard Kelly
13-Dec-79 - BBC1 - Katie: The Year Of A Child - Ian Cullen & John Norton - Barry Dams - Margaret Kelly
20-Dec-79 - BBC1 - The Network - Stephen Fagan - Derek Lister - Anthony Bate
3-Jan-80 - BBC1 - Chance Of A Lifetime - Robert Holman - Giles Foster - David Daker
10-Jan-80 - BBC1 - Keep Smiling - Paul Joyce - Paul Joyce - Stephen Moore
17-Jan-80 - BBC1 - Dreams Of Leaving - David Hare - David Hare - Bill Nighy
24-Jan-80 - BBC1 - Thicker Than Water - Brian Glover - Alan Grint - Colin Douglass
31-Jan-80 - BBC1 - Murder Rap - Michael Hastings - Peter Duffell - Arthur Lovegrove
14-Feb-80 - BBC1 - No Defence - Chris Kewbank - Clive Halls - Illona Linthwaite
21-Feb-80 - BBC1 - That Crazy Woman - David Hopkins - Bill Craske - Zena Walker
28-Feb-80 - BBC1 - A Gift From Nessus - William McIlvanney & Bill Craig - James Ormerod - Ken Hutchison
6-Mar-80 - BBC1 - Kate, The Good Neighbour - Peter Ransley - John Bruce - Rachel Kempson
13-Mar-80 - BBC1 - Buses - Geoffrey Case - Tim King - Sebastian Abineri
20-Mar-80 - BBC1 - Shadows Of Our Skin - Jennifer Johnston & Darek Mahon - Jim O'Brien - MacRea Clarke
27-Mar-80 - BBC1 - Ladies - Carol Bunyan - Durmuid Lawrence - Patsy Rowlands
3-Apr-80 - BBC1 - The Vanishing Army - Robert Holles - Richard Loncraine - Bill Paterson
10-Apr-80 - BBC1 - Not For The Likes Of Us - Gilly Fraser - Tim King - Pam St. Clement
17-Apr-80 - BBC1 - The Executioner - Lionel Goldstein - Kenneth Ives - Paul Rogers
24-Apr-80 - BBC1 - The Imitation Game - Ian McEwan - Richard Eyre - Harriet Walter
14-May-80 - BBC1 - A Walk In The Forest - Jeremy Paul - Jack Gold - John Alderton
24-Jun-80 - BBC1 - On Giant's Shoulders - Marjorie Wallace, Michael Robson, William Humble & Anthony Simmons - Anthony Simmons - Judi Dench
1-Jul-80 - BBC1 - Fearless Frank - Andrew Davies - Colin Bucksey - Leonard Rossiter
- - - - -
21-Oct-80 - BBC1 - Pasmore - Richard Eyre & David Storey - Richard Eyre - Philip Jackson
28-Oct-80 - BBC1 - C2H50H - David Turner - James Cellan Jones - Dinsdale Landen
4-Nov-80 - BBC1 - The Adventures Of Frank: 1 - Everybody's Fiddling Something - John McGrath, Mark Brown, Mike O'Neill & Si Cowe - John McGrath - Mick Ford
11-Nov-80 - BBC1 - The Adventures Of Frank: 2 - Seeds Of Ice - John McGrath, Mark Brown, Mike O'Neill & Si Cowe - John McGrath - Mick Ford
18-Nov-80 - BBC1 - Minor Complications - Peter Ransley - Moira Armstrong - Paola Dionisotti
2-Dec-80 - BBC1 - Jude - Lesley Bruce - Bill Craske - Dorain Ford
9-Dec-80 - BBC1 - The Flipside Of Dominick Hyde - Jeremy Paul & Alan Gibson - Alan Gibson - Peter Firth
16-Dec-80 - BBC1 - Name For The Day - Colin Haydn Evans - Bill Bain - Richard O'Callaghan
23-Dec-80 - BBC1 - Jessie - Bryan Forbes - Bryan Forbes - Nanette Newman
6-Jan-81 - BBC1 - Beyond The Pale - Les Blair - Les Blair - Michael Maynard
13-Jan-81 - BBC1 - The Muscle Market - Alan Bleasdale - Alan Dossor - Pete Postlethwaite
20-Jan-81 - BBC1 - A Brush With Mr. Porter On The Road To El Dorado - Don Haworth - Baz Taylor - Christopher Benjamin
3-Feb-81 - BBC1 - The Cause - Derek Lister - Barry Davis - Jimmy Jewel
10-Feb-81 - BBC1 - Beloved Emily - David Leland & Charles Levinson - Alan Clarke - Graham Crowden
17-Feb-81 - BBC1 - The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner - Stewart Parker - Baz Taylor - Peter Sallis
24-Feb-81 - BBC1 - The Union - Tony Perrin - Ronald Wilson - Ian Hogg
3-Mar-81 - BBC1 - Sorry - Carol Bunyan - Alistair Clark - Nicholas Ball
10-Mar-81 - BBC1 - The Garland - H. O. Nazareth & Horace Ove - Horace Ove - Tariq Yunus
17-Mar-81 - BBC1 - The Sin Bin - Tony Parker - John Gorrie - Kenneth Cranham
24-Mar-81 - BBC1 - Before Water Lilies - Robert Marshall - Alan Charlesworth - Colin Bruce
31-Mar-81 - BBC1 - Bavarian Night - Andrew Davies - Jack Gold - Gawn Grainger
7-Apr-81 - BBC1 - The Good Time Girls - Alan Clews - Gareth Davis - Anne Kristen
21-Apr-81 - BBC1 - Baby Talk - Nigel Williams - Derek Lister - Susan Littler
28-Apr-81 - BBC1 - A Turn For The Worse - John Bill - Bill Hays - Bernard Hill
12-May-81 - BBC1 - Psy-Warriors - David Leland - Alan Clarke - Rosalind Ayres
- - - - -
20-Oct-81 - BBC1 - Country - Trevor Griffiths - Richard Eyre - Leo McKern
27-Oct-81 - BBC1 - London Is Drowning - Graham Williams - Martyn Friend - David Neal
3-Nov-81 - BBC1 - A Room For The Winter - Rose Tremain - Jim Goddard - Jack Shepherd
17-Nov-81 - BBC1 - No Visible Scar - Rosemary Davies - Moira Armstrong - Barbara Flynn
24-Nov-81 - BBC1 - Iris In The Traffic, Ruby In The Rain - Stewart Parker - John Bruce - Frances Tomelty
1-Dec-81 - BBC1 - Protest - Vaclav Havel & Vera Blackwell - Alistair Clark - Nigel Hawthorne
8-Dec-81 - BBC1 - United Kingdom - Jim Allen - Roland Joffe - Colin Welland
15-Dec-81 - BBC1 - PQ 17 - Roger Milner & Captain Jack Broome - Frank Cox - Richard Briers
22-Dec-81 - BBC1 - The Factory - David Hopkins - Gerald Blake - Leonard Rossiter
5-Jan-82 - BBC1 - England's Green And Pleasant Lands - Rita May - Jim Hill - Ron Delta
12-Jan-82 - BBC1 - A Cotswold Death - Tony Bicat - Tony Bicat - Tony Richardson
19-Jan-82 - BBC1 - Under The Skin - Janey Preger - Tony Smith - Jacqueline Tong
26-Jan-82 - BBC1 - Commitments - Dusty Hughes - Richard Wilson - Kevin McNally
2-Feb-82 - BBC1 - Life After Death - Rachel Billington - Anthony Simmons - Dorothy Tutin
9-Feb-82 - BBC1 - The Silly Season - Stephen Mulrine - Alex Marshall - Derek Anders
16-Feb-82 - BBC1 - Too Late To Talk To Billy - J. Graham Reid - Paul Seed - James Ellis
23-Feb-82 - BBC1 - Willie's Last Stand - Jim Allen - Brian Parker - Paul Freeman
9-Mar-82 - BBC1 - Tishoo - Brian Thompson - Gerald Blake - Paul Daneman
16-Mar-82 - BBC1 - Home, Sweet Home - Mike Leigh - Mike Leigh - Timothy Spall
23-Mar-82 - BBC1 - A Sudden Wrench - Paula Milne - Jon Amiel - Rosemary Martin
30-Mar-82 - BBC1 - Eve Set The Balls Of Corruption Rolling - Marcella Evaristi - David Maloney - Debbie Wheeler
6-Apr-82 - BBC1 - Whistling Wally - Wally K. Daly - Gerald Blake - Kenneth Farrington
- - - - -
19-Oct-82 - BBC1 - Soft Targets - Stephen Poliakoff - Charles Sturridge - Helen Mirren
26-Oct-82 - BBC1 - 3 Minute Heroes - Leslie Stewart - Michael Custance - Philip Freeman
2-Nov-82 - BBC1 - The Remainder Man - Philip Martin - Richard Wilson - Sheila Hancock
9-Nov-82 - BBC1 - Intensive Care - Alan Bennett - Gavin Millar - Alan Bennett
16-Nov-82 - BBC1 - A Mother Like Him - Frances Galleymore - Baz Taylor - Perry Fenwick
30-Nov-82 - BBC1 - Aliens - Alen Clews - David Maloney - Anthony Higgins
14-Dec-82 - BBC1 - Another Flip For Dominick - Jeremy Paul & Alan Gibson - Alan Gibson - Peter Firth
1-Mar-83 - BBC1 - Last Love - Reg Gadney - Nicholas Renton - Elizabeth Sellers
8-Mar-83 - BBC1 - Gates Of Gold - Maurice Leitch - Jon Amiel - Peter Bayliss
15-Mar-83 - BBC1 - Wayne And Albert - David Hopkins - Sarah Pia Anderson - Arthur English
29-Mar-83 - BBC1 - Atlantis - Peter Terson - Les Chatfield - Frank Middlemass
19-Apr-83 - BBC1 - Shall I Be Mother? - Peter Ransley - Ronald Wilson - Eva Griffith
26-Apr-83 - BBC1 - The Falklands Factor - Don Shaw - Colin Bucksey - Donald Pleasence
10-May-83 - BBC1 - A Matter Of Choice For Billy - Graham Reid - Paul Seed - Kenneth Branagh
- - - - -
14-Feb-84 - BBC1 - Young Shoulders - John Wain & Robert Smith - Silvio Narizzano - David Horovitch
21-Feb-84 - BBC1 - Coming To Terms For Billy - Graham Reid - Paul Seed - Kenneth Branagh
28-Feb-84 - BBC1 - Z For Zachariah - Anthony Garner - Anthony Garner - Anthony Andrews
6-Mar-84 - BBC1 - Moving On The Edge - Rose Tremain - Anthony Garner - Eleanor Bron
13-Mar-84 - BBC1 - Desert Of Lies - Howard Brenton - Piers Haggard - Cherie Lunghi
20-Mar-84 - BBC1 - Hard Feelings - Doug Lucie - Michael Bradwell - Frances Barber
27-Mar-84 - BBC1 - Under The Hammer - Stephen Fagan - Richard Wilson - Peter Vaughan
3-Apr-84 - BBC1 - King - Barrie Keefe - Tony Smith - Thomas Baptiste
10-Apr-84 - BBC1 - Rainy Day Women - David Pirie - Ben Bolt - Charles Dance
17-Jul-84 - BBC1 - Dog Ends - Richard Harris - Carol Wiseman - Leonard Rossiter
24-Jul-84 - BBC1 - The Groundling And The Kite - Leonard Preston - Peter Jefferies - John Duttine
31-Jul-84 - BBC1 - The Cry - Derek Mahon, Chris Menaul & John Montague - Chris Menaul - Adrian Dunbar
14-Aug-84 - BBC1 - It Could Happen To Anybody - Hugh McManus - Laurence Moody - Ann Scott-Jones
21-Aug-84 - BBC1 - Only Children - Judy Forrest - Michael Rolfe - Charlotte Cornwell
28-Aug-84 - BBC1 - The Amazing Miss Stella Estelle - Leslie Stewart - John Davis - Elaine Lordan
- - - - -
25-Aug-87 - BBC1 - Brimstone And Treacle - Dennis Potter - Barry Davis - Denholm Elliot
27-Jul-91 - BBC2 - Scum - Roy Minton - Alan Clarke - Ray Winstone
— Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:647:5803:9630:2C1D:D632:EB:C2EC (talk) 20:25, 21 January 2020 (UTC)

Excellent work. I did not feel there was a need for the channel column in the article with only the last first broadcast, Scum, differing from the norm, so I have removed it. I think all the repeats not previously broadcast as a Play for Today, like the Allen/Loach Days of Hope quartet already included, should all be listed. It avoids potential confusion for those interested in this programme and single plays generally, like the point about The Blackstuff not originating as a Play for Today. However, I think it should be checked against other sources as it is possible there were episodes which were rescheduled at the last moment. I am uncertain if Brimstone and Treacle and Scum were the only ones to be problematic for BBC executives. Philip Cross (talk) 12:41, 22 January 2020 (UTC)

I found that issues 3099 and 3100 of the Radio Times are missing from the BBC Genome database, hence The Last Term (5 April 1983) and Reluctant Chickens (12 April 1983) have been added based on information from the BFI database. CaptainZond (talk) 13:44, 20 December 2020 (UTC)

Play for Today on DVD

I don't think the current separate section on this is very helpful. It would be better to added a 'Released on Home Media?' column to the table of all the released, and then the cell for each play would either say 'No', or state the title & publisher of the release. Since the table can be sorted by director, the current grouping to that effect could still be reproduced. If I have a spare half hour I might make this improvement :) --pyrococcal (talk) 15:38, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

I made a start... pyrococcal (talk) 15:49, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

Done it :) pyrococcal (talk) 23:49, 3 February 2021 (UTC) I do think the info is better in that form, because you can sort the table by any column. And it is now clearer which plays are available in boxsets, and which are standalone releases. I have also tried to provide full citations for each release (although I couldn't find a few of the catalogue numbers... although frankly, what the catalogue numbers are ever used for, I do not know ;))pyrococcal (talk) 10:02, 4 February 2021 (UTC)

Dated Format

Having mentioned how the likes of Play for Today often demonstrated television drama's roots in the theatre, how is it possible to then claim that the series is generally "remembered as a benchmark of high-quality British television drama"? Also, what people continue to argue that it was "a golden age of British television"? [Special:Contributions/91.110.75.123|91.110.75.123]] (talk) 17:22, 26 August 2024 (UTC)