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The Best Episodes of When the Boat Comes In

Every episode of When the Boat Comes In ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of When the Boat Comes In!

Binge this in 16h 40m•Peaking at 8.8/10

When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 8 January 1976 and 21 April 1981. Taking place between 1919 to 1937, Jack Ford is a First World

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    When the Boat Comes In Season 1 Episode 10 - King for a Day
    8.8/10(22 votes)

    #1 - King for a Day

    S1:E10

    Dolly is pregnant and Jack jobless so he agrees to a proposition from Manners, who wants to buy a house from Lord Calderbeck. Jack, posing as a parvenu car parts tycoon, will act as front man. At the house, he meets Freddy, Calderbeck's nephew and heir, though his Lordship resents him as he survived the war, unlike Calderbeck's sons. Freddy is suspicious of Jack but the merry widow Jane Cromer, Freddy's fiancée, is partial to a bit of rough and climbs into Jack's bed. Ultimately, Jack persuades her to marry Freddy and, thanks to inside information from Billy, working on his Lordship's land, gets a good sale for the house with a healthy commission for himself.

    Director:Paul Ciappessoni
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  2. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 8 - Ladies, Women, Sweethearts & Wives
    8.7/10(13 votes)

    #2 - Ladies, Women, Sweethearts & Wives

    S2:E8

    No description available

    Director:Terence Williams
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  3. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 9 - After the Bonfire
    8.5/10(13 votes)

    #3 - After the Bonfire

    S2:E9

    No description available

    Director:Gilchrist Calder
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  4. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 12 - In the Front Line You Get Shot At
    8.5/10(12 votes)

    #4 - In the Front Line You Get Shot At

    S2:E12

    No description available

    Director:Gilchrist Calder
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  5. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 13 - The Simple Pleasures of the Rich
    8.5/10(14 votes)

    #5 - The Simple Pleasures of the Rich

    S2:E13

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  6. When the Boat Comes In Season 1 Episode 1 - A Land Fit for Heroes and Idiots
    8.4/10(32 votes)

    #6 - A Land Fit for Heroes and Idiots

    S1:E1

    1919: Jack Ford returns to Gallowshields on Tyneside after service in the Great War. He befriends the Seaton family—parents Bill and Bella, and their children: Jessie, attractive schoolteacher Jessie, Socialist medical student Billy, and black sheep Tom. Billy and Jessie try to involve Jack in the local Labour Party against the Liberal candidate and magistrate, former Major Pinner, who is against votes for women. Pinner not only wins, but makes himself unpopular by trying a shell-shocked war hero who got into a fight whilst confused and scared.

    Director:Ronald Wilson
    Writer:James Mitchell

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of When the Boat Comes In

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  7. When the Boat Comes In Season 1 Episode 4 - Swords and Pick Handles
    8.4/10(20 votes)

    #7 - Swords and Pick Handles

    S1:E4

    Jack visits Sir Horatio Manners, father of his late commanding officer, to gift him a sword. Manners knows this is a ploy for Jack to ingratiate himself but is regardless impressed by his guile and offers him a job at his new factory, supervising non-Union workers. This angers Jessie, who sees Jack as betraying his kind but they reconcile after Jack rescues Tom, in need of money and working as a 'black-leg', from being beaten up by his striking colleagues.

    Director:Gilchrist Calder
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  8. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 3 - A Pillowful of Buttercups
    8.4/10(17 votes)

    #8 - A Pillowful of Buttercups

    S2:E3

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  9. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 5 - Some Bulbs to Keep the Garden Bright
    8.4/10(15 votes)

    #9 - Some Bulbs to Keep the Garden Bright

    S2:E5

    No description available

    Director:Bill Hays
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  10. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 1 - A House Divided
    8.4/10(16 votes)

    #10 - A House Divided

    S3:E1

    No description available

    Director:Gilchrist Calder
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  11. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 5 - Travel Light, Travel Far
    8.4/10(13 votes)

    #11 - Travel Light, Travel Far

    S3:E5

    No description available

    Director:Terence Williams
    Writer:Jeremy Burnham

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  12. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 8 - The Empire Builders
    8.4/10(13 votes)

    #12 - The Empire Builders

    S3:E8

    No description available

    Director:Vere Lorrimer
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  13. When the Boat Comes In Season 4 Episode 8 - Action!
    8.4/10(16 votes)

    #13 - Action!

    S4:E8

    Lady Caroline invites Jack to visit her and her family back in Gallowshield. He finds Sarah about to marry agent Stan Liddell, who is involved in anti-fascist politics as the Blackshirts whip up hysteria against Jews. Jack steps in to help persecuted shopkeeper Manny Goldstein before attending a function given by Lady Caroline's husband, Edward Mostyn, who, although he hates fascists, needs to invite their leader Smith-Jameson to improve his chances of candidacy. Jack tells Smith-Jameson what he thinks of him and walks out, supported by socialist guest Tania Corley. Before returning to London, he buys Manny's shop so that, when fascist thugs attack, he forces Smith-Jameson to fully compensate Manny or risk prosecution.

    Director:David Reynolds
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  14. When the Boat Comes In Season 1 Episode 6 - Empire Day on the Slag Heap
    8.3/10(19 votes)

    #14 - Empire Day on the Slag Heap

    S1:E6

    The strike ends with no concessions won by the colliers. Jack triumphs at the factory and Manners suggests that he could do better than Jessie. Jessie goes on a date with the older, formal Arthur Ashton, who proposes, though she turns him down. Matt tells Jack that Dolly is pregnant and so he agrees to marry her. Bill, injured at the pit, is offered a payment by the mining company but at the expense of admitting his own liability. Jack bitterly opposes this and holds out for a better settlement, winning Jessie's admiration.

    Director:Paul Ciappessoni
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  15. When the Boat Comes In Season 1 Episode 8 - Paddy Boyle's Discharge
    8.3/10(19 votes)

    #15 - Paddy Boyle's Discharge

    S1:E8

    Mary dies. Jack is in a pub when he meets old army colleague Sid Hepburn, still a professional soldier who suggests that Jack reenlist as soldier's pay is very good. Paddy Boyle, an Irish member of Jack's sheep-stealing gang, is convinced that Hepburn and his friend Bartram are the two British soldiers responsible for rape and murder back in Cork. Jack realises that Paddy is a member of Sinn Fein. Having considered Hepburn's offer, Jack declines rejoining the army but is too late to stop carnage when Bartram and Hepburn are shot by Paddy and his Sinn Fein comrade Lynch. Despite a warning cry from Jack, Paddy is also shot by a British soldier.

    Director:Leonard Lewis
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  16. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 6 - God & Love & Wellesley Street
    8.3/10(14 votes)

    #16 - God & Love & Wellesley Street

    S2:E6

    No description available

    Director:Terence Williams
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  17. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 7 - Whatever Made You Think the War Was Over
    8.3/10(13 votes)

    #17 - Whatever Made You Think the War Was Over

    S2:E7

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  18. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 11 - The Way It Was in Murmansk
    8.3/10(12 votes)

    #18 - The Way It Was in Murmansk

    S2:E11

    No description available

    Director:Terence Williams
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  19. When the Boat Comes In Season 1 Episode 7 - A First Time for Everything
    8.2/10(19 votes)

    #19 - A First Time for Everything

    S1:E7

    Encouraged by French onion seller Pierre, Bella turns the front of the house into a shop, using some of Bill's compensation. Bill, still bound to a wheelchair, is initially hostile but sees the need for income. Jessie is impressed by the intelligence of 14-year-old pupil Ronnie and tries to dissuade him from working in the mine but his mother is a widow and he wants to earn 'man's money'. He goes to work in the pit and is killed, causing Tom, who was looking after him, to quit. Jessie gets engaged to Ashton whilst Jack weds Dolly at the registry office.

    Director:Gilchrist Calder
    Writer:Alex Glasgow

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  20. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 4 - Roubles for the Promised Land
    8.2/10(19 votes)

    #20 - Roubles for the Promised Land

    S2:E4

    Billy is unable to get medical work due to his socialist principles and moves back to help his parents. Tom, who finds it hard to cope with shop work, moves into a hostel. Here he befriends Kaganovich, a Russian Jew from Archangel, hoping to travel to Palestine and looking for Jack, whom he says can help him. When the two meet Kaganovich accuses Jack of stealing money from his late father during the Russian revolution though Jack claims he was given the money as a bribe in exchange for helping the old man escape. In any case it is 'Kerensky money', old currency which is out of date and worthless, though Kaganovich is still determined to go to Palestine. Jack does however persuade Tom to go home to his mother.

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  21. When the Boat Comes In Season 2 Episode 10 - A Wreath with Our Names On
    8.2/10(13 votes)

    #21 - A Wreath with Our Names On

    S2:E10

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  22. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 2 - A Tiger, a Lamb and a Basket of Fruit
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #22 - A Tiger, a Lamb and a Basket of Fruit

    S3:E2

    No description available

    Director:Terence Williams
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  23. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 3 - My Bonnie Lass, Goodbye
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #23 - My Bonnie Lass, Goodbye

    S3:E3

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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  24. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 6 - Requiem For A Loser
    8.2/10(13 votes)

    #24 - Requiem For A Loser

    S3:E6

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:Jeremy Burnham

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  25. When the Boat Comes In Season 3 Episode 9 - Look Up & See The Sky
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #25 - Look Up & See The Sky

    S3:E9

    No description available

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:James Mitchell

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Best Episodes Summary

"King for a Day" is the best rated episode of "When the Boat Comes In". It scored 8.8/10 based on 22 votes. Directed by Paul Ciappessoni and written by James Mitchell, it aired on 3/11/1976. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ladies, Women, Sweethearts & Wives".