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The Best Episodes of Play for Today

Every episode of Play for Today ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of 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. During the run,...
Genre:Drama
Network:BBC One

Best Episodes Summary

"United Kingdom" is the best rated episode of "Play for Today". It scored 8.8/10 based on 30 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/8/1981. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil".

  • United Kingdom
    8.8/1030 votes
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    #1 - United Kingdom

    Season 12 Episode 7 - Aired 12/8/1981

    Two men on a local council fight the system when forced with massive spending cuts.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil
    8.6/1043 votes
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    #2 - The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil

    Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 6/6/1974

    The exploitation of the Scottish land and its people from the 18th century to the present

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Spongers
    8.6/1075 votes
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    #3 - The Spongers

    Season 8 Episode 14 - Aired 1/24/1978

    The story of a single mother of four living on welfare

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Muscle Market
    8.5/1054 votes
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    #4 - The Muscle Market

    Season 11 Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/1981

    The problems of an owner of a building contractor company in Liverpool

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Alan Bleasdale

  • Waterloo Sunset
    8.4/1017 votes
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    #5 - Waterloo Sunset

    Season 9 Episode 13 - Aired 1/23/1979

    A young man and an old woman try to fit in when their neighborhood goes West Indian

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Even Solomon
    8.4/1013 votes
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    #6 - Even Solomon

    Season 10 Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/1979

    Stephen Piper is a quiet young man. A virgin, he shows no interest in sex, and is cruelly scorned by an aggressive female neighbour when he rebuffs her advances. He lives with his mother, an overbearing woman who mocks him for being wet. But Stephen has a secret. An accurate and heartfelt depiction of the challenges he faces and a fascinating glimpse at the gender politics of the day.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
    8.4/109 votes
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    #7 - A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado

    Season 11 Episode 13 - Aired 1/20/1981

    "They're nice affable gobblers and we're in the nice affable gobbling business." Tom and Gwen soon find that their gastronomical retreat from the rat race is anything but an escape when the Porters come to dine.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Time to Keep
    8.3/10102 votes
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    #8 - A Time to Keep

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 4/27/1972

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Rumpole of the Bailey
    8.3/10158 votes
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    #9 - Rumpole of the Bailey

    Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 12/16/1975

    Rumpole defends a young West Indian boy accused of attempted murder.

    Director: John Gorrie

    Writer: John Mortimer

  • Spend, Spend, Spend
    8.2/1073 votes
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    #10 - Spend, Spend, Spend

    Season 7 Episode 12 - Aired 3/15/1977

    The rags-to-riches-to-rags story of a 1960s football pools winner, based on a true story

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Jack Rosenthal

  • Nipper
    8.2/1012 votes
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    #11 - Nipper

    Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 11/15/1977

    Teenager Jimmy's life begins to unravel after the death of his father. With his mother promiscuous and his new stepfather and stepbrother difficult to get along with, he begins to fall into a cycle of petty crime and self harm.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Flipside of Dominick Hide
    8.2/10348 votes
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    #12 - The Flipside of Dominick Hide

    Season 11 Episode 8 - Aired 12/9/1980

    Dominick Hide, a time traveller from London in the year 2130, is studying the city's transport system of 1980. Breaking the rules, he lands his craft to seek out his great-grandfather. Compared to his anaesthetised home, 80s London is filthy and polluted...and yet...it exudes an excitement that soon draws him in.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Jeremy Paul

  • Angels Are So Few
    8.1/1048 votes
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    #13 - Angels Are So Few

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/5/1970

    A man claiming to be an angel enters the household of a bored housewife and teaches the family a few lessons.

    Director: Gareth Davies

    Writer: Dennis Potter

  • The Piano
    8.1/1014 votes
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    #14 - The Piano

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/28/1971

    An old couple refuse to move when they find out that they can't take their piano with them

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Schmoedipus
    8.1/1067 votes
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    #15 - Schmoedipus

    Season 4 Episode 20 - Aired 6/20/1974

    A young man persuades a woman that he is her son.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Dennis Potter

  • Leeds--United!
    8.1/1075 votes
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    #16 - Leeds--United!

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 10/31/1974

    About a strike in a textile factory, based on a true story

    Director: Roy Battersby

    Writer: N/A

  • Gangsters
    8.1/1058 votes
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    #17 - Gangsters

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 1/9/1975

    A story exploring the Birmingham underworld

    Director: Philip Saville

    Writer: Philip Martin

  • The Saturday Party
    8.1/1023 votes
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    #18 - The Saturday Party

    Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 5/1/1975

    When a stockbroker loses his job, he decides to throw a party.

    Director: Barry Davis

    Writer: Brian Clark

  • The Bar Mitzvah Boy
    8.1/10106 votes
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    #19 - The Bar Mitzvah Boy

    Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/1976

    A story exploring the emotions of a boy undrgoing the traditional Jewish ceremony

    Director: Michael Tuchner

    Writer: Jack Rosenthal

  • Rocky Marciano Is Dead
    8.1/1014 votes
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    #20 - Rocky Marciano Is Dead

    Season 7 Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1976

    Harry Marcus is a former welterweight champion mourning the loss of the past and dreaming of a return to the glory years of boxing. When a squatter moves in next door, does he have what it takes to fulfil Harry's dreams?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Comedians
    8.1/1069 votes
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    #21 - Comedians

    Season 10 Episode 3 - Aired 10/25/1979

    Budding comedians take an evening class taught by a retired performer and, for their final exam, must perform for an impresario in a nightclub.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Under the Hammer
    8.1/1014 votes
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    #22 - Under the Hammer

    Season 14 Episode 8 - Aired 3/27/1984

    Concerning the life of the artist Vincent Van Gogh

    Director: Richard Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Shakespeare or Bust
    8.0/1047 votes
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    #23 - Shakespeare or Bust

    Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/8/1973

    The adventures of three Derbyshire miners going to Stratford-upon-Avon on a barge

    Director: Michael Simpson

    Writer: N/A

  • Only Make Believe
    8.0/1021 votes
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    #24 - Only Make Believe

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 2/12/1973

    As a playwright dictates notes about his newest play to his secretary, scenes from the play are acted out.

    Director: Robert Knights

    Writer: Dennis Potter

  • Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
    8.0/1030 votes
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    #25 - Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 10/18/1973

    Mrs Palfrey tries hard to be accepted by the other residents at the Claremont. But then she meets Ludo and a real friendship begins.

    Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg

    Writer: N/A