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!
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 name guest stars.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Tales of the Unexpected" is "Wet Saturday", rated 4.5/10 from 181 user votes. It was directed by Norman Lloyd and written by John Collier. "Wet Saturday" aired on 7/7/1984 and is rated 0.7 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "My Lady Love, My Dove".
4.5/10 181 votes#1 - Wet Saturday
Season 7 Episode 8 - Aired 7/7/1984
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
5.2/10 295 votes#2 - My Lady Love, My Dove
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 4/19/1980
When Pamela and Arthur invite a young couple over for the weekend, things take a surprising turn.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl
5.2/10 225 votes#3 - The Boy Who Talked with Animals
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 4/19/1981
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
5.2/10 180 votes#4 - Have a Nice Death
Season 7 Episode 4 - Aired 6/2/1984
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
5.3/10 248 votes#5 - Mr Botibol's First Love
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 5/24/1980
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
5.3/10 179 votes#6 - The Best Policy
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 5/31/1981
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
Writer: David Scott Milton, Ferenc Molnár
5.3/10 158 votes#7 - The Turn of the Tide
Season 6 Episode 14 - Aired 9/3/1983
Criminal lawyer Slade has his reasons for wanting his colleague dead. He meticulously plans the perfect murder.
Director: Ray Danton
Writer: Ross Thomas
5.3/10 163 votes#8 - The Open Window
Season 7 Episode 15 - Aired 10/21/1984
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
5.5/10 184 votes#9 - A Glowing Future
Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 7/19/1981
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: N/A
Writer: Ross Thomas
5.5/10 173 votes#10 - Heir Presumptuous
Season 6 Episode 5 - Aired 5/7/1983
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
5.6/10 184 votes#11 - The Luncheon
Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 6/19/1983
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
5.6/10 140 votes#12 - I Like it Here in Wilmington
Season 7 Episode 11 - Aired 11/8/1984
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
5.6/10 155 votes#13 - The Facts of Life
Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 1/29/1988
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
5.6/10 145 votes#14 - The Finger of Suspicion
Season 9 Episode 8 - Aired 4/29/1988
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
5.7/10 191 votes#15 - Run, Rabbit, Run
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 5/16/1982
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
5.7/10 164 votes#16 - Who's Got the Lady?
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 8/15/1982
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
5.7/10 167 votes#17 - Youth from Vienna
Season 6 Episode 13 - Aired 7/2/1983
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
5.8/10 176 votes#18 - The Skeleton Key
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 8/22/1982
A woman discovers a nasty side to her boyfriend's personality when he goes into hospital before a holiday.
Director: Alan Gibson
Writer: N/A
5.8/10 180 votes#19 - Down Among the Sheltering Palms
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 5/21/1983
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
5.8/10 175 votes#20 - The Tribute
Season 6 Episode 11 - Aired 6/25/1983
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
5.8/10 161 votes#21 - The Last of the Midnight Gardeners
Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 6/16/1984
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
5.8/10 175 votes#22 - Sauce for the Goose
Season 7 Episode 9 - Aired 7/21/1984
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
5.8/10 169 votes#23 - Bird of Prey
Season 7 Episode 10 - Aired 8/4/1984
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
5.9/10 284 votes#24 - Georgy Porgy
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 4/26/1980
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
5.9/10 255 votes#25 - Genesis & Catastrophe
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 5/17/1980
A pregnant lady is worried that she may miscarry for the fourth time. Can her doctor reassure her?
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Ronald Harwood