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ScreenPlay
GenreDrama anthology
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series8
No. of episodes95 (list of episodes)
Production
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC2
Release9 July 1986 (1986-07-09) –
27 October 1993 (1993-10-27)

ScreenPlay is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993.

Background

[edit]

After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, feature length filmed dramas, including ScreenPlay.[1] Various writers and directors were utilised on the series. Writer Jimmy McGovern was hired by producer George Faber to pen a series five episode based upon the Merseyside needle exchange programme of the 1980s.[2][3] The episode, directed by Gillies MacKinnon, was entitled Needle and featured Sean McKee, Emma Bird, and Pete Postlethwaite.[2][4] The last episode of the series was titled "Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Islands" and featured Robbie Coltrane as English writer Samuel Johnson, who in the autumn of 1773, visits the Hebrides off the north-west coast of Scotland. That episode was directed by John Byrne and co-starred John Sessions and Celia Imrie. Some scenes were shot at Lennoxlove House in East Lothian and others in the Scottish Borders.[5]

Plays

[edit]
SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1139 July 1986 (1986-07-09)2 October 1986 (1986-10-02)
21315 July 1987 (1987-07-15)7 October 1987 (1987-10-07)
31013 July 1988 (1988-07-13)28 September 1988 (1988-09-28)
4115 July 1989 (1989-07-05)20 September 1989 (1989-09-20)
51311 July 1990 (1990-07-11)29 December 1990 (1990-12-29)
6153 July 1991 (1991-07-03)18 September 1991 (1991-09-18)
7141 July 1992 (1992-07-01)30 September 1992 (1992-09-30)
8622 September 1993 (1993-09-22)27 October 1993 (1993-10-27)

Series 1 (1986)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
11"All Together Now"[6]David AttwoodPeter BuckmanRobin Midgley9 July 1986 (1986-07-09)
Cast :  Colin Farrell, Colin Blumenau, Jerome Davies, Bryan James, Terry Molloy, Colyn Davies, Nick Mercer, Jacqueline Hill, Audrey Leybourne, Lynda Myers, Michael Griffiths, Chrissy Roberts, Alan Starkey, Keith Mansell, Patrick Wilkes and Clive Swift
22"Daylight Robbery"[7]Chris GoddardRose TremainBrenda Reid16 July 1986 (1986-07-16)
Cast :  Joan Hickson, Lynn Farleigh, Michael N. Harbour, Denys Hawthorne, Matthew Long, Gay Baynes, Ed Devereaux, Robert Lang, Tony Meyer, Annie Gurney, Alexander Goodman, David McEwan and David Telfer
33"Brick Is Beautiful"[8]David WheatleyAndy ArmitageBrenda Reid23 July 1986 (1986-07-23)
Cast :  Christopher Wild, Caroline Milmoe, Ian Mercer, Paul Oldham, Terry Sue-Patt, Tommy Boyle, Bert Gaunt, Stephen Boyes, Lottie Ward, Ruth Holden, Wendy Votel, Gilly Coman, Roberta Kerr, Louis Raynes, Anthony Benson, Drew Dawson, Doc O'Brien, Mike Donelan, Joan Campion, Margo Stanley, Ian Bleasdale and John Ryan
44"Knowing the Score"[9]Brian ParkerAlma CullenTom Kinninmont30 July 1986 (1986-07-30)
Cast :  Colette O'Neil, Andrew Keir, Sandra Voe, Katy Hale, Pat Harkins, Anne Myatt, Jan Wilson, Anne Lacey, Martin Heller, Tracey Chapman, Simon Donald, William Armour, Ray Jeffries and Jonathan Battersby
55"Drums Along Balmoral Drive"[10]Jane HowellDouglas LivingstoneBrenda Reid6 August 1986 (1986-08-06)
Cast :  Colin Blakely, Derek Fuke, Benedict Taylor, Michael Turner, Rowena Cooper, Larrington Walker, Jabu Mbalo, Inez Thorn, Michael Wynne, Anne Carroll, Hugh Quarshie, Eddie Tagoe, Michael Crompton, Femi Taylor, Christopher Asante, Nicholas Grant, Tommy Buson and Thomas Baptiste
66"Asinamali"[11]Ross DevenishMbongeni NgemaDavid M. Thompson13 August 1986 (1986-08-13)
Cast :  Solomzi Bisholo, Thami Cele, Bongani Hlophe, Bheki Mgadi, Boy Ngema and Mbongeni Ngema
77"In Traction"[12]David WickhamStuart PatersonTom Kinninmont20 August 1986 (1986-08-20)
Cast :  James Kennedy, Patrick Hannaway, Joe Mullaney, Leonard O'Malley, Matthew Hodgman, Caroline Paterson, Angie Murphy, John McGlynn, Una MacNab, Andrew Barr, Stuart Bishop, Robert Paterson
88"The Mozart Inquest"[13]Anthony GarnerSimon WhitworthMartin Thompson27 August 1986 (1986-08-27)
Cast :  Elizabeth Garvie, James Griffiths, Clifford Rose, Patrick Stewart, Kate Fahy and Elizabeth Spender
99"The Marlowe Inquest"[14]Anthony GarnerSimon WhitworthMartin Thompson3 September 1986 (1986-09-03)
Cast :  John Woodvine, John Savident, Michael Pennington, Nicholas Gecks, Nicholas Le Prevost, Geoffrey Beevers and Matthew Marsh
1010"Blood, Sweat and Tears"[15]Nicholas RentonJohn GodberBrenda Reid10 September 1986 (1986-09-10)
Cast :  Jane Clifford, Gillian Tompkins, Michael Callaghan, Liza Sadovy and Steven Brough
1111"Shift Work"[16]Angela PopeLesley BruceBrenda Reid24 September 1986 (1986-09-24)
Cast :  Maureen Lipman, Stephen Dillane, Jeffrey Chiswick, Tony Alleff, Amy Rosenthal, Adam Rosenthal, Max Murray-Barrows, Christopher Chescoe, Treva Etienne, Yolanda Vazquez, Eddie Caswell, Prue Clarke, Angus Kennedy, David Bauckham, Richard Platt, Ian Collier, Lockwood West, Robert Austin and Jim Dunk
1212"Paying Guests: Early Skirmishes"[17]Michael SimpsonE. F. Benson (novel)
Thomas Ellice		Rosemary Hill1 October 1986 (1986-10-01)
Cast :  Robert Hardy, Angela Thorne, Benjamin Whitrow, Judy Cornwell, Joanna David, Annette Crosbie, Richard O'Callaghan, Avril Elgar, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Sylvia Barter, Maryann Turner, David Quilter, Margaretta Scott, Barbara Hicks and Reginald Jessup
1313"Paying Guests: The Final Assent"[18]Michael SimpsonE. F. Benson (novel)
Thomas Ellice		Rosemary Hill2 October 1986 (1986-10-02)
Cast :  Robert Hardy, Angela Thorne, Benjamin Whitrow, Judy Cornwell, Joanna David, Annette Crosbie, Richard O'Callaghan, Avril Elgar, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Sylvia Barter, Maryann Turner, David Quilter, Margaretta Scott, Barbara Hicks and Reginald Jessup

Series 2 (1987)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
141"The Trial of Klaus Barbie"[19]Gareth JonesRay JenkinsTim Ironside Wood
Dennis Woolf
Claudia Milne		15 July 1987 (1987-07-15)
Cast :  Mark Kingston, Maurice Denham, Christian Burgess, Jonathan Adams, Bernard Brown, David De Keyser, James Griffiths, Raad Rawi, John Stride, Colin Welland, David Calder, Charles Simon, Don Fellows, Sheila Raynor, Ronald Herdman, Lila Kaye, Peter Copley, Ray Smith, Tenniel Evans, Peter Woodthorpe, John Boswall, Sheila Burrell, Margery Mason, Margery Withers, Diana Coupland, Peggy Mount, Matyelok Gibbs, Lollie May, Beryl Cooke, Bruce Montague, Paul Anil and Jim McManus
152"Land"[20]David WheatleyBarry CollinsDavid M. Thompson22 July 1987 (1987-07-22)
Cast :  John Terry, Fernando Continentino, Rui Polanah, Maria Padilha, Bebeto Baia, Dira Paes and Eduardo Conde
163"Lily My Love"[21]Adrian ShergoldElisabeth BondDavid Snodin29 July 1987 (1987-07-29)
Cast :  Bill Paterson, Cindy Holden, David Horovitch, Ian Sharp, Lynne Verrall, Will Tacey and Graeme Kirk
174"Cariani and the Courtesans"[22]Leslie MegaheyLeslie MegaheyDavid M. Thompson5 August 1987 (1987-08-05)
Cast :  Paul McGann, Simon Callow, Michael Gough, Diana Quick, Louiza Livingstone, Robert Goodman, Charles Gray, Lucy Hancock, Linda Polan, Caroline England, Teresa Benham, Clive Merrison and Anthony Milner
185"Our Lady Blue"[23]Robin MidgleyHeidi ThomasBrenda Reid12 August 1987 (1987-08-12)
Cast :  Patricia Hayes, Doreen Mantle, Eva Griffith, Paul Beringer, Maudie Smith, Mollie Maureen and Graham Aggrey
196"White Lady"[24]David RudkinDavid RudkinCarol Parks26 August 1987 (1987-08-26)
Cast :  Cornelius Garrett, Sophie Thompson, Jessica Martin and Meg Wynn Owen
207"Scout"[25][26]Danny BoyleFrank McGuinnessN/A8 September 1987 (1987-09-08)
Cast :  Ray McAnally, Stephen Rea, Colin Connor, Michael Liebman, Gerard O'Hare, Lloyd Hutchinson, Jeremy Chapman and Paul Ryder
218"The Venus de Milo Instead"[27][28]Danny BoyleAnne DevlinN/A9 September 1987 (1987-09-09)
Cast :  Jeananne Crowley, Lorcan Cranitch, Iain Cuthbertson, Ruth McGuigan, Ann Hasson, Trudy Kelly, Aine McCartney, Leila Webster, Bridget Erin Bates, B J Hogg, Mark Mulholland, Brenda Winter, Jean Claude Deret, Sylvie Fevre, Tony Doyle
229"The Rockingham Shoot"[29][30]Kieran HickeyJohn McGahernDanny Boyle10 September 1987 (1987-09-10)
Cast :  Bosco Hogan, Niall Toibin, Tony Rohr, Marie Kean, Oliver Maguire, Ian McElhinney, Hilary Reynolds, John Olohan, Gerard McSorley, Libby Smyth, Carmel McDonnell, Ronan Wilmot, Dick Holland, William Walker, John Keyes, Tony Coleman, Michael Gormley and Lucie Jamieson
2310"The Shutter Falls"[31]Peter Barber-FlemingNorman Malcolm MacDonaldTom Kinninmont
Norman McCandlish		16 September 1987 (1987-09-16)
Cast :  Anthony Higgins, Emer Gillespie, Stella Gonet, Mary McInnes, Ewan Stewart, Billy Riddoch, Joan Scott, Hugh Martin, Gerry Slevin, Leonard Maguire, Iain Glass, Madelaine Taylor, Lloret McKenna and Robert Urquhart
2411"Christine"[32]Alan ClarkeAlan Clarke
Arthur Ellis		Brenda Reid23 September 1987 (1987-09-23)
Cast :  Vicky Murdock, Kelly George, Joanne Mapp, Mark Harvey and Anthony Smith
2512"The Interrogation of John"[33]Nicholas RentonMalcolm McKayDavid Snodin30 September 1987 (1987-09-30)
Cast :  Dennis Quilley, Bill Paterson, Michael Fitzgerald, Andrew Seear, Jimmy Yuill, Dean Harris, Sean Caffrey, Richard Cordery, Patrick Godfrey, David Quilter, Kenny Ireland, Niall Padden, Penny Leatherbarrow, Trevor Penton, Jonty Stephens, David Adair, Bill Thomas, John Ramm and Ian Arthur
2613"Road"[35]Alan ClarkeJim CartwrightAndrée Molyneux
David M. Thompson		7 October 1987 (1987-10-07)
Cast :  Jane Horrocks, Mossie Smith, Neil Dudgeon, William Armstrong, Susan Brown, David Thewlis, Moya Brady, Alan David, Lesley Sharp, Barbara Keogh, Tim Dantay, Andrew Wilde and Willy Ross
Awards : Winner of the Best Television Drama Prize at the Monte Carlo Television Festival[34]

Series 3 (1988)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
271"No Further Cause for Concern"[36]John BruceRib DavisGraham Massey13 July 1988 (1988-07-13)
Cast :  Sean Chapman, Rod Culbertson, John Benfield, John Tamms, Garrie J Lammin, David Hargreaves, Tony Melody, Roland Oliver, Edwin Brown, Ivor Roberts, Shaughan Seymour, Celia Bannerman, Trevor Cooper, John Sterland, David Arlen, Neil Todd, Terry Bamber and Terence Plummer
282"A Woman Alone"[37]Sharon MillerDario Fo and Franca Rame
translated by Gillian Hanna		Brenda Reid20 July 1988 (1988-07-20)
Cast :  Lynn Redgrave, Nicholas Teare and Anthony Best
293"Burning Ambition"[38]Roger BamfordN/AGeorge Faber27 July 1988 (1988-07-27)
Cast :  Simon McBurney, Marcello Magni, Richard Hope, Clive Mendus, Tim Barlow, Linda Kerr Scott, Rose English, Mick Barnfather, Jos Houben, Celia Gore Booth, Jean Campbell Dallas and Annabel Arden
304"Eskimos Do It"[39]Derek ListerJim BartonRichard Langridge3 August 1988 (1988-08-03)
Cast :  Jean Boht, Liz Fraser, Ian Brimble, Neil Pearson, Ania Marson, Francis Low, Oscar Quitak, Jo Unwin, Cheryl Maiker and Catrin Menna
315"Out of Love"[40]Michael HouldeyTom ClarkeRuth Caleb10 August 1988 (1988-08-10)
Cast :  Juliet Stevenson, Dafydd Hywel, Emrys James, Cadfan Roberts, Robert Gwilym, Robin Griffith, Gwenllian Vies, John Henry-Hughes, Eluned Jones, Huw Neville and Meirion Morris
326"Home Front"[41]Penny ChernsNick McCartyGraham Massey24 August 1988 (1988-08-24)
Cast :  Stephen McGann, Jason Cunliffe, Wilbert Johnson, Simon Vaughan, Jan Ruppe, Cathy Sandford, Nick Stringer, Patty Hannock, Michael Bray, Tina Marian, Tom Hutchinson, Geff Francis, Ursula Jones, Nicholas Day, Stafford Gordon, Kate O'Connell, Tim Brown, Maurice Kaufmann, Frankie Cosgrave and Tim Gatti
337"Between the Cracks"[42]Lucy ParkerLennie James and Lucy ParkerRuth Caleb31 August 1988 (1988-08-31)
Cast :  Leah Adeola, Richard Bench, Giselle Glasman, Kevin Gopie, Lennie James, Anthony Lennon, Simon McNally, Cliff Parisi, Baron Philip, Michael Quain, Gerald Simms and Richard Taylor
348"The Black and Blue Lamp"[43]Guy SlaterArthur EllisBrenda Reid7 September 1988 (1988-09-07)
Cast :  Sean Chapman, Ian Brimble, Karl Johnson, John Woodvine, Nick Stringer, Peter Lovstrom, Kenneth Cranham, Ralph Brown, Barry Woolgar, Jonathan Chater, Paddy Ryan and Anthony Smee
359"The Diary of Rita Patel"[44]Michael JackleyCarole BoyerCarolyn Montagu14 September 1988 (1988-09-14)
Cast :  Cheryl Miller, Tony Wredden, Indira Joshi, Assam Mamodeally, Malcolm Scates, David Adair, Kumall Grewal, Dev Sagoo, Lyndam Gregory, Ian Arthur, Michael Mulkerrin, Jon Strickland, Melissa Wilson, Maiser Asghar, Sam Smart, Chis Pitt, Howard Shannon, Cy Town, Tony Calvert, Lee MacDonald, Martin Phillips and Ozzie Stevens
3610"Starlings"[45]David WheatleyAndy ArmitageBrenda Reid28 September 1988 (1988-09-28)
Cast :  Michael Maloney, Lynsey Baxter, David Ryall, Jane Downs, Frank Mills, Derek Newark, Wendy Seely, Tim Dantay, Lottie Ward, Ann Aris, Tommy Boyle, Robert Addie, Ralph Watson, Nicholas Fry, Guy Manning, Richard Lintern, Lucy Aston, Charmian Gradwell, Miles Richardson, Joshua Le Touzel, Ysanne Churchman, Pippa Vickers, Daphne Neville, Michael McStay, Alister Cameron and Anthony Benson

Series 4 (1989)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
371"Testimony of a Child"[46]Peter SmithLucy GannonLouise Panton and Ruth Caleb5 July 1989 (1989-07-05)
Cast :  John Bowe, Jill Baker, Jonathan Leigh, Victoria Shalet, Heather Tobias, Paul Copley, Dermot Crowley, Ann Curthoys, Anthony Smee, Lucy Foxwell, Kate Lonergan, Marlene Sidaway and Deborah Winckles
382"A Night on the Tyne"[47]Corin Campbell-HillBill GallagherRuth Caleb12 July 1989 (1989-07-12)
Cast :  Bryan Pringle, Alun Armstrong, Leslie Schofield, Robson Green, Melanie Hill, George Irving, Ralph Watson, Jimmy Swan, Rosalind Bailey, Eric Nicholson, Joe Ging and Steve Sutton
393"Loving Hazel"[48]Peter SmithLes SmithGeorge Faber19 July 1989 (1989-07-19)
Cast :  Hugh Quarshie, Susan Brown, Gemma Darungton, Stephen Bent, Doña Croll, Sheila Kelley, Valerie Lilley, Arti Prashar, Andy Hockley, Ellie Haddington and Alan Cooke
404"The Attractions"[49]Anthony GarnerTony MarchantRichard Langridge26 July 1989 (1989-07-26)
Cast :  Benjamin Whitrow, Reece Dinsdale and Ethna Roddy
415"Chinese Whispers"[50]Stuart BurgeMaurice LeitchRobert Cooper2 August 1989 (1989-08-02)
Cast :  Niall Buggy, Gary Waldhorn, Martin Wenner, Annette Badland, Niall Cusack, Liam de Staic, Renny Krupinski, Breffni McKenna, Tony Rohr, George Shane, Daragh O'Malley, Trudy Kelly, Trevor Moore and Mel Austin
426"The Act"[51]Roy BattersbyRichard LangridgeRuth Caleb9 August 1989 (1989-08-09)
Cast :  Jack Shepherd, Barry Jackson, Kenneth Haigh, Andy de la Tour, Sally Dexter, Dominic Muldowney, Andrew Findon and Terry Seymour
437"The Spirit of Man"[52]Peter BarnesPeter BarnesRichard Langridge23 August 1989 (1989-08-23)
Cast :  Peter Bayliss, Dilys Laye, Clive Merrison, John Turner, Eleanor David, Nigel Hawthorne, Alan Rickman, Iain Cuthbertson, Harold Innocent and Peter Jeffrey
448"Beyond the Pale"[53]Diarmuid LawrenceWilliam TrevorRobert Cooper30 August 1989 (1989-08-30)
Cast :  Prunella Scales, Annette Crosbie, Robert Lang, Ronald Hines, Jeff Rawle, James Greene, Doreen Hepburn, Barbara Adair and Ann Forsythe
459"The Hen House"[54][55]Danny BoyleFrank McGuinnessRobert Cooper6 September 1989 (1989-09-06)
Cast :  Sinead Cusack, Tony Doyle, Barry Birch, Pat Leavy, Eleanor Methven, Nathan Carr, Darryl Carr, Maria McDermottroe, Colm Carlin, Domhnall Carlin and Noel Magee
4610"Seeing in the Dark"[56]Gareth JonesAllen DruryGeorge Faber13 September 1989 (1989-09-13)
Cast :  David Threlfall, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Greg Hicks, Jane Bertish, Maurice Denham, Janet Steel, Stewart Bevan, Sam Howard, Symond Lawes and Giles Newington
4711"A Small Mourning"[57]Chris BernardMartyn HesfordGeorge Faber20 September 1989 (1989-09-20)
Cast :  Alison Steadman, Stratford Johns, Ian Deam, Catherine Ivie, Elizabeth Bradley, Tina Earl, Pauline Yates, Dinah Handley, Celia Gore-Booth, Alan Bird, Elizabeth Crawford, Pat Mills and Sheldon Goodinson

Series 5 (1990)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
481"Amongst Barbarians"[58]Jane HowellMichael WallRichard Langridge11 July 1990 (1990-07-11)
Cast :  David Jason, Rowena Cooper, Anne Carroll, Lee Ross, Con O'Neill, Kathy Burke, Josephine Welcome, Madhav Sharma, Ricardo Sibelo and Anthony Smee
492"Antonia and Jane"[59]Beeban KidronMarcy KahanGeorge Faber18 July 1990 (1990-07-18)
Cast :  Imelda Staunton, Saskia Reeves, Brenda Bruce, Bill Nighy, Ian Redford, Allan Corduner, Richard Hope and Iain Cuthbertson
503"Night Voice"[60]Richard SpenceDave SheasbyJohn Chapman25 July 1990 (1990-07-25)
Cast :  Alexei Sayle, Kevin Whately, Ruth Sheen, Leslie Sharp, Ian Mercer, Neil Dudgeon, Tim Barker, Sam Kelly, Rachel Bell, Gary Beadle, Barbara Hicks, Danny Schiller, Shirley Stelfox, Noreen Kershaw, Ingrid Wells, Stefan Escreet, David Boyce, Darren Scott, Tom Craig, Jan Alphonse, Chris Hargreaves, Sharon Muircroft, Kelly Breakell, Ray Ashcroft, Kathy Jamieson and Dinah Handley
514"The Englishman's Wife"[61]Robert CooperHolly ChandlerRobert Cooper1 August 1990 (1990-08-01)
Cast :  Imelda Staunton, Adrian Dunbar, Denys Hawthorne, Laura Hill, Trevor Moore, Alan Devlin, Shane Connaughton, Gary Walker, Louis Rolston, Chris Samsworth, Conleth Hill, Sean Doherty and Michael Doherty
525"The Land of Dreams"[62]Diarmuid LawrenceAllan CubittColin Ludlow8 August 1990 (1990-08-08)
Cast :  Antony Sher, Patrick Shai, Rudi Davies, Ian Bartholomew, Tamara Hinchco, Antony Carrick, Nathan Dambuza Mdledle, Ewen Cummins, Jude Akuwudike, Chris Stanton and Joe Wenbourne
536"Keeping Tom Nice"[63]Louise PantonLucy GannonRuth Caleb15 August 1990 (1990-08-15)
Cast :  John Alderton, Gwen Taylor, Linus Roache, Henrietta Bess, Sean Chapman and Ann Curthoys
547"A Safe House"[64]Moira ArmstrongBill MorrisonN/A22 August 1990 (1990-08-22)
Cast :  Maggie Shevlin, Gary Lilburn, James Coyle, Dan Gordon, Niall Cusack, Gerard O'Hare, Patrick O'Kane, James Matthews, Peter Ferdinando, P J Nicholas, Scott Riley, Annatt Bass, Lousie Kattenhorn, Lauren Martin, Victoria Aked, Fleur Fekkes, Christian Robinson, Mia Callow, Jonathan Stratt, Jeffrey Robert, Ian Thompson, Harold Saks, Tony Stephens, Michael Dalton, Barrie Ewart, Tony O'Callaghan, Al Gregg, Richard Pescud, Christopher Driscoll, Mark Shelley, Nicholas Jeune, Derek Anders and Sarah Whitlock
558"Afters"[65]Malcolm McKayPolly TealePaul Uster29 August 1990 (1990-08-29)
Cast :  Jimmy Jewel, Constance Chapman and Natasha Williams
569"Wedded"[65]Malcolm McKayJim CartwrightPaul Uster29 August 1990 (1990-08-29)
Cast :  Sean Bean, Lesley Sharp and Melanie Thaw
5710"Available Light"[66]Bob BentleyRobert SmithTatiana Kennedy5 September 1990 (1990-09-05)
Cast :  Tom Bell, Joely Richardson, David Morrissey, Tiga Adams and Louisa Wooff
5811"Needle"[67]Gillies MacKinnonJimmy McGovernGeorge Faber12 September 1990 (1990-09-12)
Cast :  Sean McKee, Emma Bird, Pete Postlethwaite, Anna Keaveney, John Bennett, Paul Barber, Gary Mavers, Stephen Walters, Arthur Kelly, Andrew Schofield, John Conteh, Carleen Ann Lundon, Thomas Branch, Paul Broughton, Tim Barlow, Vincent Maguire, Ina Clough and Chris Darwin
5912"Traitors"[68]Malcolm McKayJimmy McGovernSimon Passmore5 November 1990 (1990-11-05)

Cast :  Anton Lesser, Geoffrey Hutchings, Tim Woodward, Jonathan Phillips, David Sibley, Cyril Shaps, Ian Brimble, John Southworth, David Foxxe, Gerrard McArthur, David Chittenden, Paraic Cullen, Metin Marlow, and David Cooper

NB: Although not billed as an episode of ScreenPlay in the Radio Times, it was as such - or as a "Screenplay Special" - in some newspaper listings, and started with the contemporary series title sequence
6013"Shoot the Revolution"[69]Jane HowellPeter FlanneryGeorge Faber16 December 1990 (1990-12-16)
Cast :  Bernard Hill, Bob Peck, Freddie Jones, Sorcha Cusack, Iain Cuthbertson, Dido Miles, Trevor Peacock, Matyelok Gibbs, Ralph Nossek, Pauline Letts, Roland Oliver, Lee Ross, Jonathan Firth, Morris Perry, Michael Graham Cox and David Graham
6114"August Saturday"[70]Diarmuid LawrenceWilliam TrevorRobert Cooper29 December 1990 (1990-12-29)
Cast :  Sorcha Cusack, Tim McInnerny, Barry McGovern, John Kavanagh, Bairbre Ni Chaoimh, Peter Caffrey, Martina Stanley, Bosco Hogan, Rynagh O'Grady, Tony Rohr, Stephanie Fayerman, Maria McDermottroe, John Grillo, Brigid Erin Bates, Tom Hickey, Fidelma O'Dowda, Garvan McGrath, Karen O'Shea, Noel McGee and Carmel McDonnell

Series 6 (1991)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
621"Redemption"[71]Malcolm McKayMalcolm McKayGeorge Faber3 July 1991 (1991-07-03)
Cast :  Tom Courtenay, Malcolm Storry, Lindsay Duncan, Miranda Richardson, Nick Moran, Liza Walker, Chloe Bates, Oliver Cotton, Trevor Cooper, Frank Mills and John Southworth
632"Broke"[72]Alan DossorStephen BillBarry Hanson10 July 1991 (1991-07-10)
Cast :  Timothy Spall, Sheila Kelley, Larry Lamb, Susan Wooldridge, Leo Bill, Rosie Bill, Laura Dixon, Arthur Whybrow, Hilda Fenemore, Thomas Wheatley, Carole Harrison, Graham Weston, Peter Wear, Pauline Cory, Davyd Harries, Bharti Patel, Kenneth Hadley, Brian Portsmouth, Kathryn Hurlbutt and Shahnaz Pakravan
643"Events at Drimaghleen"[73]Robert CooperWilliam TrevorRobert Cooper17 July 1991 (1991-07-17)
Cast :  T. P. McKenna, Sophie Ward, Hugh Fraser, Nick Dunning, Kate Binchy, Pat Laffan, John Kavanagh, Maeve Connelly, Gary Walker and Barbara Adair
654"The Fallout Guy"[74]Paul TickellJohn RandomCaroline Oulton24 July 1991 (1991-07-24)
Cast :  Lou Hirsch, Amanda Boxer, Eugene Lipinski, Maria Charles, Joe Melia, Lex Van Delden, Nicolas Colicos, Mitch Webb and James Tillitt
665"Murder in Oakland"[75]Karl FrancisKarl FrancisPeter Goodchild and Ruth Kenley-Letts31 July 1991 (1991-07-31)
Cast :  Ving Rhames, Lili Bernard, Lonnie Ford, Algin Ford, Brenda Callahan, Eriq La Salle, Mollie McAllister, Carol Little, Hansford Prince, Michael McFall, Edmond Johnson, Kenneth Crow, James Brooks, Deborah Garrett and Kevin Hope
676"Came Out, It Rained, Went Back in Again"[76]Betsan Morris EvansClaire DowieN/A7 August 1991 (1991-08-07)
Cast :  Jane Horrocks, Gwen Taylor, Janine Duvitski and Serena Evans
687"Oranges and Lemons"[76]David YatesKay AdsheadN/A7 August 1991 (1991-08-07)
Cast :  Olusola Oyeleye
698"The Missing Finger"[76]Simon Cellan JonesNick StaffordN/A7 August 1991 (1991-08-07)
Cast :  Treva Etienne and Adjuna Andoh
709"One Day"[76]Ian PottsHelen EdmundsonN/A7 August 1991 (1991-08-07)
Cast :  Kate Byers
7110"Paint"[76]Laura SimsKathy PageN/A7 August 1991 (1991-08-07)
Cast :  Ray Winstone and Jenny Jules
7211"The Hour of the Lynx"[77]Stuart BurgePer Olov Enquist
translated by Kim Dambaek		Colin Ludlow14 August 1991 (1991-08-14)
Cast :  Simon Donald, Sylvestra Le Touzel and Eleanor Bron
7312"Clubland"[78]Laura SimsNick PerryChris Parr28 August 1991 (1991-08-28)
Cast :  Paul Bhattacharjee, David Morrissey, Ruth Sheen, Daniel Webb, Laura Favali, Laurence Cote, Al Fiorentini, Laurence Bouvard, Kristin Zachariassen and Sarah Martin
7413"Arise and Go Now"[79][80]Danny BoyleOwen O'NeillPaul Lister4 September 1991 (1991-09-04)
Cast :  John Kavanagh, Michael Liebmann, Tony Doyle, Jim Norton, Ian Bannen, Peter Caffrey, Sean Caffrey and Birdy Sweeney
7514"Message to Major"[81]Francis GerardPieter-Dirk UysFrancis Gerard11 September 1991 (1991-09-11)
Cast :  Pieter-Dirk Uys
7615"Journey to Knock"[82]David WheatleyWilliam IvoryGeorge Faber18 September 1991 (1991-09-18)
Cast :  John Hurt, David Thewlis, Charles Simon, Mal Whyte, Patrick Laffan, Geraldine Plunkett, Joan O'Hara and Birdy Sweeney

Series 7 (1992)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
771"The Countess Alice"[83]Moira ArmstrongAllan CubittColin Ludlow1 July 1992 (1992-07-01)
Cast :  Wendy Hiller, Zoë Wanamaker, Duncan Bell, Patricia Quinn, Lucinda Fisher, Sylvia Barter, Madge Ryan, Chris Stanton, Martin Wimbush, Hannah Cresswell, Terence Donovan, Sarah Crowden and Jane van Hool
782"Force of Duty"[84]Pat O'ConnorBill Morrison and Chris RyderRobert Cooper8 July 1992 (1992-07-08)
Cast :  Donal McCann, Adrian Dunbar, Patrick Malahide, Ingrid Craigie, John Linehan, Michelle Fairley, Jim Corry, Catherine Brennan, Michael McKnight, Tim Loane, Carol Brown, Kristin Neely, Barry Birch, Sean Caffrey, Ethna Roddy, Paula McFetridge, BJ Hogg, Dan Gordon and Eileen Pollock
793"Bad Girl"[85]George CaseGuy HibbertDavid Thompson
Josephine Ward		15 July 1992 (1992-07-15)
Cast :  Jane Horrocks, Lesley Manville, Nicholas Woodeson, Tom Beard, Todd Boyce, David Bradley and Carol MacReady
804"Bitter Harvest"[86]Simon Cellan JonesCharles Pattinson and Winsome PinnockCharles Pattinson22 July 1992 (1992-07-22)
Cast :  Josette Simon, Sue Johnston, Yul Vazquez, Rudolph Walker, Tomas Milian, Juan M Almonte and Juanita Ageh
815"Man to Man"[87]John MayburyManfred KargeJames Mackay29 July 1992 (1992-07-29)
Cast :  Tilda Swinton
826"Death and the Compass"[88]Alex CoxJorge Luis Borges (story)
Alex Cox		Karl H Braun5 August 1992 (1992-08-05)
Cast :  Peter Boyle, Miguel Sandoval, Christopher Eccleston, Pedro Armendariz and Alonso Echanove
837"Buying a Landslide"[89]Simon CurtisDavid EdgarChris Parr2 September 1992 (1992-09-02)
Cast :  Griffin Dunne, John Mahoney, Ron Vawter, Lisa Arrindell, Peter Gallagher, Mason Adams, Ron Rifkin and Christine Baranski
848"Springing Lenin"[90]Andrei NekrasovPatricia HannahTatiana Kennedy9 September 1992 (1992-09-09)
Cast :  Geraldine McEwan
859"Business with Friends"[90]Uwe JansonDavid SpencerTatiana Kennedy9 September 1992 (1992-09-09)
Cast :  Christopher Eccleston and Adie Allen
8610"Can't Stop Me Dreaming"[90]Bernard RuddenBernard RuddenTatiana Kennedy9 September 1992 (1992-09-09)
Cast :  Marion van Thyn and Walter van Dyk
8711"A Little Bit of Lippy"[91]Chris BernardMartyn HesfordGeorge Faber16 September 1992 (1992-09-16)
Cast :  Kenneth Cranham, Rachel Davies, Alison Swann, Danny Cunningham, Elizabeth Bradley, Bette Bourne, Tina Earl and Cliff Howells
8812"Dread Poets' Society"[92]Andy WilsonDavid Stafford and Benjamin ZephaniahEstelle Daniel23 September 1992 (1992-09-23)
Cast :  Benjamin Zephaniah, Timothy Spall, Alex Jennings, Alan Cumming, Emma Fielding and Dexter Fletcher
8913"Small Metal Jacket"[92]Steve HillikerEmily Prager (story)
Scott Roberts		Caroline Oulton23 September 1992 (1992-09-23)
Cast :  Debora Weston, Toshie Ogura, Marie Theodore, Jana Shelden, Tracy Thorne, Laurel Lefkow, Abigail Canton, Benedict Wong, Vincent Wong, Basil Ho-Yen, Kris Emmerson and Peter Banks
9014"You, Me and Marley"[93]Richard SpenceGraham ReidChris Parr30 September 1992 (1992-09-30)
Cast :  Marc Oshea, Bronagh Gallagher, Michael Liebmann, Emma Moylan, Marie Jones, Catherine Brennan, Stella McCusker, Frank Grimes, Lorcan Cranitch, James Greene, Ian McElhinney, John Keegan, George Shane, BJ Hogg, Peter Ferris and Peter Taggart
Awards : Michael Powell Award for best British film at Edinburgh International Film Festival 1992

Series 8 (1993)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byProducerOriginal release date
911"Love Lies Bleeding"[94]Michael WinterbottomRonan BennettRobert Cooper22 September 1993 (1993-09-22)
Cast :  Mark Rylance, Elizabeth Bourgine, John Kavanagh, Brendan Gleeson, Tony Doyle, Robert Patterson, George Shane, James Nesbitt, Emma Jordan, Stuart Graham, Tim Loane, James Durrell, Michael Liebmann, Bosco Hogan, Margaret D'Arcy, Paula Hamilton and Victoria Jameson
922"The Merrihill Millionaires"[95]Les BlairRob RitchieLynn Horsford29 September 1993 (1993-09-29)
Cast :  Stephen Rea, John Bowler, John McGlynn, Steve Huison, Glenn Cunningham, Simon Ashley, Elizabeth Mickery, Barbara Horne, Shelagh Fraser, William Ivory, Steve Halliwell, Ian Dunn, Kerrie Plowman, Julia Ford, Jon Croft, Philip David, Chris Collings and Al T Kossy
933"The Vision Thing"[96]Pedr JamesMark LawsonCharles Pattinson6 October 1993 (1993-10-06)
Cast :  Richard Wilson, Derek Jacobi, Nathaniel Parker, Kenneth Cranham, Catherine Russell, Nicholas Farrell, Clive Russell, Phyllida Sewell, Liz Kettle, Christopher Fulford, Albie Woodington, Lennox Greaves, Gerald Sim, Lisa Bowerman, Dale Rapley, Marilyn Finlay, Anne Marie Marriott, Richard Dixon, Alastair Campbell, Martin Young and Hamish McColl
944"Safe"[97]Antonia BirdAl AshtonDavid M Thompson13 October 1993 (1993-10-13)
Cast :  Kate Hardie, Aidan Gillen, George Costigan, Andrew Tiernan, Steven Mackintosh, Robert Carlyle, Carol Leader, Neil Smals, Cheryl Maiker, Marc O'Shea, Kevin Walsh and Louise Heaney
955"Not Even God Is Wise Enough"[98][99]Danny BoyleBiyi Bandele-ThomasColin Ludlow20 October 1993 (1993-10-20)
Cast :  Paterson Joseph, Vivienne McKone, Ellen Thomas, Mona Hammond, Doyle Richmond, Mark Strong, Trevor Bowen, Kevin Allen and Ben Thomas
966"Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles"[100][101]John ByrneJohn ByrneNick Barton27 October 1993 (1993-10-27)
Cast :  Robbie Coltrane, John Sessions, Leo Sho-Silva, Celia Imrie, Tony Halfpenny, Alan David, Carol MacReady, Joanne Thirsk, Penelope McGhie, Mark Anstee, Ian Dury and Donald MacNeill

Home media releases

[edit]

The following episodes of the series were included in separate editions of BBC Video World, a fortnightly subscription-only service – primarily for expatriates – that delivered a three-hour selection of BBC programming on VHS cassettes:

  • Starlings - Vol. 1 No. 1 (April 1989)
  • The Englishman's Wife - Vol. 2 No. 18 (September 1990)
  • Available Light - Vol. 2 No. 22 (October 1990)
  • Afters - Vol. 2 No. 23 (November 1990)

Notable productions

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

ScreenPlay

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from Grokipedia
ScreenPlay was a British television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC Two from 9 July 1986 to 27 October 1993, featuring original one-off plays written specifically for television.[1][2] The series comprised multiple seasons, with a total of approximately 87 episodes, each presenting standalone stories that explored diverse themes through scripted narratives, character-driven plots, and innovative production techniques typical of BBC drama output during the era.[3][4] Notable episodes included adaptations and original works such as "Boswell and Johnson," highlighting the program's role in nurturing emerging playwrights and directors within the public broadcasting framework.[4] ScreenPlay exemplified the tradition of British anthology television, emphasizing literary quality and artistic experimentation over serialized formats, which allowed for a broad range of genres from historical dramas to contemporary social commentaries, though it did not achieve widespread commercial acclaim or generate significant public controversies.[1]

Origins and Development

Conception and Launch in 1986

ScreenPlay debuted on BBC Two on 9 July 1986 as a drama anthology series dedicated to original, feature-length television plays, each functioning as a standalone screenplay exploring varied contemporary narratives. The inaugural episode, "All Together Now", written by Peter Buckman and directed by David Attwood with production by Robin Midgley, centered on interpersonal dynamics in a modern setting, setting the tone for the strand's emphasis on script-driven storytelling. This launch aligned with the BBC's ongoing investment in single dramas, providing a dedicated slot on its secondary channel for innovative, self-contained productions amid a shifting television landscape that included competition from the newly established Channel 4.[5][2] The conception of ScreenPlay reflected the BBC's adaptation of its drama output following the end of the BBC One anthology Play for Today in 1984, transitioning to a BBC Two-focused format that prioritized filmic screenplays over traditional studio-bound plays while maintaining the tradition of commissioning diverse writers and directors. Early production involved collaboration across BBC drama departments, with episodes budgeted for cinematic quality, including location shooting and professional crews, to distinguish the series from lighter fare. By the close of its first series in 1986, ScreenPlay had established itself as a key venue for emerging and established talents, screening multiple original works that addressed social and personal themes without ongoing serialization.[6][3]

Expansion and Programming Strategy

Following its debut series in 1986, which comprised several original one-off dramas broadcast on BBC Two, ScreenPlay expanded into an annual production model, running six series through 1991 with a total of over 80 episodes across its lifespan to 1993.[2] This growth reflected the BBC's strategic commitment to reviving the single-drama anthology format, which had waned after the conclusion of predecessors like Play for Today in 1984 amid budget constraints and shifting priorities toward serialized content.[3] The expansion allowed for broader commissioning of scripts, enabling the series to feature up to a dozen episodes per run in later years, often scheduled in prime evening slots to build audience engagement with standalone narratives.[7] The programming strategy emphasized original screenplays crafted expressly for television, prioritizing contemporary themes such as social realism, personal conflict, and cultural critique over adaptations or stage-derived works.[8] This approach aimed to foster emerging writers and directors by providing a low-risk platform for experimental storytelling, distinct from the higher-stakes commitments of ongoing series; for instance, Danny Boyle directed multiple early episodes, marking a launchpad for his career before feature films like Shallow Grave in 1994.[9] In response to Channel 4's 1982 launch and its emphasis on independent, filmic productions, the BBC under producers like Kenith Trodd transitioned ScreenPlay toward location-shot, cinematic aesthetics, reducing reliance on multi-camera studio setups to enhance visual dynamism and compete for prestige drama viewers.[10] Selections drew from unsolicited submissions and targeted commissions, focusing on diverse voices to sustain the anthology's reputation for innovation while adhering to public service mandates for substantive, issue-driven content.[3] By the late 1980s, this strategy had solidified ScreenPlay's role in BBC Two's arts-oriented schedule, with episodes averaging 75-90 minutes to accommodate deeper narrative exploration without commercial interruptions.[7] The series' expansion also incorporated international co-productions and thematic variety, from urban grit to historical vignettes, ensuring broad appeal while maintaining editorial control over quality and relevance to British audiences.[8] This model persisted until broader industry shifts toward formatted series diminished anthology investments in the 1990s.[3]

Format and Production

Anthology Structure and Episode Lengths

ScreenPlay utilized an anthology format, presenting standalone dramas without serialized narratives, recurring characters, or continuous story arcs across episodes.[5] Each installment featured original or adapted screenplays by diverse writers, directed independently, allowing for thematic variety ranging from social realism to historical fiction.[11] Episodes were structured as self-contained feature-length productions, typically airing as single, uninterrupted broadcasts rather than segmented acts typical of ongoing series.[5] This approach emphasized cinematic quality, with production values akin to theatrical films adapted for television, including location shooting and ensemble casts assembled per story.[11] Episode runtimes were standardized at approximately 90 minutes, enabling in-depth exploration of narratives while fitting BBC2's scheduling for prestige drama slots.[2] No significant variations in length were reported across the series' 87 episodes, maintaining consistency to support the anthology model's focus on discrete, high-caliber works.[12]

Key Production Team and Contributors

George Faber served as executive producer and producer for 22 episodes of ScreenPlay from 1988 to 1993, overseeing the introduction of emerging filmmakers such as Danny Boyle.[13][14] Brenda Reid acted as producer and executive producer on multiple installments, contributing to the series' anthology format during its later seasons.[13] Directorial contributions were distributed across various talents, with David Wheatley helming four episodes between 1986 and 1991, Jane Howell directing three from 1986 to 1990, and Anthony Garner handling three.[13] Other notable directors included Danny Boyle, who directed episodes in the early 1990s as part of his initial television work.[9] The series featured screenplays by prominent writers, including Jimmy McGovern, who penned an episode in series five drawing from the Merseyside needle exchange program, commissioned by producer George Faber. Additional contributors encompassed William Trevor for adaptations and Andy Armitage for original works, reflecting the anthology's emphasis on diverse dramatic voices.[13] Ben Gibson and Eric Abraham provided executive production support for select 1992 episodes.[13]

Series Chronology

Series 1 (1986)

Series 1 of ScreenPlay premiered on BBC Two on 9 July 1986 and consisted of 13 original anthology dramas, each approximately 90 minutes in length, airing weekly through 24 September 1986.[15][16] The episodes explored diverse themes including social issues in contemporary Britain, racial tensions, historical inquiries, and personal dilemmas, produced under the BBC's drama department with contributions from emerging writers and directors.[2] The opening episode, "All Together Now", written by Peter Buckman and directed by David Attwood, centered on a brass band rehearsal where a enthusiastic newcomer from the north disrupts the group's routine light-heartedness.[17] This was followed by "Daylight Robbery" on 16 July, which portrayed an elderly woman, neglected by her family and facing financial hardship, turning to gambling as a form of revenge.[12] On 23 July, "Brick Is Beautiful", scripted by Andy Armitage and helmed by director David Wheatley, depicted a Manchester bricklayer named Steve launching a business salvaging and selling reclaimed bricks, affecting his relationships with his girlfriend and friends.[18][19] Further episodes addressed topics such as parental pressure on young musicians in "Knowing the Score", racial ignorance in a mixed community in "Drums Along Balmoral Drive", and the incarceration of Black South Africans awaiting a "Day of Reckoning" on 13 August.[20] Unconventional formats included unscripted inquests: one on Mozart's 1791 death exploring poisoning allegations, and another probing Christopher Marlowe's fate through barrister interrogations of historical figures.[20] "Shift Work", aired on 24 September and featuring Maureen Lipman as a cab driver confronting a passenger's fatal heart attack, blended black comedy with ethical quandaries.[21] The season's production involved directors like David Wheatley, who helmed multiple entries, reflecting the BBC's commitment to nurturing new talent in television drama during the mid-1980s.[13] Several episodes from this series are considered partially lost media, with limited availability beyond archival holdings.[22]

Series 2 (1987)

Series 2 of ScreenPlay consisted of ten original television plays broadcast on BBC Two from July to October 1987, maintaining the anthology format of self-contained dramas addressing historical, social, and personal themes.[23] The season premiered with "The Trial of Klaus Barbie" on 15 July 1987, a dramatization of the 1987 trial in France of the former Gestapo chief known as the "Butcher of Lyon" for his role in deporting thousands of Jews and resistance fighters during World War II.[24] "Cariani and the Courtesans", written by Evan Jones and directed by Alan Dossor, aired on 5 August 1987 and centered on the Renaissance painter Cariani's encounters with Venetian courtesans, blending art historical elements with dramatic intrigue.[25] On 26 August 1987, David Rudkin's "White Lady" was transmitted, a psychological horror play involving ghostly apparitions and familial trauma in a rural Irish setting, starring Pauline Quirke and directed by Alan Dossor.[26][27] "The Shutter Falls", directed by Peter Barber-Fleming and written by Norman MacDonald, broadcast on 16 September 1987, portrayed a 19th-century photographer documenting the Scottish herring industry who becomes entangled in a romance with a local Gaelic-speaking woman amid cultural clashes.[28][29] Alan Clarke directed "Christine" on 23 September 1987, a stark 51-minute depiction of a teenage girl's descent into heroin addiction in Thatcher-era Britain, co-written by Clarke with Arthur Ellis and featuring non-professional actress Vicky Murdock in the lead.[30] The series closed with "Road" on 7 October 1987, Jim Cartwright's monologue-driven play directed by Alan Clarke, set on a northern English street during a hot summer night and exploring despair, poverty, and fleeting human connections among working-class characters.[31]

Series 3 (1988)

Series 3 of ScreenPlay aired on BBC Two from 20 July to 28 September 1988, presenting a selection of original, standalone television dramas that examined themes such as personal liberation, social tensions, racial prejudice, and artistic inspiration.[23] Like preceding series, it maintained the anthology format with episodes typically running 75–90 minutes, produced by the BBC's drama department to showcase emerging writers and directors alongside established talent.[2] The installments drew from contemporary British life, historical reflections, and psychological introspection, often highlighting working-class struggles and institutional critiques without overt didacticism. Key episodes included "A Woman Alone" (20 July 1988), in which a housewife navigates conflicts with her possessive husband, a romantic lover, and a lecherous brother-in-law, prompting reflections on marriage amid modern domesticity.[32] "Eskimos Do It" (3 August 1988) followed widowed Mrs. Bing during a hospital stay for routine surgery, where she pursues newfound personal autonomy in an unexpected bid for freedom.[33] Later broadcasts featured "The Black and Blue Lamp" (7 September 1988), a narrative extension of the 1950 film The Blue Lamp, portraying the 1949 shooting of PC George Dixon by cosh-wielding youth Tom Riley and his surreal shift into a gritty 1980s police procedural titled "The Filth."[5] [34] Further entries addressed interracial dynamics and ambition, such as an untitled drama involving teenager Rita Patel and her family's relocation disrupted by a racist skinhead assault, underscoring vulnerabilities in multicultural Britain.[35] "Starlings" (28 September 1988) depicted unemployed factory worker Gary Wilson retraining as a butler, leveraging patronage from a affluent woman to thrive in London's financial sector.[36] "Edvard" (20 September 1988) dramatized Norwegian painter Edvard Munch's tumultuous 1902 affair with Tulla Larsen, which influenced iconic works like The Scream.[35] Additional plays explored prison unrest with hostage-taking by inmate Danny Monk, entrepreneurial mishaps on the M25 motorway, rural romance for shy farmer Thomas Price, and youth activism against a care home's closure, reflecting diverse societal pressures.[35] Production emphasized location filming and minimal casts to heighten realism, consistent with the series' commitment to unadorned storytelling.[2]

Series 4 (1989)

Series 4 of ScreenPlay aired on BBC Two throughout 1989, continuing the anthology format with standalone television dramas exploring diverse themes such as family trauma, social encounters, and rural isolation.[1] The season maintained the series' emphasis on original scripts by emerging and established writers, produced under the BBC's drama department. Episodes typically ran approximately 60 minutes, focusing on character-driven narratives without recurring characters or arcs.[2] One early episode, "Testimony of a Child", examined the psychological and legal pressures on an ordinary family facing child abuse allegations, highlighting tensions between parental rights and child protection systems.[37] Written as a cautionary tale, it depicted the Taylors' struggle amid investigations and community suspicion.[38] "The Attractions", written by Tony Marchant and broadcast on 26 July 1989, portrayed disillusionment and interpersonal dynamics in a fading seaside horror museum, where a visitor named Danny confronts underwhelming exhibits and personal reflections.[39] Starring Benjamin Whitrow and Reece Dinsdale, the play critiqued nostalgic attractions amid economic decline.[40] "The Spirit of Man" aired on 23 August 1989, earning critical acclaim for its exploration of human resilience, though specific plot details remain less documented in available records.[41] Closing the known highlights, "The Hen House", directed by Danny Boyle and aired on 6 September 1989, followed Lily, a reclusive woman on a remote County Donegal smallholding, whose life unravels when children discover evidence of a concealed horror linked to her poultry shed.[42] Featuring Sinéad Cusack and Tony Doyle, the episode marked an early television credit for Boyle, emphasizing atmospheric tension and psychological depth.[43] This installment underscored the series' capacity for genre-inflected storytelling within realist frameworks.[9]
Episode TitleAir DateKey CreditsSynopsis Overview
Testimony of a ChildEarly 1989Season 4, Episode 1Family faces child abuse accusations and ensuing nightmare.[37]
The Attractions26 July 1989Writer: Tony MarchantDisappointment at a seaside horror exhibit sparks introspection.[39]
The Spirit of Man23 August 1989Season 4, Episode 8Focus on human endurance (details sparse).[41]
The Hen House6 September 1989Director: Danny BoyleRural secret exposed in Irish countryside.[42]
These plays exemplified ScreenPlay's commitment to provocative, issue-based content, often drawing from contemporary British and Irish societal concerns, though full episode rosters and production budgets for the season are not comprehensively archived in public sources.[5]

Series 5 (1990)

Series 5 of ScreenPlay aired on BBC Two in 1990, presenting a selection of original television dramas primarily during July through September, continuing the anthology format's emphasis on contemporary British playwrights and social issues. The episodes featured diverse narratives, from personal family struggles to political exile and urban decay, with runtimes typically around 90 minutes. Production maintained the series' commitment to single-play storytelling, often filmed on location to enhance realism. Key episodes included:
Episode TitleAir DateWriterDirectorSynopsis and Notable Cast
Night Voice25 July 1990Alexei SayleNot specified in sourcesA drama exploring urban alienation and personal turmoil through a protagonist's nocturnal wanderings and inner monologue. Featured emerging talent in a style blending satire and introspection.
The Englishman's Wife1 August 1990Not specified in sourcesNot specified in sourcesCenters on a woman and her daughter isolated in rural County Tyrone, grappling with financial hardship and interpersonal tensions in a decaying household. Stars Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill.[44][45]
The Land of Dreams8 August 1990Allan CubittNot specified in sourcesDepicts the plight of a black South African asylum seeker navigating prejudice and bureaucracy in Britain, highlighting themes of exile and identity. Stars Antony Sher and Patrick Shai.[46]
Keeping Tom Nice15 August 1990Lucy GannonNot specified in sourcesFollows a family's efforts to care for their disabled son amid emotional and practical challenges following the father's suicide. Stars John Alderton, Gwen Taylor, and Linus Roache. Originally a stage play adapted for television.[47][48]
Available Light5 September 1990Not specified in sourcesBob BentleyA crime mystery involving a mercenary art dealer and his assistant uncovering sinister secrets in a reclusive artist's remote home, emphasizing psychological tension. Blends drama with thriller elements using naturalistic filming techniques.[49][50]
Needle12 September 1990Jimmy McGovernGillies MacKinnonPortrays a young couple's descent into heroin addiction and AIDS in a drug-ravaged Liverpool, critiquing systemic failures in addressing urban poverty and health crises. Focuses on realistic depictions of intravenous drug use and its consequences.[51][52][53]
These plays reflected 1990s concerns such as social welfare, immigration, and public health epidemics, with writers like McGovern drawing from empirical observations of working-class life in northern England. Reception varied, but episodes like "Needle" garnered attention for their unflinching realism, though some critics noted the series' overall viewership challenges amid competition from commercial broadcasters. No major production controversies were reported specific to this season, though the anthology's reliance on unproven scripts occasionally led to uneven quality.[5]

Series 6 (1991)

Series 6 of ScreenPlay consisted of ten original television dramas broadcast weekly on BBC Two from 3 July to 18 September 1991, each approximately 90 minutes in length. The episodes maintained the anthology format, presenting diverse narratives ranging from personal vendettas and financial desperation to political satire and disability rights, often drawing on contemporary social issues in Britain, Ireland, and beyond.[54] Production emphasized emerging writers and directors, with some installments under the "ScreenPlay Firsts" banner highlighting new talents.[55] The season opened with "Redemption" on 3 July, written by Malcolm McKay, depicting Stan Peachey's return to his village after 16 years' absence, where his wife retains affection but his sister pursues vengeance for a past offense.[56] "Broke," airing on 10 July, offered a black comedy by Stephen Bill about a small businessman's disastrous deal gone awry.[57] Subsequent episodes included "Events at Drimaghleen," examining a television documentary team's reconstruction of a horrific incident in the Irish village on 2 November 1988.[54] Mid-season featured "Murder in Oakland" on 31 July, directed by Karl Francis, following detectives investigating a prostitute's killing amid Oakland's 161 homicides in 1990 and underlying drug gang tensions.[58] "Amongst Barbarians" on 21 August, winner of the 1988 Mobil Playwriting Award, explored cultural clashes.[59] "Clubland" on 28 August by Nick Perry delved into nightlife entanglements after a woman reports an encounter with a man named Ajay.[55] Later installments included "Arise and Go Now" on 4 September, an offbeat tragi-comedy set in Ireland.[60] "Message to Major" on 11 September, written and performed by South African satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys as Mrs. Evita Bezuidenhout, comprised a video postcard critiquing apartheid-era and transitional South Africa directed toward British Prime Minister John Major.[61] The series concluded with "Journey to Knock" on 18 September, directed by David Wheatley, tracking three men disabled by motor neurone disease on a pilgrimage from northern England to Ireland's Knock shrine, blending humor and hardship with performances by John Hurt and David Thewlis.[62][63]

Series 7 (1992)

Series 7 of ScreenPlay comprised twelve standalone original dramas, broadcast weekly on BBC Two from 1 July to 30 September 1992, typically on Wednesday evenings at 21:00.[64][65] This installment maintained the anthology's emphasis on diverse, self-contained narratives, drawing from writers including Allan Cubitt and themes ranging from personal identity and historical reckonings to social conflicts in Northern Ireland and international intrigue. Production adhered to the series' standard of commissioning fresh scripts for television, with episodes running approximately 75-90 minutes each.[2] The season opened with "The Countess Alice" on 1 July 1992, written by Allan Cubitt, depicting a journalist's investigation into the life of a British aristocrat who married into German nobility, revealing family secrets amid post-Berlin Wall revelations.[65][66] Subsequent episodes included "Force of Duty" on 8 July, centering on a Royal Ulster Constabulary detective grappling with guilt and loss of agency after a failed intervention.[67] "Bad Girl" aired on 15 July, portraying a young single mother's battle against authorities to retain custody of her child.[67] "Bitter Harvest," broadcast on 22 July, followed the disappearance of a young Black British aid worker in the Dominican Republic and her parents' search for answers.[67] "Man to Man" on 29 July examined a German woman's forty-year assumption of her deceased husband's identity.[67] Later episodes featured "Death and the Compass," an adaptation of Jorge Luis Borges' short story directed by Alex Cox, involving a detective navigating a labyrinthine murder plot in a stylized, comic-book-inspired setting.[68] "A Little Bit of Lippy" aired on 16 September, an outrageous northern comedy by Martyn Hesford about brash humor and social satire.[69][70] The penultimate episode on 23 September included "Dread Poets Society," a farcical encounter where poet Benjamin Zephaniah debates historical figures in a surreal train journey.[71] The series closed with "You, Me & Marley," depicting Belfast teenagers' car thefts escalating into clashes with Protestant groups and the IRA.[67] These plays highlighted the anthology's range, from introspective character studies to politically charged tales, without recurring characters or arcs.[2]

Series 8 (1993)

The eighth and final series of ScreenPlay aired on BBC Two in 1993, comprising six original television plays broadcast weekly from 22 September to 27 October.[72] This series concluded the anthology's run, which had presented 87 episodes since 1986, focusing on contemporary social issues, historical recreations, and political satire through standalone narratives.[5]
  • Love Lies Bleeding (22 September 1993): Directed by Michael Winterbottom from a script by Ronan Bennett, the drama portrays Con Ellis, an IRA hunger striker serving life imprisonment for murder, who is released for 24 hours amid ceasefire negotiations to identify a suspected informer within his organization. The production explores tensions in the Northern Irish peace process without resolution, emphasizing personal and political betrayals. Starring Alun Armstrong as Ellis.[73][74]
  • The Merrihill Millionaires (29 September 1993): Written by William Ivory and directed by Les Blair, this episode follows a team of five coal miners who collectively extracted one million tons of coal but now confront redundancy amid the UK's declining mining industry. It depicts their camaraderie and struggles with unemployment in a post-industrial landscape.
  • The Vision Thing (6 October 1993): Mark Lawson's satirical script, directed by Pedr James, centers on a British Prime Minister (Richard Wilson) who, days before a general election, claims divine visions guiding policy decisions, prompting skepticism from aides including a chief of staff (Derek Jacobi) and spin doctor (Nathaniel Parker). The play critiques political opportunism and media manipulation.[75][76]
  • Safe (13 October 1993): Directed by Antonia Bird from a script by Peter Waddington, the narrative examines the lives of homeless teenagers in London's West End, focusing on a young woman's volatile relationship amid survival challenges like street life and exploitation. Featuring Kate Hardie, Aidan Gillen, and Robert Carlyle, it received the 1994 BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama for its unflinching portrayal of urban poverty.[77][78][79]
  • Not Even God Is Wise Enough (20 October 1993): This episode tracks Busi, a champion boxer and rock musician facing assault charges, who flees court and embarks on a journey reconciling with his estranged father, blending themes of identity, fame, and familial rupture.[80]
  • Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles (27 October 1993): Written by John Byrne and directed by Stuart Orme, the series finale offers a comic dramatization of the 1773 Hebrides journey by Samuel Johnson (Robbie Coltrane) and James Boswell (John Sessions), highlighting cultural clashes, travel hardships, and literary observations in Scotland's Western Isles. Celia Imrie co-stars.[81][82]

Reception and Critical Analysis

Contemporary Reviews and Ratings

ScreenPlay, broadcast on BBC2 from 1986 to 1993, did not receive formalized aggregated critic ratings during its original run, consistent with the era's approach to public-service anthology dramas lacking commercial imperatives for box-office-style metrics.[2] Individual episodes drew attention in period-specific press coverage, often highlighting production quality, acting, and adaptation fidelity, though digitized archives yield limited examples of such notices amid the volume of BBC output.[83] User-sourced retrospective evaluations, compiled post-broadcast, average 6.4 out of 10 on IMDb from 103 ratings, reflecting perceptions of competent but uneven dramatic execution across the 87 episodes.[84] This moderate score aligns with the series' role in sustaining BBC's tradition of one-off plays, praised in later commentary for nurturing talents like director Danny Boyle in early career episodes, without the polarizing elements that might have amplified contemporaneous debate.[9]

Thematic Content and Ideological Critiques

The episodes of ScreenPlay encompassed a broad array of thematic content typical of British television anthologies, focusing on personal and social dramas drawn from original screenplays. Common motifs included individual struggles against societal or familial constraints, such as artistic ambition clashing with parental expectations, as seen in narratives where young protagonists like Graeme pursue musical talents amid pressure to conform, while others like Lois face maternal demands for conformity in choral performances.[12] Other installments explored crime and urban life, exemplified by titles like "Daylight Robbery" and "Brick Is Beautiful," which likely delved into economic pressures and working-class experiences in 1980s Britain.[8] The series' standalone format allowed for explorations of historical reflections, interpersonal conflicts, and community dynamics, aligning with the BBC's tradition of single dramas that prioritized character-driven stories over serialized plotting.[5] Ideological content varied across the 87 episodes, reflecting the diverse viewpoints of contributing writers rather than a monolithic agenda, though the public broadcaster's commissioning process during the Thatcher era (1979–1990) often favored socially observant plays that highlighted class tensions and personal resilience. Specific ideological critiques of ScreenPlay are scarce in available records, with the series' obscurity limiting retrospective analysis; contemporary reception emphasized its role in nurturing new talent over partisan messaging.[3] This absence of unified ideology contrasts with more polemical BBC output of the period, where left-leaning institutional biases in drama selections—evident in broader critiques of the corporation's output—could amplify portrayals of inequality without explicit advocacy.[85] Nonetheless, the anthology structure mitigated overt propaganda, prioritizing narrative variety over doctrinal consistency.

Legacy and Availability

Notable Episodes and Cast Appearances

"Safe", the fourth episode of series 8 written by Al Ashton and directed by Antonia Bird, aired on 13 October 1993 and received the BAFTA Television Award for Best Single Drama in 1994.[86] The production starred Kate Hardie alongside emerging actors Aidan Gillen as a homeless youth named Gypo and Steven Mackintosh, highlighting themes of urban vulnerability in late-20th-century Britain.[87] The series finale, "Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles", broadcast on 27 October 1993, dramatized the 1773 Hebrides journey of lexicographer Samuel Johnson and biographer James Boswell in a comic style scripted and directed by John Byrne.[81] Robbie Coltrane portrayed Johnson, John Sessions depicted Boswell, and Celia Imrie appeared in a supporting role, drawing on historical accounts for its portrayal of cultural clashes between England and Scotland.[82] Danny Boyle directed multiple episodes early in his career, including "Not Even God Is Wise Enough" in 1993, which explored identity through a protagonist's alternating personas as a boxer and nurse, starring Paterson Joseph, Vivienne McKone, and Mona Hammond.[88] These outings preceded Boyle's feature film breakthrough with Shallow Grave (1994) and underscored ScreenPlay's role in nurturing directorial talent.[9] Other guest appearances by established performers, such as Griff Rhys Jones in "A Safe Place" (1991), added visibility, though the anthology's strength lay in spotlighting lesser-known writers and actors who later gained prominence, including Benjamin Zephaniah in "Dread Poets' Society" (1992).[89] The series featured over 95 standalone dramas, with cast rotations emphasizing its platform for diverse British talent rather than recurring ensembles.[8]

Home Media, Archives, and Modern Accessibility

Few episodes of ScreenPlay have received official home media releases, with no comprehensive DVD or Blu-ray collections issued by BBC Studios Home Entertainment or affiliates. Individual plays, such as select 1980s installments, occasionally appeared in niche VHS compilations during the 1990s, but these were limited and not widely distributed. The anthology format and age of the series have contributed to minimal commercial interest, leaving most of the 87 episodes unavailable through legitimate physical media channels.[22] Archival preservation varies, with the BBC maintaining scripts for many episodes in its Writersroom library, accessible for personal study but not for broadcast or reproduction. Video masters for a portion of the series are held in the BBC's internal archives, though public access is restricted due to rights issues and degradation risks for analog tapes from the era. Some episodes risk being partially lost, as noted in discussions among media preservationists, with only fragmentary copies surviving outside official vaults.[90][91][22] In terms of modern accessibility, ScreenPlay episodes do not appear on BBC iPlayer or major streaming platforms like Netflix or [Amazon Prime Video](/page/Amazon Prime Video), reflecting the BBC's selective digitization priorities for older anthology content. Unofficial uploads of select episodes, such as the 1993 play "That Vision Thing" directed by Michael Darlow, are available on YouTube, often sourced from off-air recordings by enthusiasts. These provide sporadic access but vary in quality and completeness, underscoring the series' obscurity and reliance on fan-preserved materials rather than official restorations.[92][93][3]

References

  1. BBC Two - ScreenPlay
  2. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - IMDb
  3. Screenplay, an anthology drama series from 1986-1993 : r/BritishTV
  4. ScreenPlay (1986 - 1993) - TV Show - Moviefone
  5. Screenplay - Nostalgia Central
  6. The Play on One (BBC1 1988-91) - Forgotten Television Drama
  7. BBC Two - ScreenPlay - Episode guide
  8. ScreenPlay (1986-1993), a list of films by Mark Cunliffe - Letterboxd
  9. Almost 4 Decades Before 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle Directed 5 ...
  10. Television Drama Anthologies - IMDb
  11. British TV Dramas S-T-U - BritishTV.com
  12. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Episode list - IMDb
  13. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
  14. Films et séries avec George Faber - Apple TV
  15. ScreenPlay Season 1 - Trakt
  16. https://www.thetvdb.com/series/screenplay-1986
  17. "Screenplay" All Together Now (TV Episode 1986) - IMDb
  18. "Screenplay" Brick Is Beautiful (TV Episode 1986) - IMDb
  19. ScreenPlay 1x03 "Brick Is Beautiful" - Trakt
  20. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Episode list - IMDb
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815479/
  22. https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/1ofz5gj/partially_lost_screenplay_19861993/
  23. Screenplay (1986) - TheTVDB.com
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049304/episodes/?year=1987
  25. "Screenplay" Cariani and the Courtesans (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb
  26. "Screenplay" White Lady (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb
  27. David Rudkin's White Lady - Corse Present
  28. "Screenplay" The Shutter Falls (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb
  29. ScreenPlay: The Shutter Falls - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  30. "Screenplay" Christine (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb
  31. "Screenplay" Road (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb
  32. "Screenplay" A Woman Alone (TV Episode 1988) - IMDb
  33. Eskimos Do It (1988) BBC Screenplay Anthology Drama - YouTube
  34. Screenplay: The Black and Blue Lamp (1988) - The EOFFTV Review
  35. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Episode list - IMDb
  36. "Screenplay" Starlings (TV Episode 1988) - IMDb
  37. Screenplay (1986) - Season 4 • Episode 1 - Testimony of a Child - Plex
  38. Видео Screenplay (BBC) 1989 S04E01 (Requested) | OK.RU
  39. Episode - BBC Programme Index - BBC Genome Project
  40. ScreenPlay - TVARK
  41. "Screenplay" The Spirit of Man (TV Episode 1989) - IMDb
  42. "Screenplay" The Hen House (TV Episode 1989) - IMDb
  43. BBC Two - ScreenPlay, Series 4, The Hen House
  44. "Screenplay" The Englishman's Wife (TV Episode 1990) - IMDb
  45. https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?q=ScreenPlay%3A+The+Englishman%27s+Wife
  46. Allan Cubitt | Journal of British Cinema and Television
  47. ScreenPlay: Keeping Tom Nice - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  48. Television: A class act - Lucy Gannon | The Independent
  49. Available Light (1990) directed by Bob Bentley - Letterboxd
  50. https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?q=ScreenPlay%3A+Available+Light
  51. Schedule - BBC Programme Index
  52. https://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/510555/index.html
  53. "Screenplay" Needle (TV Episode 1990) - IMDb
  54. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Episode list - IMDb
  55. Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  56. "Screenplay" Redemption (TV Episode 1991) - IMDb
  57. ScreenPlay: Broke - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  58. ScreenPlay: Murder in Oakland - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  59. ScreenPlay: Amongst Barbarians - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  60. BBC Two England - Schedule - BBC Programme Index
  61. "Screenplay" Message to Major (TV Episode 1991) - IMDb
  62. ScreenPlay: Journey to Knock - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  63. ScreenPlay: Journey To Knock - BBC2 Comedy
  64. Screenplay Season 7: Where To Watch Every Episode | Reelgood
  65. Schedule - BBC Programme Index
  66. "Screenplay" The Countess Alice (TV Episode 1992) - IMDb
  67. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Episode list - IMDb
  68. Death and the Compass - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  69. ScreenPlay: A Little Bit of Lippy - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  70. BBC Two England - Schedule - BBC Programme Index
  71. BBC Two England - Schedule - BBC Programme Index
  72. BBC Two - ScreenPlay, Series 8 - Episode guide
  73. Love Lies Bleeding (1993) - BFI Screenonline
  74. Love Lies Bleeding/L'Inconnue de Belfast - IMDb
  75. Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  76. "Screenplay" The Vision Thing (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb
  77. Screenplay: Safe - Broadcast - BBC Programme Index
  78. "Screenplay" Safe (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb
  79. Antonia Bird, film and TV director, dies aged 54 - BBC News
  80. ScreenPlay, Series 8, Not Even God is Wise Enough - BBC
  81. Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles - ScreenPlay - BBC
  82. Boswell & Johnson's Tour of the Western Isles - IMDb
  83. Screenplay ratings (TV show, 1986-1993) - Rating Graph
  84. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Ratings - IMDb
  85. When Channel 4 Was Radical - Tribune
  86. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Awards - IMDb
  87. Screenplay (TV Series 1986–1993) - Episode list - IMDb
  88. "Screenplay" Not Even God Is Wise Enough (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb
  89. Dread Poets' Society (1992) directed by Andy Wilson - Letterboxd
  90. Script Library - TV Drama - BBC
  91. Script Library - BBC
  92. BBC iPlayer - Home
  93. BBC Screenplay 1993 That Vision thing - YouTube
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