Fifty years after its first transmission, the BBC's 'Play for Today' anthology series remains one of British television's most influential achievements. Between 1970 and 1984, it brought the UK's best writing, acting and directing talents into our living rooms, challenging audiences and pushing the boundaries of TV drama.
Edna, the Inebriate Woman (1971) Patricia Hayes gives a moving performance as an aggressive, funny and proud homeless alcoholic in this award-winning depiction of life on the streets.
Just Another Saturday (1975) It's a big moment for John (Jon Morrison), swinging the mace in his local Orange Lodge parade through Glasgow. But as his day unfolds he witnesses more than bands and banners, and for the first time starts to think about his future. Winner of the 1975 Prix Italia for Television Drama.
Bar Mitzvah Boy (1976) Thirteen-year-old Eliot Green (Jeremy Steyn) is approaching the moment when he will become a man in the eyes of the Jewish community. But Eliot is beginning to wonder if any of the men he is close to really measure up to his boyhood ideals.
The Mayor's Charity (1977) Olive Major (Thora Hird) is determined that her year of office as mayor will be a happy and successful one. But her appointment of a former military man (Frank Windsor) as attendant and mace-bearer sparks controversy in the corridors of Medburgh Town Hall.
Coming Out (1979) Author Lewis Duncan (Anton Rodgers) writes popular romances but hides his sexuality for fear of losing sales. When he writes for a gay magazine under a pseudonym, however, he strikes a chord with other closeted men and is forced to confront his own priorities.
A Hole in Babylon (1979) The story of the real-life 1975 Spaghetti House siege in London's Knightsbridge. Was it simply a bungled robbery, or was it a reflection of the frustration and anger felt by young Black people in Britain?
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