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The Worst Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

Every episode of Tales of the Unexpected ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst 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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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 8 - Wet Saturday
    4.5/10(214 votes)

    #1 - Wet Saturday

    S7:E8

    George Princey has a high standing in the community, and when his daughter kills a man, he endeavours to cover it up to prevent a scandal.

    Director:Norman Lloyd
    Writer:John Collier

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  2. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 8 - My Lady Love, My Dove
    5.1/10(352 votes)

    #2 - My Lady Love, My Dove

    S2:E8

    When Pamela and Arthur invite a young couple over for the weekend, things take a surprising turn.

    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  3. Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 4 - Have a Nice Death
    5.2/10(216 votes)

    #3 - Have a Nice Death

    S7:E4

    A writer is being hounded by the feminist movement over his books. If only he was at home with his wife everything would be all right. Wouldn't it?

    Director:William Slater
    Writer:Wolf Mankowitz

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  4. Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 15 - The Open Window
    5.2/10(191 votes)

    #4 - The Open Window

    S7:E15

    When a young man climbs through the window of a Connecticut hunting lodge, he emerges on the other side in a strange new world.

    Director:Christopher Lukas
    Writer:David Trainer

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  5. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 13 - Mr Botibol's First Love
    5.3/10(303 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 3 - The Boy Who Talked with Animals
    5.3/10(274 votes)

    #6 - The Boy Who Talked with Animals

    S4:E3

    When David rescues a giant turtle, it looks as though he's found a new friend, but there could be more to his pet than meets the eye.

    Director:Alan Gibson
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  7. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 9 - The Best Policy
    5.3/10(219 votes)

    #7 - The Best Policy

    S4:E9

    Harry Flock has had a temporary promotion as acting manager of a branch bank. He is honest and meticulous to a fault, but in danger of losing his job when head office gets anonymous complaints about alleged embezzlements. His accounts are immaculate - in fact, they seem too good to be true.

    Director:Ray Danton
    Writers:David Scott Milton, Ferenc Molnár

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  8. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 14 - The Turn of the Tide
    5.3/10(190 votes)

    #8 - The Turn of the Tide

    S6:E14

    Criminal lawyer Slade has his reasons for wanting his colleague dead. He meticulously plans the perfect murder.

    Director:Ray Danton
    Writer:Ross Thomas

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  9. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 15 - A Glowing Future
    5.5/10(230 votes)

    #9 - A Glowing Future

    S4:E15

    Jack and Betsy are lovers. That is until Jack decides to go halfway across the world to be with his new Australian girlfriend. But Betsy isn't going to make it easy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Ross Thomas

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  10. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 5 - Heir Presumptuous
    5.5/10(210 votes)

    #10 - Heir Presumptuous

    S6:E5

    George Devon, a wealthy rancher, is found murdered. His identical twin nephews stand to inherit his fortune, but one of them was seen at the scene of the crime. Both have alibis and no one can tell them apart.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Ross Thomas

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  11. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 10 - The Luncheon
    5.6/10(231 votes)

    #11 - The Luncheon

    S6:E10

    Tony eats a pricey meal with Susan Mandeville, the extravagant wife of a filmmaker who wants the rights to his book.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writer:Gerald Savory

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  12. Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 11 - I Like it Here in Wilmington
    5.6/10(176 votes)

    #12 - I Like it Here in Wilmington

    S7:E11

    When a clothing manufacturer finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy, he ponders the idea of murdering his wife for the insurance money.

    Director:John Peyser
    Writer:David Scott Milton

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  13. Tales of the Unexpected Season 9 Episode 5 - The Facts of Life
    5.6/10(188 votes)

    #13 - The Facts of Life

    S9:E5

    When sheltered young son Nicholas travels to London to complete in a fencing competition, he gets caught up in a very strange adventure.

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writer:Noella Smith

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  14. Tales of the Unexpected Season 9 Episode 8 - The Finger of Suspicion
    5.6/10(173 votes)

    #14 - The Finger of Suspicion

    S9:E8

    Happily married and living in the Middle East, American safe-cracker Steve is suddenly threatened with extradition for a crime he says he didn't commit.

    Director:Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  15. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 4 - Run, Rabbit, Run
    5.7/10(225 votes)

    #15 - Run, Rabbit, Run

    S5:E4

    Robert visits a couple who housed him during the war. But in Paris, he discovers that the husband has died, and the hero’s wife has a big secret to tell.

    Director:John Jacobs
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  16. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 17 - Who's Got the Lady?
    5.7/10(197 votes)

    #16 - Who's Got the Lady?

    S5:E17

    When a piece of art is stolen, the gallery owner gets his girlfriend to make copies of it to sell.

    Director:Peter Hammond
    Writer:Jeremy Paul

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  17. Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 9 - Sauce for the Goose
    5.7/10(218 votes)

    #17 - Sauce for the Goose

    S7:E9

    Olivia starts a relationship with a younger man on the basis that she has killed her husband and gained his fortune. Her lover, however, still sees himself as a free agent and has an affair with another woman.

    Director:Bert Salzman
    Writer:Bert Salzman

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  18. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 9 - Georgy Porgy
    5.8/10(343 votes)

    #18 - Georgy Porgy

    S2:E9

    George has problems with female attention, but when a beautiful woman joins his congregation things are set to change.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  19. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 18 - The Skeleton Key
    5.8/10(211 votes)

    #19 - The Skeleton Key

    S5:E18

    A woman discovers a nasty side to her boyfriend's personality when he goes into hospital before a holiday.

    Director:Alan Gibson
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 7 - Down Among the Sheltering Palms
    5.8/10(219 votes)

    #20 - Down Among the Sheltering Palms

    S6:E7

    An ex-soldier meets a beautiful woman on a nostalgic trip back to his old base. But she isn't all she seems.

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writer:John Gorrie

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  21. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 11 - The Tribute
    5.8/10(216 votes)

    #21 - The Tribute

    S6:E11

    Three aristocratic women hear of the death of a woman who once served them as a nanny. They agree to go for lunch in her memory.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writer:Alan Seymour

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  22. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 13 - Youth from Vienna
    5.8/10(203 votes)

    #22 - Youth from Vienna

    S6:E13

    Being admired by the inventor of an anti-ageing formula is handy for Caroline, who is eager to keep her looks.

    Director:Norman Lloyd
    Writer:Ross Thomas

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  23. Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 6 - The Last of the Midnight Gardeners
    5.8/10(199 votes)

    #23 - The Last of the Midnight Gardeners

    S7:E6

    Walter is a vain writer and publisher with a wife and a mistress, based in London, and he likes to show off. He stages a story writing competition, with a £5,000 prize, to find the plot for a perfect murder.

    Director:Peter Hammond
    Writer:Gerald Savory

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  24. Tales of the Unexpected Season 7 Episode 10 - Bird of Prey
    5.8/10(206 votes)

    #24 - Bird of Prey

    S7:E10

    Jack and Edna's pet parrot dies after laying an unusually large egg. On hatching, it reveals an aggressive black-feathered bird.

    Director:Ray Danton
    Writer:Ross Thomas

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  25. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 12 - Genesis & Catastrophe
    5.9/10(304 votes)

    #25 - 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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Worst Episodes Summary

"Wet Saturday" is the worst rated episode of "Tales of the Unexpected". It scored 4.5/10 based on 214 votes. Directed by Norman Lloyd and written by John Collier, it aired on 7/7/1984. This episode scored 0.6 points lower than the second lowest rated, "My Lady Love, My Dove".