Play for Today

Season 1 Episode 19: When the Bough Breaks

May 06, 1971 NR 1h 15m 7.8

An ultra-realistic procedural drama of a social worker's investigation into the case of a battered infant received critical acclaim.

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Season 1 Episodes:

Episode 2 The Right Prospectus

2. The Right Prospectus

Aired: Oct 22, 1970

A couple look for the proper school, not for their children but for themselves.

Episode 3 The Lie

3. The Lie

Aired: Oct 29, 1970

A couple are trapped in their marriage and way of life. Locked up in their bo...

Episode 4 Angels Are So Few

4. Angels Are So Few

Aired: Nov 5, 1970

For the BBC's WEDNESDAY PLAY series, Dennis Potter offered one of his "visita...

Episode 5 The Write-Off

5. The Write-Off

Aired: Nov 12, 1970

A man is made redundant but can't bring himself to let anyone know, plunging ...

Episode 7 A Distant Thunder

7. A Distant Thunder

Aired: Nov 26, 1970

A newly-appointed knight finds his celebrations cut short by someone who was ...

Episode 8 Hearts and Flowers

8. Hearts and Flowers

Aired: Dec 3, 1970

A TV host and his architect brother attend their father's funeral. This editi...

Episode 9 Robin Redbreast

9. Robin Redbreast

Aired: Dec 10, 1970

After a long-term relationship ends, Norah moves to a remote house in the cou...

Episode 11 Alma Mater

11. Alma Mater

Aired: Jan 7, 1971

A civil servant working abroad revisits his old school. This edition is missi...

Episode 12 Circle Line

12. Circle Line

Aired: Jan 14, 1971

A cynical student has a radically different view of life from his landlady, l...

Episode 13 Hell's Angel

13. Hell's Angel

Aired: Jan 21, 1971

A couple are distressed by the changes in their adopted teenage son when he j...

Episode 14 The Piano

14. The Piano

Aired: Jan 28, 1971

An old couple refuse to move when they find out that they can't take their pi...

Episode 15 Billy's Last Stand

15. Billy's Last Stand

Aired: Feb 4, 1971

Billy, a self-employed coal-shoveller, gains a seedy business partner and com...

Episode 16 The Rainbirds

16. The Rainbirds

Aired: Feb 11, 1971

A man who attempted suicide by jumping out a window is saved only to live in ...

Episode 17 Reddick

17. Reddick

Aired: Feb 18, 1971

Charges that the Reverend 'Red' Reddick is exploiting his youth club members ...

Episode 18 The Fox Trot

18. The Fox Trot

Aired: Apr 29, 1971

The lives of Gwen and Arthur are complicated when Gwen's long-lost husband co...

Episode 20 Orkney

20. Orkney

Aired: May 13, 1971

A trilogy of plays - "A Time to Keep", "The Whaler's Return" and "Celia" - ex...

Episode 21 The Rank and File

21. The Rank and File

Aired: May 20, 1971

When a pay discrepancy continues without any resolution, glass factory worker...

Episode 23 Everybody Say Cheese

23. Everybody Say Cheese

Aired: Jun 3, 1971

The story of a disintegrating marriage told through family photos. This editi...

Info about Play for Today

Current Status: Ended

Network: BBC One

Genres: Comedy, Drama