Donald Churchill

Play for Today

Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted. The individual episodes were between fifty and a hundred minutes in duration.

Release Date1970-10-15

Charactersd Tony Goodliffe

Episode Count1

Vote Count10

The Saint

Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.

Release Date1962-10-04

Charactersd Dr. Spraque

Episode Count1

Vote Count131

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes uses his abilities to take on cases by private clients and those that the Scotland Yard are unable to solve, along with his friend Dr. Watson.

Release Date1984-04-24

Charactersd Scott Eccles

Episode Count1

Vote Count261

Thirty-Minute Theatre

An anthology of short plays shown on BBC Television between 1965 and 1973, used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short length, and which therefore attracted many writers who later became well known.

Release Date1965-10-07

Charactersd Henry Bulstrode

Episode Count1

Vote Count8

The Wednesday Play

An anthology series of television plays which aired on BBC1 from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually written for television, although adaptations from other sources also featured.

Release Date1964-09-30

Charactersd Harold

Episode Count1

Vote Count5

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

Anthology series of dramatic works.

Release Date1969-01-11

Charactersd Robert

Episode Count1

Vote Count3

Sunday-Night Play

BBC anthology drama series that ran over four seasons and replaced the previous BBC Sunday Night Theatre series.

Release Date1960-09-25

Charactersd Hugh Ramsden

Episode Count1

Van der Valk

Van der Valk is a British television series that was produced by Thames Television for the ITV network. It starred Barry Foster in the title role as Dutch detective Commissaris "Piet" van der Valk. Based on the characters and atmosphere of the novels of Nicolas Freeling, the first series was shown in 1972.

Release Date1972-09-13

Charactersd Johnny Roos

Episode Count1

Vote Count10

Detective

A BBC anthology series featuring adaptations of detective stories over 45 episodes in three seasons that ran from 1964 to 1969. As with many BBC programmes made before the early 1970s, many of its episodes no longer exist. Of the eighteen episodes from the first season only twelve are currently known to exist; likewise six of the sixteen editions from the second run are considered lost, and just one of the final ten survives in the archives.

Release Date1964-03-30

Charactersd George Carshaw

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

Gideon's Way

Gideon's Way is a British television crime series made by ITC Entertainment in 1964/65, based on the novels by John Creasey. The series was made at Elstree in twin production with The Saint TV series. It starred Liverpudlian John Gregson in the title role as Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard, with Alexander Davion as his assistant, Detective Chief Inspector David Keen, Reginald Jessup as Det. Superintendent LeMaitre, Ian Rossiter as Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Bell and Basil Dignam as Commissioner Scott-Marle. The show did not acknowledge any help from Scotland Yard, any other police force or advisor. Daphne Anderson starred as his wife, Kate with Giles Watling as young son, Malcolm, Richard James as older son, Matthew who seemed to have a lot of new girlfriends and Andrea Allan as daughter, Pru. Unusually for police stories, Gideon was shown as a family man at home though urgent phone calls from his bosses tend to disrupt family plans too often. However, he did admit in "State Visit" that his wife had walked out on him for a while years ago when he put the job first and her second. They live in an expensive detached house in Chelsea.

Release Date1965-03-18

Charactersd James Lane

Episode Count1

Vote Count5

Sharing Time

Anthology of stories set in a timeshare flat.

Release Date1984-05-06

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Geoffrey

Episode Count1

Festival

An anthology of single plays offering up adaptations of either of prominent stage plays or novels.

Release Date1963-10-09

Charactersd Charlie

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

Mystery and Imagination

Mystery and Imagination is a British television anthology of classic horror and supernatural dramas. Five series were broadcast from 1966 to 1970 on ITV and produced by ABC and Thames Television.

Release Date1966-01-29

Charactersd Eugene Corbeck

Episode Count1

Vote Count5

Citizen Smith

Classic BBC comedy starring Robert Lindsay as revolutionary leader Wolfie Smith of the Tooting Popular Front. Hoping to emulate his icons, Wolfie forms the Tooting Popular Front with a small group of his friends. However, he soon finds himself struggling to get his ambitious plans off the ground due to his laid back attitude and lack of organisation.

Release Date1977-04-12

Charactersd Murdoch

Episode Count1

Vote Count14

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

In the second series of the widely celebrated ITV detective programme, Dr John Watson finds a mystery in an empty house, while Holmes and he later solve the mysteries of an abbey grange, the Musgrave ritual, a second stain, a man with a twisted lip, the priory school, and a half-dozen plaster busts of Bonaparte.

Release Date1986-07-09

Charactersd Scott Eccles

Episode Count1

Vote Count5

The First Great Train Robbery

In Victorian England, a master criminal makes elaborate plans to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train.

Release Date1978-12-14

Charactersd Prosecutor

Vote Count439

Knightsbridge

Francesca's upbringing has been sheltered, but her fiancé isn't slow to realise that his future mother-in-law is in a very lucrative line of business.

Release Date1972-06-12

Charactersd Henry

Spooner's Patch

Follows the daily antics of Woodley police station, where officers are more interested in taking bribes and doing little work than catching criminals. Inspector Spooner lives alone in a flat above the station and often had to deal with the messes created by his junior staff.

Release Date1979-07-09

Charactersd DI Spooner

Episode Count13

Vote Count2

The Sandbaggers

The Sandbaggers is a British television drama series about men and women on the front lines of the Cold War. Set contemporaneously with its original broadcast on ITV in 1978 and 1980, The Sandbaggers examines the effect of the espionage game on the personal and professional lives of British and American intelligence specialists.

Release Date1978-09-18

Charactersd Professor Colby

Episode Count1

Vote Count12

The Hothouse

Tycoon husband Harry Fender, who has built up the supermarket business from the time he was a delivery boy in his teens - is now over forty and obsessed with developing the exotic plants in his hothouse.

Release Date1964-12-13

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Gordon Parsley

Heartland

A series of plays concerning the theme of love.

Release Date1979-07-27

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Henry Sutcliffe

Episode Count2

Sink the Bismarck!

The story of the breakout of the German battleship Bismarck—accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen—during the early days of World War II. The Bismarck and her sister ship, Tirpitz, were the most powerful battleships in the European theater of World War II. The British Navy must find and destroy Bismarck before it can escape into the convoy lanes to inflict severe damage on the cargo shipping which was the lifeblood of the British Isles. With eight 15 inch guns, it was capable of destroying every ship in a convoy while remaining beyond the range of all Royal Navy warships.

Release Date1960-02-11

Charactersd Able Seaman - 'Ark Royal' (uncredited)

Vote Count122

Yesterday's Enemy

Set during the Burma Campaign of World War 2, this is the story of courage and endurance of the soldiers struggling at close quarters against the enemy. The film examines the moral dilemmas ordinary men face during war, when the definitions of acceptable military action and insupportable brutality become blurred and distorted.

Release Date1959-09-10

Charactersd Elliott (uncredited)

Vote Count39

Armchair Theatre

Armchair Theatre is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by Associated British Corporation, and later by Thames Television from mid-1968.

Release Date1956-07-08

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Gordon Parsley

Episode Count14

Vote Count6

The Hound of the Baskervilles

When a nobleman is threatened by a family curse on his newly inherited estate, detective Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate.

Release Date1983-11-03

Charactersd Dr. John Watson

Vote Count47

Doctor in Love

Doctors Burke and Hare leave the confines of St Swithins for the world of general practice, stopping off on the way as patients at the Foulness Anti-cold Unit. Hare then takes up a position as junior in a well-healed G.P.'s surgery while Burke continues to sow his doctorial wild oats.

Release Date1960-07-12

Charactersd Doctor (uncredited)

Vote Count18

The Omega Mystery

Butler and Robinson have to track down a saboteur at an atomic research station before it is too late.

Release Date1961-09-10

Charactersd Robinson

El C.I.D.

Two British police officers uproot themselves and move to Spain. They watch ex-pat British mobsters.

Release Date1990-02-07

Charactersd Metcalf

Episode Count15

Vote Count1

It's Not Me - It's Them!

Comedy following Albert Curfew, a man for whom unemployability appears to be no object whatsoever. Stars Donald Churchill, Norman Bird and Dilys Laye.

Release Date1965-07-28

Charactersd Albert Curfew

Episode Count6

No Love for Johnnie

Johnnie Byrne is a member of the British Parliament. In his 40s, he's feeling frustrated with his life and his personal as well as professional problems tower up over him. His desires to win the next election are endangered by his constant looking for love and he is faced with the choice of giving up a career in politics or giving up the woman he loves.

Release Date1961-02-14

Charactersd Sheilah's Party Guest (uncredited)

Vote Count9

Victim

A web of blackmail and murder attracts the attention of a barrister with a seemingly idyllic life, threatening to derail his career on the path of success.

Release Date1961-08-01

Charactersd Eddy Stone

Vote Count160

Barnacle Bill

A seasick sea captain commands an amusement pier despite local opposition. Released in the U.S. as 'All at Sea'

Release Date1957-12-17

Charactersd Roy

Vote Count24

The Captain's Table

A captain is promoted by his company from tramp steamers to their flagship passenger liner. Although he is a thoroughly competent sailor ready to take charge of such a ship, he is less prepared for the social duties his new position involves, not least the way he in which becomes the target for all the unattached women on board.

Release Date1959-01-06

Charactersd Mr. Jay

Vote Count6

The Aweful Mr Goodall

The Aweful Mr Goodall is a six-episode 1974 British television drama produced by Richard Bates and starring Robert Urquhart as Jack Goodall, a retired MI5 agent who investigates various mysteries, often involving smuggling and international intrigue, with help from travel agent Alexandra Winfield.

Release Date1974-04-05

Charactersd Millbrook

Episode Count1

The Wild Affair

Young office assistant Majorie will marry soon, however, she's plagued by doubts if her fiance is the right one. On her last day at work, her male colleagues don't miss a chance to comfort her...and flirt.

Release Date1965-12-05

Charactersd Andy

Vote Count7

Charlie Muffin

Charlie Muffin, top British Intelligence operative, has just broken up a major Soviet spy network in England. However, a new Director with new ideas takes over and wants Charlie out. But then a high-ranking Soviet spy-master hints that he wants to defect, and both British Intelligence and the CIA want him and will do anything to get him. Charlie may be the only man who can bring the defection off successfully, but is the whole thing an elaborate set-up? And when your so-called allies are stabbing each other and you in the back to get this prize, whom can Charlie trust on either side?

Release Date1979-12-11

Charactersd Wilberforce

Vote Count5

The Master Builder

Ibsen's play is the story of Halvard Solness, Master Builder of a town in Norway. Solness is a successful architect but he's afraid of the being surpassed by those younger than himself. The arrival of a young woman called Hilda stirs up memories and feelings with stories of a promise he made her many years ago.

Release Date1988-05-15

Charactersd Dr. Herdal

Good Night And God Bless

Ronnie Kemp, stand-up comedian turned television quizmaster, is adored by his audience but is a very different character offstage.

Release Date1983-04-12

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Ronnie Kemp

Episode Count6

Curse of the Mummy

An archaeologist unearths the mummy of an Egyptian queen. He doesn't realize that his daughter has a strong resemblance to the dead queen, and soon the mummy awakens. Complications ensue.

Release Date1970-02-23

Charactersd Corbeck

Vote Count1

Hearts and Flowers

A family gather together for the funeral and cremation of the head of the family.

Release Date1970-12-03

Charactersd Tony

Vote Count2

Stanley and the Women

Stanley Duke's life is thrown into chaos when his son is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and his home becomes a battleground for his past and present wives and other women.

Release Date1991-11-28

Charactersd Harry Coote

Episode Count4

Vote Count2

The Ship That Couldn't Stop

A ship powered by a nuclear reactor, is heading for the port of New York and is unable to slow down.

Release Date1961-07-02

Charactersd Michael Holland

Vote Count1

The Gay Dog

Release Date1959-06-06

Charactersd Leslie Gowland

The Loving Lesson

Mary Abbott is a schoolteacher whose husband has to go away for the night on business. After returning home from a party she has an unexpected caller.

Release Date1971-08-31

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Harry

Spaceflight IC-1

In the year 2015, a spaceship, the IC-1, travels through outer space looking for a suitable planet to settle on. The commander, Captain Ralston, is stern and brutal in which one cadet, Steven, plots a revolt to turn the leadership of the command over to him.

Release Date1965-08-01

Charactersd Carl Walcott

Vote Count6

The Spare Tyres

Dennis is told by his wife to remove two old tyres from the garden of their new home. He tries various ways to dispose of them.

Release Date1967-01-01

Charactersd Milkman

Vote Count2

A Bit of a Lift

A man meets a woman at a wedding and manages to sweet talk her, only to end up inadvertently helping out another male.

Release Date1973-09-25

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Frank

Vote Count2

The Sweeney

Jack Regan, an unethical officer of the Flying Squad, uses unorthodox methods to pursue criminals with the help of his partner, George Carter.

Release Date1975-01-02

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count1

Vote Count28

Father, Dear Father

The hugely successful British television series Father Dear Father is transplanted to Australia when novelist Patrick Glover and his assistant Nanny trek down under to write the great Australian crime novel, and end up supervising Patrick's boisterous young nieces while their own father is abroad.

Release Date1978-06-25

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count3

Vote Count3

Mr Pye

Mr Pye travels to the Channel Island of Sark to spread the love of God. But doing good deeds means something strange starts to happen to him, he starts to grow wings.

Release Date1986-03-02

DepartmentCreator

JobCreator

Vote Count4

Happy Ever After

A series of plays, each reflecting an individual dilemma - sometimes serious, occasionally humorous - and each with a happy ending.

Release Date1969-11-18

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count2

Our Mutual Friend

After his father's will stipulates he must marry Bella Wilfer to inherit his fortune, John Harmon fakes his death to avoid the marriage and the threats on his life. He returns as John Rokesmith and becomes the secretary for the Boffins, who inherit Harmon's estate following his alleged death.

Release Date1976-03-01

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count7

Vote Count1

The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder

The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder is based on a character created by Edgar Wallace in a series of 1925 short stories of the same name, Hugh Burden played the titular character – A mild-mannered investigator with the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Release Date1969-04-23

DepartmentWriting

JobAdaptation

Episode Count1

Vote Count1

The Left Overs

A blossoming friendship between a businessman and one of his flatmate's ex-girlfriends is challenged when she answers a phone call and inadvertently reveals to his boss that he has been fraudulently claiming expenses.

Release Date1972-08-22

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Zeppelin

The outbreak of World War I places Scots officer Geoffrey Richter-Douglas in an uncomfortable position. Although his allegiance is to Britain, his mother was from an aristocratic Bavarian family, and he spent his summers in Germany as a child. When Geoffrey is approached by a German spy who offers him a chance to defect, he reports the incident to his superiors, but instead of arresting the spy they suggest that he accept her offer--and become an Allied agent. In Germany, among old friends, Geoffrey discovers that loyalty is more complicated than he expected, especially when he finds himself aboard the maiden voyage of a powerful new prototype Zeppelin, headed for Scotland on a secret mission that could decide the outcome of the war.

Release Date1971-04-08

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count35

Three Comedies of Marriage

Anthology of plays highlighting the comedy of marriage.

Release Date1975-07-03

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count1

A Room in Town

A woman discovers that her husband has rented a flat in London for his mistress, and sets out to catch him in the act

Release Date1970-09-15

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1

Mr. Pye

Mr. Pye is a missionary whose mission to spread God's love on the tiny English Channel island of Sark faces supernatural setbacks in this comic fantasy from the author of Gormenghast.

Release Date1986-03-02

DepartmentWriting

JobAdaptation

Sharp at Four

Jean Hobley has a problem, trying to hold down a job that allows her to pick up her child from school.

Release Date1964-01-12

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

A Fluid Arrangement

Ernie decides to pack up and go to sea, however he had not taken into account the repercussions that would be felt by those around him.

Release Date1972-09-26

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

The Sex Game

A series of plays revolving around the ever-intriguing subject of sex.

Release Date1968-11-13

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count1

Deux hommes dans une valise

Release Date1989-08-12

DepartmentWriting

JobAuthor

Vote Count1

The Cherry on the Top

A comic play set against the background of the Air Force.

Release Date1964-09-27

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter