{{Short description|English television series, 1955–1962}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = Strange Experiences.png | image_alt = | caption = | alt_name = | native_name = | genre = [[Crime]], [[Drama]], [[Fantasy]], horror | creator = | developer = | writer = | based_on = | director = | creative_director = | presenter = | starring = {{Plainlist| *[[Peter Williams (actor, born 1915)|Peter Williams]] *[[Peter Sallis]] *[[Theodore Bikel]] *[[John Wood (English actor)|John Wood]] *[[Elspet Gray]] *[[Josephine Griffin]] *[[Arthur Howard]] }} | judges = | voices = | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = [[England]] | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 29 | executive_producer = | producer = Derick Williams | editor = | location = [[England]] | cinematography = | camera = | runtime = 5 Minutes | company = [[Associated Television]] | channel = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1955|9|24|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|1962|6|15|df=y}} | related = }}

'''''Strange Experiences''''' is a British [[fantasy]], horror TV series starring [[Peter Williams (actor, born 1915)|Peter Williams]] as a storyteller who talks about the strange things that have happened during his life. The series aired on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] from 24 September 1955 to 15 June 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/saved?Folder=Strange%20Experiences |title=Strange Experiences (1955) |website=britishnewspapersrchive.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1086778761/?match=1&terms=Strange%20Experiences |title=The News of Cumberland County · 01 Oct 1955 |website=newspapers.com}}</ref> The series also included performances from [[Peter Sallis]], [[Michael Shepley]], [[Theodore Bikel]], [[John Wood (English actor)|John Wood]], [[Elspet Gray]], [[Hugh Latimer]], [[Josephine Griffin]], [[Arthur Howard]], and [[Ian Whittaker]].

==Plot== A storyteller named Peter talks about the strange events that have happened during his daily life routine such as uncanny, supernatural or otherwise "strange" goings-on happening across every place he has visited in England.

==Cast== *[[Peter Williams (actor, born 1915)|Peter Williams]] as Peter the Storyteller *[[Peter Sallis]] as Squishy Taylor, Chippy Criggs, Poor Man *[[Theodore Bikel]] as Man *[[John Wood (English actor)|John Wood]] as Man *[[Elspet Gray]] as Querella *[[Josephine Griffin]] as Women *[[Arthur Howard]] as Man *[[Ian Whittaker]] as Dora's Son *Anna Turner as Women *[[Frederick Treves (actor)|Frederick Treves]] as Man *[[Michael Balfour (actor)|Michael Balfour]] as Man *[[David Oxley]] as Man

==Episodes== {{No plot|section|date=April 2026}} The series ran for a total of 29 episodes that aired on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], [[Associated Television]] from 24 September 1955 to 15 June 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image789997649/?match=1&terms=Strange%20Experiences |title=Daily Mirror 15 June 1962}}</ref> All the episodes of this series survive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvbrain.info/tv-archive?showname=Strange+Experiences&type=lostshow |title=Strange Experiences (1955-1962) |website=tvbrain.info}}</ref> 22 of the episodes are available to watch at the [[British Film Institute]] and additionally selected episodes are available to view on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150794613 |title=Strange Experiences |website=collections-search.bfi.org.uk}}</ref>

{{Episode table |background=000 |overall=5 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=1 |Title=The Pickpocket |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|9|24|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |Title=The Identical Twins |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|10|1|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |Title=Portrait of Paula |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|10|8|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |Title=Hold-Up Man |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|10|15|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |Title=The Sleepwalker |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|10|22|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |Title=Halloween |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|10|29|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=7 |Title=Two-Faced Murder |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|11|5|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=8 |Title=Fortune Teller |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|11|12|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=9 |Title=The Sleeping Girl |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|11|19|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=10 |Title=Queer Customer |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|11|26|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=11 |Title=Grandpa's Portrait |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1955|12|3|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=12 |Title=Safe and Sound |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|1|1|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=13 |Title=The Trial |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|1|8|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=14 |Title=Kleptomaniac |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|1|15|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=15 |Title=The Knife Thrower |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|1|22|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=16 |Title=Old Silas |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|1|29|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=17 |Title=The Well |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|2|5|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=18 |Title=The Clocks |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|2|12|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=19 |Title=The Laughing Clown |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|2|19|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=20 |Title=The Writing in the Sky |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|2|26|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=21 |Title=The Mirror |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|3|4|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=22 |Title=The Ventriloquist |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|3|11|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=23 |Title=The Inveterate Gambler |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|3|25|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=24 |Title=The Idol |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|4|1|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=25 |Title=A Matter of Luck |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|4|8|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=26 |Title=Dunkirk |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|4|15|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=27 |Title=The Talisman |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|4|22|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=28 |Title=The Unknown Warrior |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|4|29|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=29 |Title=The Comet |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1962|6|15|df=y}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=000 }} }}

==Production== Before the series premiered two of the episodes from the series were shown in the 1955 TV movie/TV play ''Fcb TV Show No.1''. The episodes "Safe and Sound" and "The Knife Thrower" were shown in the TV movie/TV play to give some idea of how an evening's viewing might appear on the forthcoming I.T.A. channel in London. Both of the episodes where eventually given a separate release on television by themselves for the series ''Strange Experiences''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-fcb-tv-show-no1-1955-online |title=Fcb TV Show No.1 |website=player.bfi.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150572538 |title=Fcb TV Show No.1 |website=collections-search.bfi.org.uk}}</ref>

==Critic reviews== The series itself received very positive ratings and reviews from critics with one critic calling it a good but strange series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/877546089/?match=1&terms=Strange%20Experiences%20critics |title=Hull Daily Mail · 01 Oct 1955 |website=newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Home release== Two of the episodes have been released on DVD or Blu Ray: "Grandpa's Portrait" and "Old Silas" were included on a [[British Film Institute]] DVD and Blu Ray titled ''Short Sharp Shocks Volume 3'' which was released on 9 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cineoutsider.com/reviews/bluray/s/short_sharp_shocks_volume_3_br.html |title=Short Sharp Volume 3 DVD Review |website=cineoutsider.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Short-Sharp-Shocks-Flipside-Blu-ray/dp/B0CDGVF39W |title=Short Sharp Shocks Vol.3 (Flipside #47) (2 x Blu-ray) |website=amazon.co.uk}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1900584/ ''Strange Experiences''] at [[IMDB]] * [https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150794613 Strange Experiences] at [[British Film Institute]]

[[Category:Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV)]] [[Category:1955 British television series debuts]] [[Category:1962 British television series endings]] [[Category:British fantasy television series]] [[Category:Dark fantasy television series]] [[Category:British horror fiction television series]] [[Category:1950s horror television series]] [[Category:1960s horror television series]]