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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!

The Best Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

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...

Seasons9

  1. Background image for The Flypaper
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #1 - The Flypaper

    S3:E1

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

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  2. Background image for A Harmless Vanity
    7.6/10(294 votes)

    #2 - A Harmless Vanity

    S5:E9

    When Mary learns her husband is having an affair, she invites her rival to a beach party.

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    Director:Unknown
  3. Background image for A Girl Can't Always Have Everything
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #3 - 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.

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    Director:Graham Evans
  4. Background image for The Man From the South
    7.3/10(679 votes)

    #4 - The Man From the South

    S1:E1

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

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  5. Background image for Operation Safecrack
    7.3/10(251 votes)

    #5 - 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?

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    Director:Alan Gibson
  6. Background image for Lamb to the Slaughter
    7.2/10(556 votes)

    #6 - 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.

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

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  8. Background image for The Landlady
    7.2/10(540 votes)

    #7 - The Landlady

    S1:E5

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

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  9. Background image for The Hitch-Hiker
    7.2/10(397 votes)

    #8 - The Hitch-Hiker

    S2:E4

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

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  10. Background image for Taste
    7.2/10(387 votes)

    #9 - Taste

    S2:E7

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

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  11. Background image for Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
    7.1/10(531 votes)

    #10 - Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat

    S1:E2

    Unable to show her dentist husband, Cyril, the fur coat her lover has given her, Mrs Bixby pawns it and pretends that she found the ticket.

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  12. Background image for The Way Up to Heaven
    7.1/10(399 votes)

    #11 - 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.

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  13. Background image for The Eavesdropper
    7.1/10(249 votes)

    #12 - The Eavesdropper

    S5:E2

    Moira hears a woman discussing a trip to Paris with her lover Donald. Is her husband, also called Donald, having an affair?

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    Director:John Gorrie
  14. Background image for The Umbrella Man
    7.0/10(334 votes)

    #13 - The Umbrella Man

    S2:E11

    A con man arrives in town and starts his scam.

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  15. Background image for Back for Christmas
    7.0/10(311 votes)

    #14 - Back for Christmas

    S2:E14

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

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  16. Background image for Proof of Guilt
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #15 - 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.

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    Director:Chris Lovett
  17. Background image for Parson's Pleasure
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #16 - 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.

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    Director:John Bruce
  18. Background image for The Best of Everything
    7.0/10(248 votes)

    #17 - The Best of Everything

    S4:E4

    Desperate to win the affections of his boss’s daughter, Arthur accepts the help of his friend Charlie. But is he ready to count the true cost of love?

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    Director:John Bruce
  19. Background image for Stranger in Town
    7.0/10(281 votes)

    #18 - Stranger in Town

    S5:E5

    A stranger arrives in town and soon endears himself to the local community – although his motives prove sinister.

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    Director:Wendy Toye
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Clerical Error
    7.0/10(213 votes)

    #19 - Clerical Error

    S6:E4

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

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  21. Background image for Nothin' Short of Highway Robbery
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #20 - 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.

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  22. Background image for Skeleton in the Cupboard
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #21 - 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.

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    Director:Paul Annett
  23. Background image for Mr Know-All
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #22 - 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.

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  24. Background image for Shatterproof
    6.9/10(251 votes)

    #23 - Shatterproof

    S4:E6

    Property tycoon Gerry Williams is married to the beautiful but unhappy Ellen, and somewhere the marriage has gone terribly wrong. Then an assassin is hired to kill Gerry, and he makes the mistake of getting too friendly with his target.

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    Director:John Jacobs
  25. Background image for Pattern of Guilt
    6.9/10(206 votes)

    #24 - Pattern of Guilt

    S5:E8

    Police doctor Keith Briscoe is desperate to leave his wife for an ex but loses hope when she refuses to divorce him.

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    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Neck
    6.8/10(464 votes)

    #25 - Neck

    S1:E6

    A lady is cut down to size by her husband’s loyal butler when it is discovered she is having an affair.

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Flypaper" is the best rated episode of "Tales of the Unexpected". It scored 8.5/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by Graham Evans and written by Elizabeth Taylor, Robin Chapman, it aired on 8/9/1980. This episode scored 0.9 points higher than the second highest rated, "A Harmless Vanity".