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The Best Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

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

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A British television anthology of stories, often with sinister and wryly comedic undertones, and a twist at the end. With early episodes written and presented by Roald Dahl, the series featured a plethora of big

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 5 - The Landlady
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #1 - The Landlady

    S1:E5

    When a young man arrives in Bath, he is shocked to find his seemingly charming landlady has a dark side.

    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writers:Robin Chapman, Roald Dahl

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  2. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 1 - The Flypaper
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #2 - The Flypaper

    S3:E1

    With a 12-year-old found dead and a killer perhaps on the loose, a young girl becomes paranoid.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writers:Elizabeth Taylor, Robin Chapman

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  3. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 1 - The Man From the South
    7.5/10(6 votes)

    #3 - The Man From the South

    S1:E1

    A young American couple on holiday meet a mysterious old gentleman who makes them a macabre wager.

    Director:Michael Tuchner
    Writer:Kevin Goldstein-Jackson

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  4. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 4 - The Hitch-Hiker
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #4 - The Hitch-Hiker

    S2:E4

    When a driver picks up a hitch-hiker in his car, his journey turns into a thrilling ride.

    Director:Alastair Reid
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  5. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 5 - A Girl Can't Always Have Everything
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - A Girl Can't Always Have Everything

    S3:E5

    Struggling actresses Suzy and Pat meet Herbert, a wealthy widower. Seductive Suzy enjoys his money, but things soon don't look so rosy.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writer:Julian Bond

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  6. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 11 - Kindly Dig Your Grave
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #6 - Kindly Dig Your Grave

    S4:E11

    Madame Lagrue runs a smart but commercial art gallery in Montmartre, Paris, getting rich at the expense of struggling artists. Then one of her victims falls in love with Fatima, an artist's model, and Lagrue is up against someone even more cunning than she is.

    Director:Alan Gibson
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

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  7. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 4 - Clerical Error
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #7 - Clerical Error

    S6:E4

    While winding up his late father's affairs, Paul finds a bill demanding over £1,000 for pornography.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writer:Peter Ransley

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  8. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 3 - William and Mary
    7.0/10(4 votes)

    #8 - William and Mary

    S1:E3

    When her husband William dies, Mary Pearl is shocked that his will stipulates that his brain should be kept alive.

    Director:Donald McWhinnie
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  9. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 4 - Lamb to the Slaughter
    7.0/10(6 votes)

    #9 - Lamb to the Slaughter

    S1:E4

    An enraged detective's wife kills her husband by smashing in his skull with a heavy blunt instrument - but no murder weapon can be found, and the police are baffled.

    Director:John Howard Davies
    Writers:Robin Chapman, Roald Dahl

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  10. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 8 - A Dip in the Pool
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #10 - A Dip in the Pool

    S1:E8

    An American gambler must come up with a cunning plan to slow down a ship at sea in order to win a bet.

    Director:Michael Tuchner
    Writer:Ronald Harwood

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  11. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 3 - Galloping Foxley
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #11 - Galloping Foxley

    S2:E3

    A man starts to suffer when he becomes haunted by the memory of the brutal treatment he received in his childhood.

    Director:Claude Whatham
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  12. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 11 - The Umbrella Man
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #12 - The Umbrella Man

    S2:E11

    A con man arrives in town and starts his scam.

    Director:Claude Whatham
    Writer:Ronald Harwood

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  13. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 14 - Back for Christmas
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #13 - Back for Christmas

    S2:E14

    A philandering physician with an obsession for orchids cultivates a deadly plot to see off his wife.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Denis Cannan, John Collier

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  14. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 3 - Proof of Guilt
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #14 - Proof of Guilt

    S3:E3

    Hard-bitten police inspector Walters has a murder on his hands that he can't crack. The prime suspect is George Stamford, who was alone in a locked room with the dead man when he was shot - but he is admitting nothing, and there is no evidence against him.

    Director:Chris Lovett
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  15. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 6 - Parson's Pleasure
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Parson's Pleasure

    S3:E6

    Cyril makes a profitable living as a rogue antiques dealer, but when he buys a farmer’s valuable furniture item, his luck may be about to run out.

    Director:John Bruce
    Writer:Ronald Harwood

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  16. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 1 - Would You Believe It?
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Would You Believe It?

    S4:E1

    Two archaeologists working in Jordan get more than they bargained for when they decide to smuggle the statue of a mysterious woman over the border to Israel.

    Director:Barry Davis
    Writer:Julian Bond

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  17. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 8 - Never Speak Ill of the Dead
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Never Speak Ill of the Dead

    S4:E8

    David is accused of murder when his wife Irene vanishes. Her promiscuous lifestyle made her the talk of the town, but the gossip has escalated.

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writers:John Collier, Robin Chapman

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  18. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 3 - Operation Safecrack
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Operation Safecrack

    S5:E3

    In an attempt to prove their safes are impregnable, a company challenges ex-safebreaker Sam to crack one for a cash prize. But are his skills sharp enough?

    Director:Alan Gibson
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  19. Tales of the Unexpected Season 8 Episode 3 - Nothin' Short of Highway Robbery
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Nothin' Short of Highway Robbery

    S8:E3

    On a long drive through the desert, a couple get their car serviced and are handed an extortionate bill. But they plan on turning the tables.

    Director:John Peyser
    Writer:Luther Murdoch

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  20. Tales of the Unexpected Season 9 Episode 1 - Skeleton in the Cupboard
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #20 - Skeleton in the Cupboard

    S9:E1

    Robert Smythe is a ruthless executive with a dangerous twenty year old secret. An echo from the past prompts him into a new cover up of the truth, but his wife becomes suspicious.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Tony Wilmot

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  21. Tales of the Unexpected Season 9 Episode 10 - Mr Know-All
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #21 - Mr Know-All

    S9:E10

    When pretty hotel worker Elly is charmed by a guest, archaeologist Max Kelada, it seems that he might not be the man he claims to be.

    Director:Gareth Davies
    Writer:Paul Ableman

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  22. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 9 - The Way Up to Heaven
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #22 - The Way Up to Heaven

    S1:E9

    Mrs Foster exacts an intriguing revenge on her husband after his dawdling causes her to miss a flight.

    Director:Simon Langton
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  23. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 7 - Taste
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #23 - Taste

    S2:E7

    A dinner party takes a surprising turn when one pretentious guest is challenged to a wine tasting contest.

    Director:Alastair Reid
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  24. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 12 - Genesis & Catastrophe
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #24 - Genesis & Catastrophe

    S2:E12

    A pregnant lady is worried that she may miscarry for the fourth time. Can her doctor reassure her?

    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writer:Ronald Harwood

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  25. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 13 - Mr Botibol's First Love
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #25 - Mr Botibol's First Love

    S2:E13

    A jaded businessman sells his company and attempts to change his life for the better by buying a strange piano.

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writer:Kevin Goldstein-Jackson

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Landlady" is the best rated episode of "Tales of the Unexpected". It scored 8.5/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Herbert Wise and written by Robin Chapman, Roald Dahl, it aired on 4/21/1979. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Flypaper".