Play for Today's primary photo
  • Play for Today (1970–1984)
  • TV Series | 75 min | Comedy, Drama, Horror
Play for Today (1970–1984)
TV Series | 75 min | Comedy, Drama, Horror

BBC anthology series featuring original plays, theatrical and literary adaptations. Over 300 episodes of varying lengths aired from 1970-1984, with some later developed into series, including Rumpole of the Bailey and Gangsters.
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Seasons
14   |   13   |   12   |   11   |   10   |   9   |   8   |   7  | …   See all
Writers
Dennis Potter (written by) | Mike Leigh (devised by) (deviser) | Colin Welland (writer) (written by) (play) | Jim Allen (writer) (by) (written by) & 213 more
Producers
Graeme MacDonald (producer) | Kenith Trodd (producer) | Irene Shubik (producer) | David Rose (producer) & 37 more
Composers
Carl Davis | Nick Bicât | Marc Wilkinson | Stanley Myers (music composed and conducted by) & 26 more
Cinematographers
Michael Williams (photography) (photographed by) (film cameraman) | Elmer Cossey (photography) (film cameraman) | Nat Crosby (film cameraman) (photography) | Brian Tufano (film cameraman) (director of photography) (lighting cameraman) & 30 more
Production Design
Richard Henry (designer) | Susan Spence (designer) | Derek Dodd (designer) | Stuart Walker (designer) & 98 more
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Oct 15, 1970

Release date (First episode)
Oct 15, 1970 (United Kingdom)

Contacts

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Cast

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50 cast members
Name Episodes Known for
Alison Steadman
Beverly / Veronica / Candice Marie / Jan Blincoe / Kay Pasmore / … See more Beverly / Veronica / Candice Marie / Jan Blincoe / Kay Pasmore / Nonie / Sandra's Mother / Susan / Christine Potts   See fewer
9
Nigel Hawthorne
Fulton / Police Captain / Major / Jack / Major Lewis Rolfe / … See more Fulton / Police Captain / Major / Jack / Major Lewis Rolfe / Mr. Edmonds / Stanek / Vanek / Graham / Morris Shelman   See fewer
9
David Daker
Halliday / Tom Browne / Andrew Saville / Terry / Batchelor / … See more Halliday / Tom Browne / Andrew Saville / Terry / Batchelor / Prison Governor / Watson / Father   See fewer
8
Tony Caunter
Ray Little / Coxswain / Douglas / Vincent / Dolly / … See more Ray Little / Coxswain / Douglas / Vincent / Dolly / Alderman / Pinnock / Thomas Dwyer   See fewer
8
Bernard Hill
Simon Simpson / Edward / Eric / Bernard Blincoe / Mick / … See more Simon Simpson / Edward / Eric / Bernard Blincoe / Mick / Graham / Sullivan   See fewer
7
Liz Smith
Mrs. Pritchett / Mrs. Thornley / Mrs. Mathews / Mrs. Oxfam / Elfie / Keith's Granny Mrs. Pritchett / Mrs. Thornley / Mrs. Mathews / Mrs. Oxfam / Elfie / Keith's Granny   See fewer
7
Tony Doyle
Blake / Hugo / Kirby / London Journalist / Eddie / … See more Blake / Hugo / Kirby / London Journalist / Eddie / Eddie Peters / Father Nolan   See fewer
7
Eamonn Boyce
Reporter / Protestant Barman / Proprietor of Lodging House / Dubliner / Rover Driver / … See more Reporter / Protestant Barman / Proprietor of Lodging House / Dubliner / Rover Driver / Man in betting shop / The Detective Constable   See fewer
7
James Hazeldine
George Green / Patrick / Chris / Dennis Horncastle / John Fowler / Alf George Green / Patrick / Chris / Dennis Horncastle / John Fowler / Alf   See fewer
6
Paul Copley
Tom / Robert / Andy / Paul McShane / Petty Officer Jordan / Woodwork Master Tom / Robert / Andy / Paul McShane / Petty Officer Jordan / Woodwork Master   See fewer
6
June Watson
Matron / Night Nurse / Attendant, at The Spike / Wendy Matron / Night Nurse / Attendant, at The Spike / Wendy   See fewer
6
Bernard Gallagher
Faulkner / Mr. Biffen / Tom's Father / Mr. Trolley / Mr. Raine / Jim Faulkner / Mr. Biffen / Tom's Father / Mr. Trolley / Mr. Raine / Jim   See fewer
6
Malcolm Terris
Jim / Client / Psychiatrist, in Psychiatric Hospital / Gerry / Jennings / Mr. Dowdeswell Jim / Client / Psychiatrist, in Psychiatric Hospital / Gerry / Jennings / Mr. Dowdeswell   See fewer
6
Joe Belcher
Shift Worker / Arthur / Sid / Vivian's Father / Workman / Auctioneer Shift Worker / Arthur / Sid / Vivian's Father / Workman / Auctioneer   See fewer
6
Peter Sallis
Minor Role / Austin Melcroft / Shushin / Worker Minor Role / Austin Melcroft / Shushin / Worker   See fewer
5
Jack Shepherd
James / William / Yuri / Wallace Pidgeon / Dr. Pearce James / William / Yuri / Wallace Pidgeon / Dr. Pearce   See fewer
5
Christine Hargreaves
Cynthia Nicholls / Estelle Parsons / Joan Huntley / Mrs. James / Pauline Cynthia Nicholls / Estelle Parsons / Joan Huntley / Mrs. James / Pauline   See fewer
5
Rosemary Martin
Christine / Freda Bass / Mrs. Sawsbury / Alison / Barbara Sullivan MP Christine / Freda Bass / Mrs. Sawsbury / Alison / Barbara Sullivan MP   See fewer
5
Colin Jeavons
Lytton / Donald Duck / Dennis Turner / Production Monitor / Neeley Lytton / Donald Duck / Dennis Turner / Production Monitor / Neeley   See fewer
5
Colin Douglas
Father / Mr. Leslie / Philips / Uncle Ernest / Jackson Arnott Father / Mr. Leslie / Philips / Uncle Ernest / Jackson Arnott   See fewer
5
Bill Paterson
Archie MacLean / 7:84 Company - McChuckemup / Texas Jim etc / Luke / Girling / Tony Philbin Archie MacLean / 7:84 Company - McChuckemup / Texas Jim etc / Luke / Girling / Tony Philbin   See fewer
5
Benjamin Whitrow
Mr. Phillips / Tom / Josh / James Sellars / House Master Mr. Phillips / Tom / Josh / James Sellars / House Master   See fewer
5
Dave Hill
Terry / Jehovah's Witness / Maurice / Gerry Broadbent / Joe Potts Terry / Jehovah's Witness / Maurice / Gerry Broadbent / Joe Potts   See fewer
5
Alan Webb
Sir Piers Blair / Herbert / Lob / Mr. Osmond / Grandfather Sir Piers Blair / Herbert / Lob / Mr. Osmond / Grandfather   See fewer
5
John Barrett
Billy / Caretaker / Tiger / Ben Packman / Old Man Billy / Caretaker / Tiger / Ben Packman / Old Man   See fewer
5
Julian Curry
Bill Rochester / Campion (Campion's Interview) / Hooper / Jeremy Butler / Symington Bill Rochester / Campion (Campion's Interview) / Hooper / Jeremy Butler / Symington   See fewer
5
Philip Jackson
Jeff / Tarpy / Colin Pasmore / Hippie / Harry Jeff / Tarpy / Colin Pasmore / Hippie / Harry   See fewer
5
Anne Dyson
Mrs. Huntley / Granny / Mrs. Pasmore / Sarah / Mrs. Scully Mrs. Huntley / Granny / Mrs. Pasmore / Sarah / Mrs. Scully   See fewer
5
Clifford Kershaw
Jim Thornley / Durban / 1st Man in teabar / Mr. Garside / Billy Jim Thornley / Durban / 1st Man in teabar / Mr. Garside / Billy   See fewer
5
Ken Hutchison
Eddie Cameron / Rab / Dancer Dunnichy / Logan / Macey Eddie Cameron / Rab / Dancer Dunnichy / Logan / Macey   See fewer
5
Brian Glover
Art / Mr. Warboys Art / Mr. Warboys   See fewer
5
Roger Booth
Frank / Trade Union Official / Holland / Tom Barton / Father George Frank / Trade Union Official / Holland / Tom Barton / Father George   See fewer
5
Edward Hardwicke
Brinson / Gareth / Paediatrician / Dr. Alan Lyle / Froggie Brinson / Gareth / Paediatrician / Dr. Alan Lyle / Froggie   See fewer
5
Patricia Lawrence
Margaret Fisher / Joan / Knitted Hat Lady / Mrs. Jameson, Housekeeper / Mrs. Leafer Margaret Fisher / Joan / Knitted Hat Lady / Mrs. Jameson, Housekeeper / Mrs. Leafer   See fewer
5
Stanley Lebor
Yossel / Major-domo / Waiter / Robin / Derek Yossel / Major-domo / Waiter / Robin / Derek   See fewer
5
Paul Young
Jock / John Robb / Chas Airlie / Joe / Sam Jock / John Robb / Chas Airlie / Joe / Sam   See fewer
5
Don Henderson
Eddie / Sellors (Campion's Interview) / Jack / Tokkotai / Jack Adams Eddie / Sellors (Campion's Interview) / Jack / Tokkotai / Jack Adams   See fewer
5
Jane Freeman
Housing official / Knitting Lady / Mrs. Scully / Audrey / Martha Paisley Housing official / Knitting Lady / Mrs. Scully / Audrey / Martha Paisley   See fewer
5
Myles Hoyle
Detective Sergeant Jannings / Ian / Plain-Clothes Policeman / Jim / Gerald Detective Sergeant Jannings / Ian / Plain-Clothes Policeman / Jim / Gerald   See fewer
5
June Brown
Clara, in Psychiatric Hospital / Hilda / Melanie / Brenda / June Clara, in Psychiatric Hospital / Hilda / Melanie / Brenda / June   See fewer
5
Roger Hammond
Doctor / Victor, Helper at 'Jesus Saves' / Mr. Bagley / Fowler / Man in window Doctor / Victor, Helper at 'Jesus Saves' / Mr. Bagley / Fowler / Man in window   See fewer
5
Pauline Quirke
Tessa / Eleanor / Checkout Girl / Ann / Helen Tessa / Eleanor / Checkout Girl / Ann / Helen   See fewer
5
Robert Putt
Prison Guard / Caretaker / 2nd Docker / Mick McClaren / Roland Prison Guard / Caretaker / 2nd Docker / Mick McClaren / Roland   See fewer
5
Phil Davis
Kid (Gotcha) / Post Office Clerk / 2nd Youth / Mr. Destry / Kevin (as Philip Davis) Kid (Gotcha) / Post Office Clerk / 2nd Youth / Mr. Destry / Kevin (as Philip Davis)   See fewer
5
Carol MacReady
Landlord's wife / Dorothy / Vicar's Wife / ATS Sergeant / Madame Maripot Landlord's wife / Dorothy / Vicar's Wife / ATS Sergeant / Madame Maripot   See fewer
5
Oliver Maguire
Major Crawford / Stephen Gallagher / Detective / Kelly / Priest Major Crawford / Stephen Gallagher / Detective / Kelly / Priest   See fewer
5
Julia McCarthy
Corner Shop Manageress / Nun / Upper-Class Woman / Receptionist / Mrs. Williams Corner Shop Manageress / Nun / Upper-Class Woman / Receptionist / Mrs. Williams   See fewer
5
Phil McCall
Joe / Jock / Missionary - A Time to Keep / Handy Andy / Electricity Man Joe / Jock / Missionary - A Time to Keep / Handy Andy / Electricity Man   See fewer
5
Derek Lord
Big Davie / Willie Henderson / Ian Playfair / Plain-Clothes Policeman / 'B' Special Sergeant Big Davie / Willie Henderson / Ian Playfair / Plain-Clothes Policeman / 'B' Special Sergeant   See fewer
5
Anthony Langdon
Mike / Les Dewhurst / Joe Hutton / Magoo / Jock Mike / Les Dewhurst / Joe Hutton / Magoo / Jock   See fewer
5
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