- 8.7/1029 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.6/1043 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.6/1075 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.5/1054 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.4/1017 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.4/1013 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.4/109 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.3/10102 votesLoading...
#8 - A Time to Keep
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 4/27/1972
No description available
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/10158 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.2/1073 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.2/1012 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.2/10348 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1048 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1014 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1067 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1075 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1058 votesLoading...
#17 - Gangsters
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 1/9/1975
A story exploring the Birmingham underworld
Director: Philip Saville
Writer: Philip Martin
- 8.1/1023 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/10106 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1014 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1069 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.1/1014 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.0/1046 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.0/1021 votesLoading...
#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
- 8.0/1030 votesLoading...
#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
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 8.7/10 based on 29 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/8/1981. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil".