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The Best Episodes of Clayhanger

Every episode of Clayhanger ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Clayhanger!

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Clayhanger is a British television drama based on Arnold Bennett's novel series of the same name, published between 1910 and 1918, dramatised by Douglas Livingstone for ITV. Produced by Associated Television, the 26-episode programme is

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 13 - Laid Aside
    8.0/10(5 votes)

    #1 - Laid Aside

    S1:E13

    Edwin knows nothing of the role that Mr Shushions played in Darius's life, and is puzzled when Darius returns from his funeral in a state of shock. But subsequent events force new responsibilities on Edwin...

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 15 - The Chain Is Broken
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    #2 - The Chain Is Broken

    S1:E15

    Close to death, Darius lets it be known that Edwin will inherit the whole of his business. As one chapter closes in Edwin's life, another opens as he meets Hilda's son.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 11 - Love
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #3 - Love

    S1:E11

    Hilda's secret marriage to George has ended disastrously with the discovery that it was bigamous. Deserted by him, she returns to Bursley to stay with the Orgreaves. On the night of her arrival, there is a visitor — Edwin.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 14 - The Glorious Jubilee
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #4 - The Glorious Jubilee

    S1:E14

    Edwin has been told that his father had no more than two years to live. More than one of those years has now passed - and Edwin has assumed complete control of the family business.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 16 - The Adventure
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #5 - The Adventure

    S1:E16

    Hilda's son arrives to stay with the Orgreaves. Janet tells Edwin that Hilda is now a widow.... and all his old feelings for Hilda are re-awakened.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 12 - Punishment
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #6 - Punishment

    S1:E12

    Hilda and Edwin declare their love for each other. But when she's forced to return to Brighton, Hilda has still not found the courage to tell Edwin about her past.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Clayhanger

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  7. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 18 - The Exquisite Burden
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #7 - The Exquisite Burden

    S1:E18

    Hilda has told Edwin that she was never married to Cannon. Ignoring the hostility of Five Towns 'society', Edwin asks her to marry him.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 1 - Last of a Schoolboy
    7.5/10(10 votes)

    #8 - Last of a Schoolboy

    S1:E1

    July 1872. It is Edwin Clayhanger's last day at school. Everyone expects that he will enter his father's printing business, but Edwin has very different ideas about his future.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 17 - Epidemic
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #9 - Epidemic

    S1:E17

    Edwin visits Hilda in Brighton, where he learns that her husband is, in fact, still alive.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 20 - A Musical Evening
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #10 - A Musical Evening

    S1:E20

    Hilda and Edwin have quarrelled about Edwin's plans to build a new printing works - he has not yet told her that he already made an offer for the land.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 23 - Prisoners
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #11 - Prisoners

    S1:E23

    After their brief glimpse of George Cannon in Dartmoor prison, Edwin and Hilda return to the Five Towns. Not long after, George Cannon is released....

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 26 - The Discovery
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #12 - The Discovery

    S1:E26

    Hilda is determined that she and Edwin should live in the country. And unbeknown to Edwin, she has already decided on their future home....

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 2 - The Architect
    7.3/10(7 votes)

    #13 - The Architect

    S1:E2

    Edwin becomes a hero - he wins his fathers admiration, but is no nearer to the realisation of his own ambitions to become an architect.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 8 - Taking a Share
    7.3/10(6 votes)

    #14 - Taking a Share

    S1:E8

    After their day together at the Sunday School Centenary celebrations, Hilda and Edwin have become fascinated with each other. Edwin is both excited and unnerved at the prospect of their becoming neighbours.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 9 - Brighton
    7.3/10(6 votes)

    #15 - Brighton

    S1:E9

    Miss Gailey tells Hilda that Cannon has taken a boarding house in Brighton, and expects them all to go and live there.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 10 - Marriage
    7.3/10(6 votes)

    #16 - Marriage

    S1:E10

    Hilda has accepted George's proposal, but she's nervous of breaking the news to Miss Gailey, who is now a semi-permanent invalid.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 21 - The Orgreave Calamity
    7.2/10(5 votes)

    #17 - The Orgreave Calamity

    S1:E21

    Hilda is continuing to oppose Edwin's plans to extend the printing business.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 24 - Fall from Glory
    7.2/10(5 votes)

    #18 - Fall from Glory

    S1:E24

    Edwin is furious when Hilda insists on taking her son to London to visit an eye specialist. All the Clayhanger servants have left, and Edwin is forced to stay with Auntie Hamps.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 4 - The Five Towns Chronicle and Turnhill Guardian
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #19 - The Five Towns Chronicle and Turnhill Guardian

    S1:E4

    While Edwin continues to work as an assistant at his father's printing works, eyebrows are raised when Hilda Lessways becomes the first woman in the Five Towns to learn shorthand - in order to work for George Cannon.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 6 - Escape to Bleakridge
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #20 - Escape to Bleakridge

    S1:E6

    Hilda's feeling of responsibility for her mother's death has led her to a nervous breakdown. While still recovering in Miss Gailey's boarding house, she hears that Cannon is insisting on visiting her.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 7 - Centenary
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #21 - Centenary

    S1:E7

    Edwin spends an evening with the Orgreaves. He takes an instant dislike to Hilda, but when he leaves to take another look at the new Clayhanger house, she secretly follows him...

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 22 - Dartmoor
    7.0/10(5 votes)

    #22 - Dartmoor

    S1:E22

    Hilda once again sees the man she thought she loved, but they cannot speak. George Cannon is a prisoner in Dartmoor.

    Director:John Davies
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 25 - Death and Dreams
    7.0/10(5 votes)

    #23 - Death and Dreams

    S1:E25

    Hilda remains in London while Edwin stays on with a seriously ill Auntie Hamps. To add to Edwin's gloom, Ingpen has had a serious accident at the Benbow works and is not expected to live.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 5 - Sin and Romance
    6.9/10(7 votes)

    #24 - Sin and Romance

    S1:E5

    Hilda receives a telegram from London informing her that her mother is ill. Instead of leaving at once, she continues to work on the first edition of Cannon's newspaper.

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Clayhanger Season 1 Episode 3 - HIlda
    6.7/10(7 votes)

    #25 - HIlda

    S1:E3

    Edwin has written to his father reminding him that he wants to train as an architect. Darius is curious, while Edwin realises that a summons from his aunt means the battle has come to a head...

    Director:David Reid
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Laid Aside" is the best rated episode of "Clayhanger". It scored 8/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by David Reid and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/25/1976. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Chain Is Broken".