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The Best Episodes of Play for Today Season 1

Every episode of Play for Today Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Play for Today Season 1!

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

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Long Distance Piano Player" is the best rated episode of "Play for Today" season 1. It scored 6.5/10 based on 33 votes. Directed by Philip Saville and written by Alan Sharp, it aired on 10/15/1970. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Right Prospectus".

  • The Long Distance Piano Player
    6.5/1033 votes

    #1 - The Long Distance Piano Player

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/15/1970

    A man tries to break the world's record for nonstop piano playing

    Director: Philip Saville

    Writer: Alan Sharp

  • The Right Prospectus
    6.2/1021 votes

    #2 - The Right Prospectus

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/22/1970

    A couple look for the proper school, not for their children but for themselves.

    Director: Alan Cooke

    Writer: N/A

  • The Lie
    7.2/1091 votes

    #3 - The Lie

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/29/1970

    ""The Lie"" refers to the 8-year marriage of a couple who are constantly hurting each other.

    Director: Alan Bridges

    Writer: Ingmar Bergman

  • Angels Are So Few
    8.1/1048 votes

    #4 - 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 Write-Off
    NaN/100 votes

    #5 - The Write-Off

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/12/1970

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • I Can't See My Little Willie
    NaN/100 votes

    #6 - I Can't See My Little Willie

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/19/1970

    A man has a mid-life crisis in his brother's pub where sees life as a game show

    Director: Alan Clarke

    Writer: N/A

  • A Distant Thunder
    NaN/100 votes

    #7 - A Distant Thunder

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/26/1970

    A newly-appointed knight finds his celebrations cut short by someone who was witness to his treachery during the war.

    Director: James Ferman

    Writer: N/A

  • Hearts and Flowers
    6.9/1040 votes

    #8 - Hearts and Flowers

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/3/1970

    A TV host and his architect brother attend their father's funeral

    Director: Christopher Morahan

    Writer: N/A

  • Robin Redbreast
    7.1/10574 votes

    #9 - Robin Redbreast

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/1970

    A woman living in a country cottage thinks that someone is trying to get her.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Hallelujah Handshake
    7.4/1088 votes

    #10 - The Hallelujah Handshake

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/1970

    A petty thief and social misfit finagles his way into a church congregation

    Director: Alan Clarke

    Writer: N/A

  • Alma Mater
    NaN/100 votes

    #11 - Alma Mater

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/1971

    A civil servant working abroad revisits his old school

    Director: James Ferman

    Writer: N/A

  • Circle Line
    NaN/100 votes

    #12 - Circle Line

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/1971

    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.

    Director: Claude Whatham

    Writer: N/A

  • Hell's Angel
    NaN/100 votes

    #13 - Hell's Angel

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/1971

    A couple are distressed by the changes in their adopted teenage son when he joins a biker gang.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Piano
    7.8/1016 votes

    #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

  • Billy's Last Stand
    NaN/100 votes

    #15 - Billy's Last Stand

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/4/1971

    Billy, a self-employed coal-shoveller, gains a seedy business partner and competition in the form of a rival coal-shoveller.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Rainbirds
    5.4/1019 votes

    #16 - The Rainbirds

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/1971

    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.

    Director: Philip Saville

    Writer: Clive Exton

  • Reddick
    NaN/100 votes

    #17 - Reddick

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/18/1971

    Charges that the Rev 'Red' Reddick is exploiting his youth club members leads to an explosive confrontation.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Foxtrot
    5.6/1016 votes

    #18 - The Foxtrot

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/29/1971

    An odd menage a trois results when a woman and her lover are visited by her long-lost husband

    Director: Philip Saville

    Writer: N/A

  • When the Bough Breaks
    7.8/1017 votes

    #19 - When the Bough Breaks

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 5/6/1971

    When an injured baby arrives at the hospital, a social worker looks for the parents

    Director: James Ferman

    Writer: N/A

  • Orkney
    6.8/1017 votes

    #20 - Orkney

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 5/13/1971

    A trilogy of plays--A Time to Keep, The Whaler's Return, and Celia--exploring the life of the islanders in the past and present

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Rank and File
    6.9/1081 votes

    #21 - The Rank and File

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/20/1971

    The story of the Pilkington glass workers strike of 1970

    Director: Ken Loach

    Writer: N/A

  • The Man in the Sidecar
    NaN/100 votes

    #22 - The Man in the Sidecar

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/27/1971

    A succesful novelist Edith lives with her husband and his friend, but she decides to ask the friend to leave.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Everybody Say Cheese
    NaN/100 votes

    #23 - Everybody Say Cheese

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 6/3/1971

    The story of a disintegrating marriage told through family photos

    Director: Alan Clarke

    Writer: N/A

  • The Cellar and the Almond Tree
    NaN/100 votes

    #24 - The Cellar and the Almond Tree

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 6/10/1971

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A