Paula Tilbrook

Play for Today

Ida Arnott

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.

Tales of the Unexpected

Maggie

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.

BBC2 Play of the Week

Beryl

An anthology of plays and novels adapted into feature length TV movies, broadcast on BBC2 from September 1977 to April 1979.

The Play on One

Effie

A series of television plays, some original, some based on pre-existing plays or novels.

Open All Hours

Mrs Tattersall

Open All Hours is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke, starring Ronnie Barker as penny-pinching corner-shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, and David Jason as his nephew and assistant Granville. The programme originated as a 1973 episode of Barker’s comedy anthology Seven of One, and later ran for 26 episodes; the first series broadcast on BBC2, the remaining three series broadcast on BBC1.

The Big Quiz

Self

Stephen Mulhern hosts a titanic clash between ITV's biggest soaps.

Andy Capp

Flo Capp

Andy Capp is a British sitcom based on the cartoon Andy Capp. It starred James Bolam and ran for one series in 1988. It was written by Keith Waterhouse. Unusually, for a sitcom, there was no studio audience during the filming of Andy Capp. It was made for the ITV network by Thames Television. Andy Capp is a slothful man from Hartlepool, whose life consists of drinking, sleeping, watching TV, betting, going to the pub and occasionally playing football. His wife, Flo, is constantly annoyed by her lazy husband and frequently uses a rolling pin as a weapon.

Yanks

Neighbour

During WWII, the United States set up army bases in Great Britain as part of the war effort. Against their proper sensibilities, many of the Brits don't much like the brash Yanks, especially when it comes to the G.I.s making advances on the lonely British girls. One relationship that develops is between married John, an Army Captain, and the aristocratic Helen, whose naval husband is away at war. Helen loves her husband, but Helen and John are looking for some comfort during the difficult times.

Butterfly Kiss

Ella

Deeply mentally unbalanced drifter Eunice roams grim northern Britain committing psychosexual serial murders of both men and women while ostensibly searching for an unknown woman named Judith. She spares the life of lonely but kind-hearted gas station cashier Miriam, who abandons her dismal life to follow her damaged new lover. While attempting to hide the evidence of her multiple crimes, Miriam tries to understand Eunice's bizarre quest.

Hard Labour

Mrs. Thornley's Friend

A quiet and put-upon house cleaner breaks her silence.

A Private Function

Mrs. Turnbull

In the summer of 1947, Britain prepares to commemorate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. To get around food-rationing laws, Dr. Charles Swaby, accountant Henry Allardyce and solicitor Frank Lockwood are fattening a black-market pig for the big day. Egged on by his wife, meek Gilbert Chilvers steals the swine, but the couple must conceal it from inspector Morris Wormold.

Gaskin

Miss Threapleton

Drama based on the case history of a Liverpool boy, Graham Gaskin, who spent most of his youth in care. Graham Gaskin says it is not just his story - 'It's all the other little Gaskins we never hear about... and it ain't history. It's now!'

All Day on the Sands

Mr and Mrs Cooper are staying at a boarding-house in the seaside resort of Morecambe with their small children, Colin and Jennifer. Mr Cooper has just been made redundant, but the family are trying to keep this a secret from the other guests. Also staying at the hotel are Keith and Jo, a young couple on their honeymoon, and an older couple, Mr and Mrs Thornton. Waking early one morning, Colin amuses himself by dangling one of his sister's sandals out of the window on a piece of string. The sandal accidentally lands on a flat roof just outside the window of the honeymooning couple, and his father's now straitened financial circumstances mean Colin has to get it back, by fair means or foul.

Thicker Than Water

Ida Arnott

The Black Pudding Festival in Normandy, France, brings competitors from all over Europe. The British contingent is there for all the fun of the fair-and determined to win!

Pit Strike

Jessie Reed

1972: striking miners converge on London's power stations. Among them, the huge, dignified figure of Joshua.

Walter

Mrs. Ashby

A man with learning difficulties suffers neglect and ill-treatment, and this is only exasperated when his parents die and nobody seems to know what to do with him. A sequel to this film, titled "Walter and June", was released in 1983 and set 19 years later in time. In the United States, these two are sometimes bundled together under the title "Loving Walter".

Summer Season

Bea

Blackpool usually means sun and sand, and a ride on the big dipper; but Ricky and Michelle are working. Dave is hard at work too - getting in on their act.

Mike Leigh: Making Plays

Self (archive footage)

Writer and Director Mike Leigh discusses the techniques used to create his plays.

Effie's Burning

Effie

An elderly lady suffers from the mysterious condition of spontaneous combustion.

The Final Frame

East's Mother

When the notorious rock star, East, is murdered on stage at an Animal Rights benefit gig, young filmmaker Hadi captures vital evidence on videotape. He finds he has possession of the most sought-after footage in the TV industry - and the most lethal.