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Play for Today

Series 3

1972 · 28 episodes · 34h 54m in all

Episodes

  1. 1

    1. The Reporters

    9 Oct 1972 · 75 min

    Two provincial newspaper reporters - one a young idealist starting out on his career, the other an embittered man who previously wrote for a failed national daily - swap views.

  2. 2

    2. A Life Is for Ever

    16 Oct 1972 · 75 min

    The story of a man serving a 30-year prison sentence for killing a cop

  3. 3

    3. Carson Country

    23 Oct 1972 · 75 min

    A story about the origin of the Stormont state

  4. 4

    4. Man Friday

    30 Oct 1972 · 75 min

    The story of Robinson Crusoe from Man Friday's viewpoint

  5. 5

    5. Triple Exposure

    6 Nov 1972 · 75 min

    A hippie breaks into the house of a middle-aged couple and forms a relationship with them

  6. 6

    6. Better than the Movies

    13 Nov 1972 · 75 min

    A man celebrating his birthday comes to appreciate the difference between media fantasy and mundane reality.

  7. 7

    7. The General's Day

    20 Nov 1972 · 75 min

    An elderly general woos a shy school teacher.

  8. 8

    8. The Bankrupt

    27 Nov 1972 · 75 min

    A washed-up executive is on the verge of bankruptcy.

  9. 9

    9. Just Your Luck

    4 Dec 1972 · 75 min

    A pregnant teenager sets about wooing a sailor in a sectarian council estate in Greenock.

  10. 10

    10. The Bouncing Boy

    11 Dec 1972 · 75 min

    A young couple have a baby boy. However, the new father doesn't take to his new position quite as well as expected.

  11. 11

    11. Shakespeare or Bust

    8 Jan 1973 · 75 min

    The adventures of three Derbyshire miners going to Stratford-upon-Avon on a barge

  12. 12

    12. Land of Green Ginger

    15 Jan 1973 · 75 min

    Faced with the prospect of being sent to work abroad, Sally Brown returns home from London to Hull, to see if she still feels the same attachment for her home town - and for her old boyfriend Mike Thurlow. Will she decide to take the job abroad or return to live with Mike in Hull?

  13. 13. Kisses at Fifty

    22 Jan 1973 · 69 min

    A long-married husband leaves his family for a barmaid.

  14. 14

    14. Highway Robbery

    29 Jan 1973 · 75 min

    A man fights council plans to demolish his home to make way for a new bypass.

  15. 15

    15. Song at Twilight

    5 Feb 1973 · 75 min

    The story of a defiant football manager in terminal decline

  16. 16

    16. Only Make Believe

    12 Feb 1973 · 75 min

    As a playwright dictates notes about his newest play to his secretary, scenes from the play are acted out.

  17. 17

    17. For Sylvia or The Air Show

    19 Feb 1973 · 75 min

    Was this the finest hour? Sifting the truth and fiction about the Battle of Britain, Burrows and Harding give their own account of how the nation sees its heroes - and itself.

  18. 18

    18. The Operation

    26 Feb 1973 · 75 min

    David Adler is an operator. He strips assets, other men's wives, and his oldest friend's soul - anything for a cool million.

  19. 19

    19. Access to the Children

    5 Mar 1973 · 75 min

    Malcolmson spends every Sunday taking his children to the zoo, reflecting on the breakdown of his marriage and the events that brought about his divorce. Is there a chance the family can be brought back together?

  20. 20

    20. Hard Labour

    12 Mar 1973 · 75 min

    The trials of an overworked and underappreciated housecleaner

  21. 21

    21. Man Above Men

    19 Mar 1973 · 75 min

    "I'm the judge's daughter - I think he's a monstrous old man. I think all men who say 'I'm only doing my job' are monstrous. I've despaired of changing him. But I'd stop short of killing him."

  22. 22

    22. Speech Day

    26 Mar 1973 · 75 min

    Three underachievers have fun at a school speech day

  23. 23

    23. Steps Back

    14 May 1973 · 75 min

    "Fifteen years since I was forced t' leave, forced t' leave me roots, the territory of me heart." When Gerry takes his fiancée Nita home to Brighouse, what will they find?

  24. 24

    24. Three's One

    4 Jun 1973 · 75 min

    Are Maggie and Tony using each other as a means of communicating with Dr Leafer? Or are they using Dr Leafer as a means of communicating with each other?

  25. 25

    25. Edward G.--Like the Film Star

    11 Jun 1973 · 75 min

    Edward G. is nothing like a film star; his life has been ordinary - until now. But he's just had a shattering experience. This edition is missing from the BBC archives.

  26. 26

    26. Blooming Youth

    18 Jun 1973 · 75 min

    The problems of four people sharing an apartment

  27. 27

    27. The Stretch

    25 Jun 1973 · 75 min

    Everyone always looked after Maureen. But her husband comes home after two years in prison and finds she has grown up and he's not ready for the change.

  28. 28

    28. Making the Play

    2 Jul 1973 · 75 min

    They no longer live together because, after 11 years, the marriage is over. So why is she always turning up to see him at the most embarrassing times? And why doesn't he send her away?

Play for Today Series 3: quick answers

How many episodes are in Play for Today Series 3?

Series 3 of Play for Today has 28 episodes, about 35 hours in total.

When did Play for Today Series 3 come out?

Series 3 premiered on 8 Oct 1972.

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