The Wednesday Play

{{Short description|British TV drama anthology (1964–1970)}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | country = United Kingdom | genre = Drama, Anthology, television plays, social realism, kitchen sink realism | network = BBC 1 | language = English | first_aired = {{start date|1964|10|28|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|1970|5|27|df=y}} | creator = Sydney Newman | related = ''Play for Today'' }}

'''''The Wednesday Play''''' is an anthology series of British television plays which ran on BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic adaptations of fiction (and occasionally stage plays) also featured. The series gained a reputation for presenting contemporary social dramas, and for bringing issues to the attention of a mass audience that would not otherwise have been discussed on screen.

Some of British television drama's most influential, and controversial, plays were shown in this slot, including ''Up the Junction'' and ''Cathy Come Home''. The earliest television plays of Dennis Potter were featured in this slot.

==History==

===Origins and early series=== The series was suggested to the BBC's Head of Drama, Sydney Newman, by the corporation's director of television Kenneth Adam after his cancellation of the two previous series of single plays.<ref name="Wake">Oliver Wake, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/454700/ "Wednesday Play, The (1964–70)"], BFI Screenonline.</ref> Newman had been persuaded to join the BBC following the success of the similar programme ''Armchair Theatre'', which he had produced while Head of Drama at ABC Weekend TV from 1958 to 1962. ''Armchair Theatre'' had tackled many difficult and socially relevant subjects in the then-popular 'kitchen sink' style, and still managed to gain a mass audience on the ITV network, and Newman wanted a programme that would be able to tackle similar issues with a broad appeal. Newman also wanted to get away from the BBC's reputation of producing safe and unchallenging drama programmes, to produce something with more bite and vigour, what Newman called "agitational contemporaneity".<ref name="Wake"/>

''The Wednesday Play'' succeeded in meeting this aim, and the BBC quickly developed the practice of stockpiling six or seven ''Wednesday Plays'' in case there were problems with individual works.<ref>Madeleine Macmurraugh-Kavanagh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RxBJC2U5oRoC&pg=PA149 "The BBC and the Birth of the Wednesday Play 1962-66"] in Janet Thumim ''Small Screens, Big Ideas: Television in the 1950s'', London: I.B. Tauris, 2000, pp. 149–64, 159.</ref> One production, ''The War Game'' (1965), was withdrawn from broadcast by a nervous BBC under pressure from the government, while John Hopkins' ''Fable'' (20 January 1965),<ref name="Duguid">Mark Duguid [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/476259/ "Fable (1965)"], BFI Screenonline.</ref> an inversion of South Africa's Apartheid system, was delayed for several weeks over fears that it would incite racial tensions.<ref name="Duguid"/>

Intended as a vehicle for new writers, several careers began thanks to the series. Television programmes had a much shorter lead time in this era, and Dennis Potter's first four accepted television plays were shown during the course of 1965. The two Nigel Barton plays (8<ref>Sergio Angelini, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/810533/index.html "Stand Up, Nigel Barton (1965)"], BFI screenonline</ref> and 15 December 1965)<ref>Sergio Angelini, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1041034/ "Vote, Vote, Vote, for Nigel Barton (1965)"], BFI screenonline</ref> first brought him to widespread public attention and the slightly earlier ''Alice'' (13 October 1965),<ref>John R. Cook, ''Dennis Potter: a life on screen'', Manchester: Manchester University Press, p. 333, n.3:5.</ref> about Lewis Carroll's relationship with Alice Liddell, developed themes to which Potter would return.

In the first half of 1966 a series of 26 ''Wednesday Plays'' were produced by Peter Luke, the playwright, and story edited by David Benedictus. Highlights included ''The Snow Ball'' (20 April 1966),<ref name="Shubik1">Irene Shubik, ''Play for Today: the evolution of television drama'', Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000 [1975], p. 46</ref> adapted from the novel by Brigid Brophy, ''Toddler on the Run'' adapted by Shena Mackay from her novella and directed by James MacTaggart, (25 May 1966),<ref name="Shubik1"/> ''Cock Hen and Courting Pit'' (renamed ''A Tour of the Old Floorboards'', 22 June 1966)<ref name="Shubik1"/> by David Halliwell and two plays by Frank O'Connor (which Hugh Leonard adapted)<ref name="MMK&SL">Madeleine MacMurragh-Kavanagh and Stephen Lacey "Who Framed Theatre?: The 'Moment of Change' in British TV Drama" in ''New Theatre Quarterly'', No.57, February 1999, p. 69.</ref> virtually without dialogue<ref name="MMK&SL"/> and which, renamed ''Silent Song'', won The Prix Italia award<ref>Adam Benedick and Sydney Newman, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/peter-luke--obituaries-1569776.html Obituary: Peter Luke], ''The Independent'', 26 January 1995.</ref> in 1967 for 'original dramatic programmes' jointly with a French programme.<ref>[http://www.prixitalia.rai.it/2010/pdf/WINNERS_1949-2010.pdf "Winners 1949-2010"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022124024/http://www.prixitalia.rai.it/2010/pdf/WINNERS_1949-2010.pdf |date=22 October 2013}}, Prix Italia official website.</ref> The other O'Connor/Leonard work was ''The Retreat'' (11 May 1966).<ref name="Shubik1"/> These two plays starred Milo O'Shea and Jack MacGowran. ''Cathy Come Home'' by Nell Dunn and Jeremy Sandford was offered to the Luke/Benedictus team who passed it on to Tony Garnett.

===Tony Garnett and Ken Loach=== Garnett was quickly seen as someone capable of delivering plays which would gain much publicity for the BBC and its Drama department.<ref name="Lacey1">Stephen Lacey, ''Tony Garnett'', Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002, p. 56.</ref> He had the enthusiastic support of Newman, his immediate superior, who lobbied for increased funding to allow for more location shooting on film rather than shooting productions in the multi-camera electronic television studio, a practice which was felt to impair realism, the preferred mode.<ref name="Lacey1"/>

Director Ken Loach made ten plays in all for ''The Wednesday Play'' series.<ref>Jacob Leigh, ''The Cinema of Ken Loach: Art in the Service of the People'', London: Wallflower Press, 2002, p. 195.</ref> Two of them are among the best remembered of the entire run: an adaptation of Nell Dunn's ''Up the Junction'' (3 November 1965),<ref>Ros Cranston, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/440997/ "Up the Junction (1965)"], BFI Screenonline.</ref> and the saga of a homeless young couple and their battle to prevent their children being taken into local authority care: ''Cathy Come Home'' (16 November 1966).<ref>Mark Duguid, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/438481/ "Cathy Come Home (1966)"], BFI screenonline</ref> The latter began Loach's 13-year collaboration with Tony Garnett as his producer, although Garnett had been closely involved with ''Up the Junction'' as well.<ref>Jason Deans and Maggie Brown, [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/28/tony-garnett-mother-backstreet-abortion-death "Up the Junction's Tony Garnett reveals mother's backstreet abortion death"], ''The Guardian'', 28 April 2013.</ref>

Plays like ''Up the Junction'' though were controversial among more conservative viewers. The 'Clean-Up TV' campaigner Mary Whitehouse accused the BBC of portraying "promiscuity as normal" in ''Up the Junction''<ref name="Hayward">Anthony Hayward [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/cathy-come-home-422630.html "Cathy come home"], ''The Independent'', 3 November 2006.</ref> and ''The Wednesday Play'' as featuring "Dirt, Doubt and Disbelief".<ref>Asa Briggs, ''The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Volume 5'', Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 519.</ref> The writer on television Anthony Hayward quoted Garnett in 2006: "Mary Whitehouse was on the prowl, which was an added frisson, but it was actually very good free publicity and helped the ratings."<ref name="Hayward"/> The "drama documentary" approach was criticised by television professionals who thought it was dishonest. In a ''Sunday Telegraph'' article published before its first repeat transmission Grace Wyndham Goldie complained that ''Cathy Come Home'' "deliberately blurs the distinction between fact and fiction ... [viewers] have a right to know whether what they are being offered is real or invented."<ref name="Lacey2">Quoted by Stephen Lacey, ''Tony Garnett'', Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002, p. 57.</ref> Loach has admitted that "[w]e were very anxious for our plays not to be considered dramas but as continuations of the news" which preceded ''The Wednesday Play''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s slot.<ref>Graham Fuller, ''Loach on Loach'', London: Faber, 1998, p. 15, cited in Samantha Lay, ''British Social Realism: From Documentary to Brit-Grit'', London: Wallflower Press, 2002, p. 21.</ref>

===Later series=== The last three years of the strand were predominantly produced by Irene Shubik and Graeme MacDonald; by this time the BBC Drama head Sydney Newman had left the BBC. Highlights from this period include several plays by David Mercer such as ''In Two Minds'' (1 March 1967)<ref>Janet Moat, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/557285/ "''In Two Minds'' (1967)"], BFI Screenonline</ref> and ''Let's Murder Vivaldi'' (10 April 1968)<ref>Janet Moat, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/539459/ "''Let's Murder Vivaldi'' (1968)"], BFI Screenonline.</ref> and Potter's ''Son of Man'' (16 April 1969),<ref>Sergio Angelini, [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1056162/ "''Son of Man'' (1969)"], BFI Screenonline.</ref> a modern interpretation of the story of Jesus.

Suffering from declining audience figures, the run of ''The Wednesday Play'' ended in 1970 when the day of transmission changed, and the series morphed into ''Play for Today''.

==Reputation and availability== It is regarded as one of the most influential and successful programmes to be produced in Britain during the 1960s and is still frequently referenced and discussed. In a 2000 poll of industry professionals conducted by the British Film Institute to find the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century, two ''Wednesday Plays'' made the list: ''The War Game'' was placed twenty-seventh, and ''Cathy Come Home'' was voted the second greatest British television programme of the century.

Some examples of ''The Wednesday Play'', such as ''The War Game'' (which was not screened by the BBC for 20 years) and ''Cathy Come Home'' (1966), a television play exploring the theme of housing and homelessness, were, according to filmmaker Roger Graef, "a giant wakeup call for the whole nation,"<ref>Roger Graef, [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2006/feb/15/homelessness.communities "Out of the box"], ''The Guardian'', 15 February 2006.</ref> and some of the Potter plays, surfaced on VHS and DVD; the Potter play, ''Alice'' was a bonus feature of a Region 1 DVD in 2010 of Jonathan Miller's surrealist version of ''Alice in Wonderland''. The Ken Loach material has resurfaced in a ''Ken Loach at the BBC'' set, and the two plays directed by Alan Clarke in the ''Alan Clarke at the BBC'' set. However, as with much British television of this era, many episodes are lost, leaving 79 surviving in the archives (along with 3 with some surviving sequences) out of 182 transmitted.

==Productions== This table is based on records in the BBC Genome archive of the ''Radio Times''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016205215/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2014|title=BBC Genome|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Titles billed as ''The Wednesday Play'' (or ''The Wednesday Play presenting: ...'') in the ''Radio Times'' listings for their first or a subsequent transmission are included, plus an additional two for the reasons given in the notes. Repeats of the individual productions are excluded, as are some additional repeats from ''Theatre 625'' shown in the Wednesday Play slot during 1968–69 but not billed as such in the ''Radio Times''. All episodes were broadcast on BBC1, with the introduction of colour from November 1969.

The archival status has been ascertained for almost all productions based on the BFI National Archive<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/|title=Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute|website=collections-search.bfi.org.uk}}</ref> and TV Brain<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvbrain.info/|title=TVBrain | Kaleidoscope | Lost shows | TV Archive | TV History|website=www.tvbrain.info}}</ref> online databases. Most of the extant versions are in the form of 16mm or 35mm black & white telerecordings (prints or negatives), or in a few cases original film versions where that was the original medium used for production. Some of the later plays exist in videotape formats.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Original air Date ! Title ! Author(s) ! Producer ! Director ! Performers ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! Archive status |- id="A Crack in the Ice" | {{dts|28 October 1964}} | data-sort-value="Crack in the Ice, A"|''A Crack in the Ice'' | A story by Nikolai Leskov. Dramatised by Ronald Eyre. | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Ronald|Eyre}} | Bill Fraser James Maxwell Derek Newark Michael Hordern Jack May Conrad Monk John Bay Peter Madden Richard Hurndall Eric Richard | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 4 June 1965. | rowspan="2" | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="In Camera" | {{dts|4 November 1964}} | ''In Camera'' | by Jean-Paul Sartre. Adapted for television and directed by Philip Saville. | {{sortname|Philip|Saville}} | Harold Pinter Jane Arden Katherine Woodville Jonathan Hansen Andre Boulay David de Keyser | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 11 June 1965. |- id="Pale Horse, Pale Rider" | {{dts|11 November 1964}} | ''Pale Horse, Pale Rider'' | Katherine Anne Porter | {{sortname|Eric|Till|nolink=1}} | | Joan Hackett Keir Dullea John Drainie Ruth Springford Deborah Turnbull Arch McDonell | A filmed production by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, first broadcast by CBC under ''Festival'', 23 October 1963. | Unknown |- id="The Big Breaker" | {{dts|18 November 1964}} | data-sort-value="Big Breaker, The"|''The Big Breaker'' | Alun Richards | rowspan="3" | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Charles|Jarrott}} | Rupert Davies Nigel Stock Daphne Slater Edward Evans | | Yes (16mm print) |- id="Mr. Douglas" | {{dts|25 November 1964}} | ''Mr. Douglas'' | John Prebble | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Michael Goodliffe Jean Anderson Laurence Hardy Claire Nielson Gary Bond Margo Croan | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 30 July 1965. | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Malatesta" | {{dts|2 December 1964}} | ''Malatesta'' | by Henry de Montherlant. translated by Jonathan Griffin. adapted by Rosemary Hill. | {{sortname|Christopher|Morahan}} | Patrick Wymark Jessica Dunning Cyril Shaps John Glyn-Jones John Hollis Edward Burnham Blake Butler Dallas Cavell Jack Melford Reginald Jessup David Grey Judy Geeson David March | Adapted from the play. Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 28 May 1965. | missing |- id="The July Plot" | {{dts|9 December 1964}} | data-sort-value="July Plot, The"|''The July Plot'' | by Roger Manvell. Based on the book by Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel. | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Rudolph|Cartier}} | John Carson Charles Lloyd-Pack Peter Copley Joseph Fürst Cyril Luckham John Lee John Paul John Abineri Graham Leaman Jeffry Wickham | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="First Love" | {{dts|16 December 1964}} | ''First Love'' | From the story by Ivan Turgenev. | {{sortname|Mario|Prizek|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Mario|Prizek|nolink=1}} | Heather Sears Richard Monette | Produced and directed for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, first broadcast by CBC under ''Festival'', 22 January 1964. | Unknown |- id="Tap on the Shoulder" | {{dts|6 January 1965}} | ''Tap on the Shoulder'' | by James O'Connor | rowspan="17" | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Lee Montague Richard Shaw Griffith Davies George Tovey Tony Selby Tom Bowman Noel Johnson Michael Mulcaster Lucy Griffiths Michael Collins Michael Goldie Tony Caunter | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 17 September 1965. | Yes (16mm (BFI) or 35mm tr (TVBrain)?) |- id="Sir Jocelyn, the Minister Would Like a Word…" | {{dts|13 January 1965}} | ''Sir Jocelyn, the Minister Would Like a Word…'' | Simon Raven | {{sortname|Stuart|Burge}} | Michael Hordern Alec John McCowen Phillips Derek Francis James Maxwell Agnes Lauchlan Leonard Maguire Gerald Cross Felix Felton Colin Jeavons Christopher Benjamin Frank Williams Steven Berkoff | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="The Navigators" | {{dts|20 January 1965}} | data-sort-value="Navigators, The"|''The Navigators'' | Julia Jones | {{sortname|Vivian|Matalon}} | George Baker Kathleen Byron Patience Collier Terence Woodfield | Shown instead of the originally scheduled ''Fable'' due to the latter's postponement, so not listed in the ''Radio Times'' but listed as a ''Wednesday Play'' in the BFI database. |- id="Fable" | {{dts|27 January 1965}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Wednesday Play – BBC1 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/aad146e17e7c4ee3bc3819ee39230ff4 |access-date=28 March 2026 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=27 January 1965 |via=BBC Genome Project}}</ref> | ''Fable'' | John Hopkins | {{sortname|Christopher|Morahan}} | Thomas Baptiste Barbara Assoon Ronald Lacey Eileen Atkins Keith Barron Rudolph Walker Carmen Munroe Frank Singuineau | Postponed from 20 January 1965.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Wednesday Play – BBC1 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/03a4c3869b9445c7913d63817ef96841 |access-date=28 March 2026 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=20 January 1965 |via=BBC Genome Project}}</ref> | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Dan, Dan, the Charity Man" | {{dts|3 February 1965}} | ''Dan, Dan, the Charity Man'' | Hugh Whitemore | {{sortname|Don|Taylor|dab=English director and playwright}} | Barry Foster Ernest Clark Philip Locke Dora Reisser Antony Carrick Arthur Mullard Michael Barrington Michael Brennan | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 1 October 1965. | missing |- id="Ashes to Ashes" | {{dts|10 February 1965}} | ''Ashes to Ashes'' | Marc Brandel | {{sortname|Alan|Cooke|nolink=1}} | Toby Robins Scott Forbes Oscar Quitak Tony Steedman | | Yes (16mm tr) |- id="Wear a Very Big Hat" | {{dts|17 February 1965}} | ''Wear a Very Big Hat'' | Eric Coltart | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Neville Smith Sheila Fearn William Holmes Johnny Clive Malcolm Taylor Alan Lake Royston Tickner William Gaunt James Hall Ken Jones David Jackson | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 24 September 1965. | rowspan="3" | missing |- id="The Confidence Course" | {{dts|24 February 1965}} | data-sort-value="Confidence Course, The"|''The Confidence Course'' | Dennis Potter | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Dennis Price Stanley Baxter Neil McCarthy Yootha Joyce Gilly Flower Jack Le White | |- id="Campaign for One" | {{dts|3 March 1965}} | ''Campaign for One'' | Marielaine Douglas and Anthony Church | {{sortname|Moira|Armstrong}} | Barry Foster Jeremy Kemp David Bauer Jerry Stovin Robert Arden Thomasine Heiner George Roubicek David Garth | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 3 September 1965. |- id="Horror of Darkness" | {{dts|10 March 1965}} | ''Horror of Darkness'' | John Hopkins | {{sortname|Anthony|Page}} | Alfred Lynch Nicol Williamson Glenda Jackson | | rowspan="2" | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="A Little Temptation" | {{dts|17 March 1965}} | data-sort-value="Little Temptation, A"|''A Little Temptation'' | Thomas Clarke | {{sortname|Peter|Duguid|nolink=1}} | Barbara Jefford Denholm Elliott Caroline Mortimer Michael Barrington Cheryl Molineaux | Recorded in BBC Scotland's Glasgow studios |- id="Moving On" | {{dts|24 March 1965}} | ''Moving On'' | Bill Mellen | {{sortname|Brian|Parker|nolink=1}} | Peter Jeffrey David Collings Godfrey Quigley Jack Watson Eric Thompson Kenneth Thornett Tony Wall James Appleby David Brewster Peter Diamond | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="Cat's Cradle" | {{dts|31 March 1965}} | ''Cat's Cradle'' | Hugo Charteris | {{sortname|Henric|Hirsch}} | Leo Genn Barbara Murray Rachel Thomas Billy Russell Sheila Dunn | Recorded in BBC Scotland's Glasgow studios |- id="3 Clear Sundays" | {{dts|7 April 1965}} | ''3 Clear Sundays'' | James O'Connor | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Tony Selby Rita Webb Glynn Edwards George Sewell Kim Peacock Finuala O'Shannon Will Stampe Alec Ross Eric Mason Griffith Davies Ken Jones Harry Littlewood Michael Goldie George Tovey Jack Cunningham Haydn Jones Jack Melford Reg Lever Ben Howard Leslie Bates David J. Grahame Desmond Cullum-Jones James Appleby | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 16 July 1965. | rowspan="3" | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The Interior Decorator" | {{dts|14 April 1965}} | data-sort-value="Interior Decorator, The"|''The Interior Decorator'' | Jack Russell | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | Barry Foster Jane Arden | |- id="Auto-Stop" | {{dts|21 April 1965}} | ''Auto-Stop'' | Alan Seymour | {{sortname|Brian|Parker|nolink=1}} | David Hemmings Delphi Lawrence Kevin Stoney Janice Dinnen Katherine Schofield Jonathan Burn Gertan Klauber | |- id="The Good Shoemaker and the Poor Fish Peddler" | {{dts|28 April 1965}} | data-sort-value="Good Shoemaker and the Poor Fish Peddler, The"|''The Good Shoemaker and the Poor Fish Peddler'' | Jean Benedetti | {{sortname|John|Gorrie|dab=director}} | John Barrie Robert Ayres Cec Linder Bill Nagy John Bailey Robert Arden | Based on the lives of Sacco and Vanzetti. | rowspan="4" | missing |- id="Cemented with Love" | {{dts|5 May 1965}} | ''Cemented with Love'' | Sam Thompson | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Michael|Leeston-Smith}} | Harold Goldblatt Elizabeth Begley Anton Rodgers J. G. Devlin Denys Hawthorne Paddy Joyce | Postponed from December 1964. Shown in ''The Wednesday Play'' slot and listed as such in the BFI database, although apparently not billed as such in the ''Radio Times'', according to the BBC Genome database. |- id="A Knight in Tarnished Armour" | {{dts|12 May 1965}} | data-sort-value="Knight in Tarnished Armour, A"|''A Knight in Tarnished Armour'' | Alan Sharp | rowspan="5" | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | {{sortname|John|Gorrie|dab=director}} | Paul Young Paul Curran Hamish Wilson Brian Cox Henry Stamper | |- id="For the West" | {{dts|26 May 1965}} | ''For the West'' | Michael Hastings | {{sortname|Toby|Robertson}} | John Castle Julian Glover Freddie Jones Edwin Richfield Roy Stewart Nigel Stock John Stratton Zena Walker Gordon Gostelow Declan Mulholland | |- id="And Did Those Feet?" | {{dts|2 June 1965}} | ''And Did Those Feet?'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Don|Taylor|dab=English director and playwright}} | David Markham Willoughby Goddard Patrick Troughton Sylvia Kay Jo Rowbottom Victor Lucas Anna Wing Jack May Kristopher Kum Donald Morley | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="The Man Without Papers" | {{dts|9 June 1965}} | data-sort-value="Man Without Papers, The"|''The Man Without Papers'' | Troy Kennedy Martin | {{sortname|Peter|Duguid|nolink=1}} | Benito Carruthers Geraldine McEwan James Maxwell Charles Victor Ingrid Hafner John Woodnutt Tom Bowman Ian Fleming | | partial |- id="The Pistol" | {{dts|16 June 1965}} | data-sort-value="Pistol, The"|''The Pistol'' | A novel by James Jones. Adapted for television by Troy Kennedy Martin and Roger Smith. | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | Clive Endersby John Brandon Hal Galili Walter Sparrow Steven Berkoff Callen Angelo Robert Arden | Repeated under ''Encore'' on BBC2 10 September 1965. | Yes (35mm tr?) Incomplete prints - com-opt audio on studio sequences only, film sequences are mute, no music or effects. |- id="With Love and Tears" | {{dts|23 June 1965}} | ''Women in Crisis: With Love and Tears'' | {{sortname|Colin|Morris|dab=playwright}} | rowspan="13" | {{sortname|Cedric|Messina}} | {{sortname|William|Slater|nolink=1}} | Katherine Blake Nigel Green Alan Baulch Margot Robinson Margaret Ward Margaret Denyer Michael Brennan Peter Thornton | Repeat of 27 September 1964 ''Theatre 625'' production, substituting the advertised ''Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton'' due to the latter's late postponement.<ref>The ''Programmes as Broadcast'' record held by the BBC Written Archives Centre reports "21:33 The Wednesday Play – Women in Crisis: With Love and Tears (repeat of telerecording 35/6T/23437 first transmitted in BBC2 at 20.05.10 on 27.09.1964). Produced by Cedric Messina."</ref> | Yes (16mm tr) |- id="The Seven O'Clock Crunch" | {{dts|30 June 1965}} | data-sort-value="Seven O'Clock Crunch, The"|''The Seven O'Clock Crunch'' | David Stone | {{sortname|Toby|Robertson}} | Nigel Stock Peter Jeffrey Zena Walker Jan Waters Trevor Baxter June Brown | | missing |- id="Alice" | {{dts|13 October 1965}} | ''Alice'' | Dennis Potter | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | George Baker Rosalie Crutchley David Langton Deborah Watling John Bailey Tony Anholt | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="The Girl Who Loved Robots" | {{dts|20 October 1965}} | data-sort-value="Girl Who Loved Robots, The"|''The Girl Who Loved Robots'' | Peter Everett | {{sortname|Brian|Parker|nolink=1}} | Dudley Foster Isobel Black Norman Rodway Michael Guest David Dodimead John Bryans Geoffrey Hinsliff Kevin Stoney Howard Charlton | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="A Designing Woman" | {{dts|27 October 1965}} | data-sort-value="Designing Woman, A"|''A Designing Woman'' | Julia Jones | {{sortname|Brian|Parker|nolink=1}} | Reginald Marsh Rhoda Lewis John Collin | |- id="Up the Junction" | {{dts|3 November 1965}} | ''Up the Junction'' | Nell Dunn | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Carol White Geraldine Sherman Vickery Turner Tony Selby Michael Standing Ray Barron Rita Webb Hilda Barry Jessie Robins Sheila Grant George Sewell Frank Jarvis George Tovey Ben Howard James Haswell Will Stampe Gilly Fraser Anna Wing Reg Cranfield James Appleby | Based on the book. Repeated also 14 July 1993 on BBC2. | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne" | {{dts|10 November 1965}} | data-sort-value="Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne, The"|''The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne'' | Alan Seymour | {{sortname|Peter|Duguid|nolink=1}} | Jack Hawkins Ian McKellen Faith Brook Mary Hinton Meredith Edwards Robert James Morris Perry Richard Coe Alan Mason Rex Robinson Milton Johns Bill Lyons Kenneth Benda Penelope Lee | | rowspan="6" | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The End of Arthur's Marriage" | {{dts|17 November 1965}} | data-sort-value="End of Arthur's Marriage, The"|''The End of Arthur's Marriage'' | Christopher Logue and Stanley Myers | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Ken Jones Maureen Ampleford Edward de Souza Fanny Carby Toni Palmer Lucy Griffiths Nicholas Courtney Neville Smith | |- id="Tomorrow, Just You Wait" | {{dts|24 November 1965}} | ''Tomorrow, Just You Wait'' | Fred Watson | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | James Chase Janina Faye Amelia Bayntun Tony Selby Charles Lamb Joss Ackland Judy Parfitt Gábor Baraker | |- id="The Bond" | {{dts|1 December 1965}} | data-sort-value="Bond, The"|''The Bond'' | Dawn Pavitt and Terry Wale | {{sortname|Mary|Ridge}} | Hannah Gordon Barry Lowe Nancie Jackson Campbell Singer Joan Young William Marlowe Annette Crosbie Angus MacKay George Selway Geoffrey Cheshire Ian Frost John Flint Peter Forbes-Robertson Kenton Moore | |- id="Stand Up, Nigel Barton" | {{dts|8 December 1965}} | ''Stand Up, Nigel Barton'' | rowspan="2" | Dennis Potter | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Keith Barron Jack Woolgar Katherine Parr Janet Henfrey Johnnie Wade Godfrey James Llewellyn Rees Brian Badcoe Peter Madden Alan Lake Ian Fairbairn Michael Davis Sheila Dunn | Repeated 11 August 1987 on BBC1, and also 12 June 2004 and 31 January 2005 on BBC4. |- id="Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton" | {{dts|15 December 1965}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Wednesday Play – BBC1 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/de9514dee3e141e499e6b3ecb8d8d0f1 |access-date=28 March 2026 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=15 December 1965 |via=BBC Genome Project}}</ref> | ''Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton'' | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Keith Barron Valerie Gearon John Bailey Cyril Luckham Donald Hewlett Betty Bowden Aimée Delamain | Postponed from 23 June 1965.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Wednesday Play – BBC1 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0f7d921854ba469b92b8417a5d3ca6e6 |access-date=28 March 2026 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=23 June 1965 |via=BBC Genome Project}}</ref> Repeated 18 August 1987 on BBC1, and also 15 June 2004 and 31 January 2005 on BBC4. |- id="The Coming Out Party" | {{dts|22 December 1965}} | data-sort-value="Coming Out Party, The"|''The Coming Out Party'' | James O'Connor | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Toni Palmer George Sewell Dennis Golding Will Stampe Alec Ross Griffith Davies George Tovey Aubrey Richards Fanny Carby Ray Barron Frank Jarvis Patrick O'Connell | | Yes (16mm (BFI) or 35mm tr (TVBrain)?) |- id="The Boneyard" | {{dts|5 January 1966}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Wednesday Play – BBC1 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/643103cf1e394caf947dbbf071c2a80f |access-date=28 March 2026 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=5 January 1966 |via=BBC Genome Project}}</ref> | data-sort-value="Boneyard, The"|''The Boneyard'' | Clive Exton | rowspan="22" | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | Nigel Davenport Neil McCarthy Michael Robbins John Le Mesurier | Originally scheduled for 30 September 1964 (as ''The Bone Yard'', without ''Wednesday Play'' billing),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Bone Yard – BBC1 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0e6ff1f08207465f87e4390a43699420 |access-date=28 March 2026 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=30 September 1964 |via=BBC Genome Project}}</ref> but postponed. | missing |- id="A Man on Her Back" | {{dts|12 January 1966}} | data-sort-value="Man on Her Back, A"|''A Man on Her Back'' | by Peter Luke. From a novel by William Sansom. | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Norman Rodway Valerie Gearon Barrie Ingham Jo Rowbottom Milo Sperber Hana Maria Pravda Douglas Ditta John Baker | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="Rodney, Our Intrepid Hero" | {{dts|19 January 1966}} | ''Rodney, Our Intrepid Hero'' | Brian Finch | {{sortname|Michael|Simpson|nolink=1}} | Graham Crowden Danny Green Jim Norton Jacqueline Ellis Kristopher Kum Derek Ware Alf Joint Lucy Griffiths | | missing |- id="Calf Love" | {{dts|26 January 1966}} | ''Calf Love'' | Philip Purser. From a novel by Vernon Bartlett. | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Simon Ward Warren Mitchell Madeleine Christie Isobel Black Deborah Watling Eileen Way Nigel Lambert Lisa Daniely | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Silent Song" | {{dts|2 February 1966}} | ''Silent Song'' | Frank O'Connor and Hugh Leonard | {{sortname|Charles|Jarrott}} | Tony Selby Leo McCabe Milo O'Shea Jack MacGowran | | rowspan="2" | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Who's a Good Boy Then? I am" | {{dts|9 February 1966}} | ''Who's a Good Boy Then? I am'' | Richard Harris | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | Thora Hird Ron Moody Ronald Lacey | |- id="A Game - Like - Only a Game" | {{dts|16 February 1966}} | data-sort-value="Game - Like - Only a Game, A"|''A Game - Like - Only a Game'' | John Hopkins | {{sortname|Christopher|Morahan}} | Susan Richards Alethea Charlton Stanley Meadows Shelagh Fraser Geoffrey Hibbert David Webb Peter Ducrow Jack Wild | | missing |- id="Why Aren't You Famous?" | {{dts|23 February 1966}} | ''Why Aren't You Famous?'' | Ernie Gebler | {{sortname|Peter|Sasdy}} | Alan Dobie Fionnula Flanagan Martin Benson John Forgeham | | missing |- id="Macready's Gala" | {{dts|2 March 1966}} | ''Macready's Gala'' | Hugh Whitemore | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Richard Pearson John Le Mesurier Barbara Couper Jane Eccles Donald Eccles | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="A Walk in the Sea" | {{dts|9 March 1966}} | data-sort-value="Walk in the Sea, A"|''A Walk in the Sea'' | James Hanley | {{sortname|Geoffrey|Nethercott|nolink=1}} | Mora Nicholson Kenneth Griffith Marius Goring Peter Hawkins Howard Lang Harry Littlewood Keith Pyott | | rowspan="3" | missing |- id="Boy in the Smoke" | {{dts|16 March 1966}} | ''Boy in the Smoke'' | Patrick Galvin | {{sortname|William|Slater|nolink=1}} | Sean Caffrey Ray Mort John Sharp Tony Steedman John Barrard Frank Jarvis Paddy Joyce Allan Mitchell | Repeat; first shown in the series ''Londoners'' on BBC2 13 May 1965. |- id="Barlowe of the Car Park" | {{dts|23 March 1966}} | ''Barlowe of the Car Park'' | Paul Ableman | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Jack Woolgar Annabel Maule Betty Romaine Annette Robertson Donald Hewlett Michael Robbins | |- id="The Portsmouth Defence" | {{dts|30 March 1966}} | data-sort-value="Portsmouth Defence, The"|''The Portsmouth Defence'' | Nemone Lethbridge | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | Emrys James Fanny Carby Deborah Cranston Maureen Ampleford Michael Coles Jerome Willis Yootha Joyce Roy Evans Clifton Jones John Woodnutt John Garvin | | rowspan="4" | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="Pity about the Abbey" | {{dts|6 April 1966}} | ''Pity about the Abbey'' | John Betjeman and Stewart Farrar | {{sortname|Ian|Curteis}} | Henry McGee John Harvey Suzanne Mockler Derek Francis Pamela Ann Davy | Repeat; first shown in the series ''Londoners'' on BBC2 29 July 1965. |- id="The Big Man Coughed and Died" | {{dts|13 April 1966}} | data-sort-value="Big Man Coughed and Died, The"|''The Big Man Coughed and Died'' | Brian Wright | {{sortname|Peter|Duguid|nolink=1}} | George Baker Eileen Atkins John Sharp Diana Coupland Nicholas Smith Harry Towb Philip Anthony Martin Friend | |- id="The Snow Ball" | {{dts|20 April 1966}} | data-sort-value="Snow Ball, The"|''The Snow Ball'' | Brigid Brophy Dramatised by Ursula Gray. | {{sortname|Charles|Jarrott}} | Patrick Allen Katherine Blake Clare Kelly Trisha Noble | |- id="A Cheery Soul" | {{dts|27 April 1966}} | data-sort-value="Cheery Soul, A"|''A Cheery Soul'' | Patrick White Adapted by Jonquil Antony | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Hazel Hughes Aubrey Richards Lucy Griffiths May Warden Jack Bligh | Adapted from the play. | missing |- id="The Connoisseur" | {{dts|4 May 1966}} | data-sort-value="Connoisseur, The"|''The Connoisseur'' | Hugo Charteris | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Derek Francis Rosalie Crutchley Michael Goodliffe Richard O'Sullivan Ian Ogilvy Rosalie Westwater Stephen Whittaker | | rowspan="2" | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="The Retreat" | {{dts|11 May 1966}} | data-sort-value="Retreat, The"|''The Retreat'' | Hugh Leonard | {{sortname|Charles|Jarrott}} | Gerry Sullivan Harry Webster Juno Tobin Gerry Duggan David Kelly | |- id="Ape and Essence" | {{dts|18 May 1966}} | ''Ape and Essence'' | Aldous Huxley Dramatised by John Finch. | {{sortname|David|Benedictus}} | Alec McCowen Robert Eddison Derek Sydney Petra Markham Sydney Bromley Yvonne Antrobus | Adapted from the novel. | missing |- id="Toddler on the Run" | {{dts|25 May 1966}} | ''Toddler on the Run'' | From the novel by Shena Mackay. | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | Ian Trigger Anneke Wills Jerome Willis Iain Cuthbertson Renu Setna Mona Bruce Michael Robbins | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The Executioner" | {{dts|1 June 1966}} | data-sort-value="Executioner, The"|''The Executioner'' | Robert Muller | {{sortname|Michael|Hayes|dab=director}} | Rosalie Crutchley Sandor Elès Elizabeth Bell David Garfield Meier Tzelniker Eileen Way Steven Scott David de Keyser | | missing |- id="Way Off Beat" | {{dts|8 June 1966}} | ''Way Off Beat'' | David Turner | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | {{sortname|Toby|Robertson}} | Brenda Bruce Sydney Tafler Helen Fraser Gordon Reid Stephanie Bidmead Jimmy Hanley Noel Johnson | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="A Soiree at Bossom's Hotel" | {{dts|15 June 1966}} | data-sort-value="Soiree at Bossom's Hotel, A"|''A Soiree at Bossom's Hotel'' | Simon Raven | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Fabia Drake Raymond Huntley Sarah Lawson Wallas Eaton Sally Bazeley Roddy Maude-Roxby Barbara Couper Clive Morton Henry McGee Jeremy Young | | missing |- id="Cock, Hen, and Courting Pit" | {{dts|22 June 1966}} | ''Cock, Hen, and Courting Pit'' | David Halliwell | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Charles|Jarrott}} | Nicola Pagett Maurice Roëves June Murphy Clifford Cox | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Photo Finish" | {{dts|21 September 1966}} | ''Photo Finish'' | Peter Ustinov | {{sortname|Bernard|Hepton}} | {{sortname|Naomi|Capon}} | Paul Rogers Robert Brown James Maxwell Simon Prebble Peter Ashmore Barbara Couper Daphne Slater Meg Wynn Owen Alice Montego Priscilla Morgan Michael Bates | Repeat; first shown as a ''Thursday Theatre'' on BBC2 28 January 1965. | missing |- id="A Hero of Our Time" | {{dts|28 September 1966}} | data-sort-value="Hero of Our Time, A"|''A Hero of Our Time'' | Ian Dallas. Based on the novel by Mihail Lermontov. | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} | {{sortname|Henric|Hirsch|nolink=1}} | Alan Bates Mary Miller Terence De Marney Jeremy Young Donald Sumpter Brigit Forsyth Michael Mulcaster | Adapted from the novel. | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The Frighteners" | {{dts|12 October 1966}} | data-sort-value="Frighteners, The"|''The Frighteners'' | Daniel Farson | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Tom Adams Griffith Davies Ben Howard George Sewell Frank Jarvis June Murphy Peter Ducrow John Harvey | Repeat; first shown in the series ''Londoners'' on BBC2 8 July 1965. | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="A Piece of Resistance" | {{dts|19 October 1966}} | data-sort-value="Piece of Resistance, A"|''A Piece of Resistance'' | Terence Dudley | {{sortname|Cedric|Messina}} | {{sortname|Geoffrey|Nethercott|nolink=1}} | Lally Bowers William Kendall Frederick Jaeger James Villiers Gerald Cross Michael Craze Gábor Baraker | Repeat of 26 December 1965 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. |- id="Where the Buffalo Roam" | {{dts|2 November 1966}} | ''Where the Buffalo Roam'' | Dennis Potter | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Hywel Bennett Megs Jenkins Glyn Aubrey Houston Richards Richard Davies | Repeated also 25 August 1976 on BBC2 and 21 July 1993 on BBC2. | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="The Head Waiter" | {{dts|9 November 1966}} | data-sort-value="Head Waiter, The"|''The Head Waiter'' | John Mortimer | {{sortname|Rex|Tucker}} | Donald Pleasence Peter Madden Pauline Letts Alexandra Bastedo | | missing |- id="Cathy Come Home" | {{dts|16 November 1966}} | ''Cathy Come Home'' | Jeremy Sandford | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Carol White Ray Brooks Barry Jackson Geoffrey Palmer Barry Jackson John Baddeley Paddy Joyce Lennard Pearce Will Stampe Lila Kaye | Repeated also 11 August 1976 on BBC2, 23 December 2001 on BBC Choice, 5 June 2003 on BBC4, 11 June 2003 on BBC4, 26 November 2006 on BBC4. | Yes (original negative) |- id="The Private Tutor" | {{dts|23 November 1966}} | data-sort-value="Private Tutor, The"|''The Private Tutor'' | Christopher Williams | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Alan|Gibson|dab=director}} | Ian McShane Marty Cruickshank Patricia Garwood Alan Tucker Christopher Wray | | rowspan="3" | missing |- id="A Pyre for Private James" | {{dts|30 November 1966}} | data-sort-value="Pyre for Private James, A"|''A Pyre for Private James'' | Simon Raven | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Basil Henson Percy Herbert Dudley Sutton David Conville Grant Taylor John Bailey William Fox Basil Dignam Nick Tate John Garvin | |- id="A Tale of Two Wives" | {{dts|7 December 1966}} | data-sort-value="Tale of Two Wives, A"|''A Tale of Two Wives'' | Marc Brandel | {{sortname|Peter|Duguid|nolink=1}} | Dinsdale Landen Peter Jeffrey Amanda Barrie Suzanna Leigh | |- id="Little Master Mind" | {{dts|14 December 1966}} | ''Little Master Mind'' | Nemone Lethbridge | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | George Sewell John Porter Davison Michael Robbins Robert Russell Jerome Willis Yootha Joyce John Woodnutt Roy Evans Charles Morgan John Garvin Lila Kaye | | missing |- id="The Mayfly and the Frog" | {{dts|21 December 1966}} | data-sort-value="Mayfly and the Frog, The"|''The Mayfly and the Frog'' | Jack Russell | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Robin|Midgley}} | John Gielgud Isa Miranda David Stoll Felicity Kendal Timothy Bateson | Repeated 10 July 1968 under ''Playbill''. | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Person to Person" | {{dts|4 January 1967}} | ''Person to Person'' | Joan Henry | {{sortname|Raymond|Menmuir}} | Elizabeth Sellars Robin Bailey Michael Standing Michael Wennink | | missing |- id="The Order" | {{dts|18 January 1967}} | data-sort-value="Order, The"|''The Order'' | Fritz Hochwälder. Translated by Patrick Alexander. | {{sortname|Cedric|Messina}} | {{sortname|Basil|Coleman}} | John Neville Catherine Lacey George Coulouris Laurence Hardy George Murcell Clive Morton John Woodvine Jerold Wells James Cairncross Yvonne Antrobus Michael Pennington | A ''Wednesday Play'' production for ''The Largest Theatre in the World'' project of the EBU. | rowspan="2" |missing |- id="Everyone's Rich Except Us" | {{dts|25 January 1967}} | ''Everyone's Rich Except Us'' | Thomas Clarke | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Brian|Parker|nolink=1}} | Alfred Lynch Jennifer Jayne Richard Vernon Vic Wise Wallas Eaton David Hutcheson Llewellyn Rees Howard Charlton Leonard Grahame Patsy Smart James Ottaway | |- id="The Lump" | {{dts|1 February 1967}} | data-sort-value="Lump, The"|''The Lump'' | Jim Allen | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Jack|Gold}} | Leslie Sands Joby Blanshard James Caffrey Frank Gatliff Ken Jones Paddy Joyce Neville Smith | | Yes (16mm print) |- id="Who's Going to Take Me On?" | {{dts|8 February 1967}} | ''Who's Going to Take Me On?'' | Andrew Davies | rowspan="3" | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|John|Glenister}} | Richard O'Sullivan Garfield Morgan George Moon Trisha Mortimer Ann Holloway Derek Seaton Clifford Cox | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="Death of a Teddy Bear" | {{dts|15 February 1967}} | ''Death of a Teddy Bear'' | Simon Gray | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Brenda Bruce Hywel Bennett Rachel Kempson Kenneth J. Warren John Bailey | Repeated 17 July 1968 under ''Playbill''. |- id="Days in the Trees" | {{dts|22 February 1967}} | ''Days in the Trees'' | Marguerite Duras Translated by Sonia Orwell. adapted by Jeremy Brooks. | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Peggy Ashcroft George Baker Frances Cuka Brian Badcoe Dallas Adams Roger Brierley Noel Collins Patricia Maynard | A ''Wednesday Play'' presentation. Original Royal Shakespeare Company stage production directed by: John Schlesinger. | missing |- id="In Two Minds" | {{dts|1 March 1967}} | ''In Two Minds'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Anna Cropper George A. Cooper Neville Smith Malcolm Taylor Patrick Barr | Repeated also 16 August 1977 on BBC2, 22 November 1980 on BBC2, and 21 July 1988. | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Another Day, Another Dollar" | {{dts|8 March 1967}} | ''Another Day, Another Dollar'' | Michael Standing | rowspan="4" | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Raymond|Menmuir}} | Victor Maddern Tony Selby Michael Standing Reg Lye Garfield Morgan Eric Flynn Harry Landis | | partial |- id="Public Inquiry" | {{dts|15 March 1967}} | ''Public Inquiry'' | Raymond Williams | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Charles Williams Edward Evans Clive Graham Roderick Jones Richard Davies Michael Elwyn | | rowspan="5" | missing |- id="A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant" | {{dts|22 March 1967}} | data-sort-value="Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant, A"|''A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant'' | Thomas Murphy | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | T. P. McKenna Elizabeth Begley Fionnula Flanagan Dermot Tuohy Denis McCarthy David Kelly | |- id="A Breach in the Wall" | {{dts|29 March 1967}} | data-sort-value="Breach in the Wall, A"|''A Breach in the Wall'' | Ray Lawler | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Robert Harris Barry Justice John Phillips Rosemary Leach Jennifer Daniel John Bryans Donald Morley | Repeated 31 July 1968 under ''Playbill''. |- id="The Voices in the Park" | {{dts|5 April 1967}} | data-sort-value="Voices in the Park, The"|''The Voices in the Park'' | Leon Griffiths | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|John|MacKenzie|John Mackenzie (film director)}} | Kenneth Haigh George Sewell Brian Oulton Paddy Joyce Will Stampe Wendy Richard Alec Ross Sonnie Willis Eric Mason | |- id="Dismissal Leading to Lustfulness" | {{dts|12 April 1967}} | ''Dismissal Leading to Lustfulness'' | Thomas Whyte | rowspan="5" | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Rex|Tucker}} | Peter Copley Petra Davies Fiona Duncan Carl Jaffe John Moffatt Ronald Radd Jane Wenham | |- id="A Brilliant Future Behind Him" | {{dts|19 April 1967}} | data-sort-value="Brilliant Future Behind Him, A"|''A Brilliant Future Behind Him'' | Thomas Clarke | {{sortname|Robert|Fleming|nolink=1}} | David Buck John Phillips Isobel Black James Bree Patricia Garwood Robert Harris Guy Middleton Ann Tirard Stephen Jack Philip Latham Richard Carpenter Frank Gatliff Yvonne Antrobus Barry Humphries | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Message for Posterity" | {{dts|3 May 1967}} | ''Message for Posterity'' | Dennis Potter | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Patrick Magee Joseph O'Conor Geoffrey Chater Donald Hewlett Peter Welch John Golightly | | rowspan="3" | missing |- id="A Way with the Ladies" | {{dts|10 May 1967}} | data-sort-value="Way with the Ladies, A"|''A Way with the Ladies'' | Simon Gray. Based on the novel ''A Helping Hand'' by Celia Dale. | {{sortname|John|Glenister}} | Bill Fraser Barbara Couper Amy Dalby | |- id="The Playground" | {{dts|17 May 1967}} | data-sort-value="Playground, The"|''The Playground'' | Hunter Davies | {{sortname|John|Robins|nolink=1}} | John Ronane Ann Lynn Wendy Gifford Roy Purcell Jim McManus | |- id="Drums Along the Avon" | {{dts|24 May 1967}} | ''Drums Along the Avon'' | Charles Wood | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | Leonard Rossiter Valerie Newman Maureen O'Reilly Salmaan Peer Derek Ware | | Yes (16mm print) |- id="Sleeping Dog" | {{dts|11 October 1967}} | ''Sleeping Dog'' | Simon Gray | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Marius Goring Rachel Kempson Johnny Sekka | | rowspan="5" | missing |- id="Wanted: Single Gentleman…" | {{dts|18 October 1967}} | ''Wanted: Single Gentleman…'' | James Broom Lynne | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|John|Gorrie|dab=director}} | Peter Jeffrey John Stratton Alan Rowe Eileen Atkins | |- id="A Black Candle for Mrs Gogarty" | {{dts|25 October 1967}} | data-sort-value="Black Candle for Mrs Gogarty, A"|''A Black Candle for Mrs Gogarty'' | Edward Boyd | {{sortname|Pharic|MacLaren|nolink=1}} | | Duncan MacRae John Grieve Phil McCall Peggy Marshall | From BBC Scotland |- id="The Devil a Monk Would Be" | {{dts|8 November 1967}} | data-sort-value="Devil a Monk Would Be, The"|''The Devil a Monk Would Be'' | {{sortname|Peter|Luke}} Based on a story by Alphonse Daudet. | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Max Adrian Tony Selby Elizabeth Begley Derek Francis Bernard Archard Roger Hammond John Sharp | |- id="Fall of the Goat" | {{dts|15 November 1967}} | ''Fall of the Goat'' | Fay Weldon | rowspan="3" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Joss Ackland Patricia Lawrence John Stratton Christine Hargreaves Sheila Burrell Joan Sanderson Arthur Hewlett | |- id="The Profile of a Gentleman" | {{dts|22 November 1967}} | data-sort-value="Profile of a Gentleman, The"|''The Profile of a Gentleman'' | Jimmy O'Connor | {{sortname|John|MacKenzie|John Mackenzie (film director)}} | Lee Montague George Sewell Ken Jones Paddy Joyce Richard Shaw Eric Mason Michael Goldie | | partial |- id="Dial Rudolph Valentino One One" | {{dts|29 November 1967}} | ''Dial Rudolph Valentino One One'' | Ewart Alexander | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Keith Barron Roy Dotrice Nerys Hughes Alan Lake John Rees Richard Davies Edward Burnham | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="Kippers and Curtains" | {{dts|6 December 1967}} | ''Kippers and Curtains'' | Vickery Turner | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Alan|Gibson|dab=director}} | Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies Angela Baddeley John Glyn-Jones Paul Angelis Stephen Hubay | |- id="Death of a Private" | {{dts|13 December 1967}} | ''Death of a Private'' | Robert Muller Based on Georg Büchner's Woyzeck. | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | Dudley Sutton Liam Redmond John Nettleton Geraldine Sherman Harry Fowler Ralph Watson Godfrey James Jack Bligh | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="An Officer of the Court" | {{dts|20 December 1967}} | data-sort-value="Officer of the Court, An"|''An Officer of the Court'' | Nemone Lethbridge | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|James|MacTaggart}} | Tommy Godfrey Yootha Joyce Bryan Pringle Ronald Radd Glynn Edwards Alec Ross Mona Bruce Desmond Cullum-Jones Frank Jarvis Erik Chitty Bill Burridge Joby Blanshard Steve Peters | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The Fat of the Land" | {{dts|27 December 1967}} | data-sort-value="Fat of the Land, The"|''The Fat of the Land'' | Jack Russell | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Toby|Robertson}} | Joan Greenwood Willoughby Goddard Roy Holder Hazel Hughes Peter Jones Helen Fraser Russell Hunter Yvonne Antrobus | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="Toggle" | {{dts|3 January 1968}} | ''Toggle'' | Ian Roberts | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Alan Badel Moray Watson Daphne Heard Ray Armstrong | |- id="House of Character" | {{dts|10 January 1968}} | ''House of Character'' | David Rudkin | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Alan|Cooke|nolink=1}} | Alfred Lynch Shelagh Fraser John Collin Rex Garner Elroy Josephs Brian Badcoe Sylvia Coleridge | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="Jamie, on a Flying Visit" | {{dts|17 January 1968}} | ''Jamie, on a Flying Visit'' | Michael Frayn | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Claude|Whatham}} | Anton Rodgers Caroline Mortimer Dinsdale Landen Felicity Gibson Norman Mitchell Reg Whitehead Jane Enshawe John Scott Martin | Repeated 7 August 1968 under ''Playbill''. | rowspan="6" | missing |- id="Monsieur Barnett" | {{dts|24 January 1968}} | ''Monsieur Barnett'' | Jean Anouilh | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Donald|McWhinnie}} | Michael Redgrave Miriam Karlin Harold Lang | |- id="The Drummer and the Bloke" | {{dts|31 January 1968}} | data-sort-value="Drummer and the Bloke, The"|''The Drummer and the Bloke'' | Rhys Adrian | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Herbert|Wise}} | Peter Sallis Peter Vaughan Donal Donnelly Michael Robbins John Dearth | |- id="Rebel in the Grave" | {{dts|7 February 1968}} | ''Rebel in the Grave'' | Marc Brandel | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Raymond|Menmuir}} | Grégoire Aslan Michael York | |- id="Coincidence" | {{dts|21 February 1968}} | ''Coincidence'' | Piers Paul Read | rowspan="3" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Moira|Armstrong}} | Clive Revill Caroline Blakiston Donald Douglas Emrys James John Franklyn-Robbins John Savident Llewellyn Rees Bella Emberg Roger Avon Michael Sheard Desmond Cullum-Jones Michael Mulcaster | |- id="Light Blue" | {{dts|3 April 1968}} | ''Light Blue'' | Gerald Vaughan-Hughes | {{sortname|Alan|Cooke|nolink=1}} | Calvin Lockhart Maureen O'Brien Robert Gillespie | |- id="Let's Murder Vivaldi" | {{dts|10 April 1968}} | ''Let's Murder Vivaldi'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Alan|Bridges}} | Denholm Elliott Gwen Watford Glenda Jackson David Sumner | Repeated also 7 July 1988. | Yes |- id="The Golden Vision" | {{dts|17 April 1968}} | data-sort-value="Golden Vision, The"|''The Golden Vision'' | Neville Smith and Gordon Honeycombe | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Ken Jones Bill Dean Neville Smith Joey Kaye | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="The Man Behind You" | {{dts|1 May 1968}} | data-sort-value="Man Behind You, The"|''The Man Behind You'' | Jeremy Scott | rowspan="3" | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Moira|Armstrong}} | Michael Bryant Tony Steedman Alan Tucker Stephen Whittaker | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="Infidelity Took Place" | {{dts|8 May 1968}} | ''Infidelity Took Place'' | John Mortimer | {{sortname|Michael|Hayes|dab=director}} | Judy Cornwell Paul Daneman John Nettleton Patrick Newell | |- id="Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It" | {{dts|21 August 1968}} | ''Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It'' | Tony Parker | {{sortname|John|MacKenzie|John Mackenzie (film director)}} | Mary Miller Ray Smith Barry Jackson James Appleby Ray Barron Pauline Collins Griffith Davies Gilly Fraser Sheila Grant Ben Howard Frank Jarvis Eric Mason Royston Tickner | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="Spoiled" | {{dts|28 August 1968}} | ''Spoiled'' | Simon Gray | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Waris|Hussein}} | Michael Craig Elizabeth Shepherd Simon Ward Mark Rose | | missing |- id="The Gorge" | {{dts|4 September 1968}} | data-sort-value="Gorge, The"|''The Gorge'' | Peter Nichols | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Christopher|Morahan}} | Billy Hamon Constance Chapman Reg Lye Neil Wilson John Woodnutt David Webb | Repeated also 8 September 1976 on BBC2, 28 July 1993 on BBC2. | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="A Night with Mrs. Da Tanka" | {{dts|11 September 1968}} | data-sort-value="Night with Mrs. Da Tanka, A"|''A Night with Mrs. Da Tanka'' | William Trevor | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|John|Gorrie|dab=director}} | Jean Kent Geoffrey Bayldon Arthur Lowe Peter Bathurst Daphne Heard John Savident Reginald Barratt Christopher Burgess Barry Andrews | | rowspan="8" | missing |- id="Charlie" | {{dts|18 September 1968}} | ''Charlie'' | Alun Owen | {{sortname|Michael|Hayes|dab=director}} | Barrie Ingham Julian Glover Mary Chester | |- id="Anyone for Tennis?" | {{dts|25 September 1968}} | ''Anyone for Tennis?'' | J. B. Priestley | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Claude|Whatham}} | Clifford Evans Rachel Kempson Joseph O'Conor Ernest Clark Michael Pennington Angharad Rees | |- id="Mooney and his Caravans" | {{dts|2 October 1968}} | ''Mooney and his Caravans'' | Peter Terson | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | John Alderton Diana Bishop Dave Prowse Jerry Holmes | |- id="The Lower Largo Sequence" | {{dts|9 October 1968}} | data-sort-value="Lower Largo Sequence, The"|''The Lower Largo Sequence'' | Edward Boyd | {{sortname|Pharic|MacLaren|nolink=1}} | | Patrick Allen Isobel Black | From BBC Scotland |- id="Hello, Good Evening, and Welcome" | {{dts|16 October 1968}} | ''Hello, Good Evening, and Welcome'' | Hugh Whitemore | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Claude|Whatham}} | Robert Hardy Michael Robbins James Marcus Roshan Seth George Roubicek Ralph Bates Dallas Cavell | |- id="A Bit of Crucifixion, Father" | {{dts|30 October 1968}} | data-sort-value="Bit of Crucifixion, Father, A"|''A Bit of Crucifixion, Father'' | Julia Jones | {{sortname|Geoffrey|Nethercott|nolink=1}} | Walter Fitzgerald Valerie White Margery Mason Alan Lake P.G. Stephens | |- id="Nothing will be the Same Again" | {{dts|6 November 1968}} | ''Nothing will be the Same Again'' | James Hanley | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Peter|Hammond|dab=actor}} | Patrick Magee Bernard Lee Gwen Cherrell Tessa Wyatt | |- id="A Beast with Two Backs" | {{dts|20 November 1968}} | data-sort-value="Beast with Two Backs, A"|''A Beast with Two Backs'' | Dennis Potter | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Lionel|Harris|nolink=1}} | Patrick Barr Denis Carey Christian Rodska Basil Henson Madeleine Newbury Geraldine Newman Llewellyn Rees | | Yes (16mm print) |- id="On the Eve of Publication" | {{dts|27 November 1968}} | ''On the Eve of Publication'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Alan|Bridges}} | Leo McKern Thorley Walters Michele Dotrice Kay Dotrice | Repeated also 6 December 1980 on BBC2, on 30 June 1988, and on 19&20-10-2002 on BBC4. | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="The Fabulous Frump" | {{dts|8 January 1969}} | data-sort-value="Fabulous Frump, The"|''The Fabulous Frump'' | James Gibbins | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Peter|Hammond|dab=actor}} | Sheila Steafel Peter Butterworth Donald Churchill Patsy Rowlands Richard Stilgoe | | rowspan="5" | missing |- id="Smoke Screen" | {{dts|15 January 1969}} | ''Smoke Screen'' | Fay Weldon | rowspan="4" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Donald|McWhinnie}} | Lally Bowers Stephanie Bidmead Gemma Jones Edwin Richfield Jonathan Newth Ian Lavender Geoffrey Cheshire | |- id="Dr. Aitkinson's Daughter" | {{dts|22 January 1969}} | ''Dr. Aitkinson's Daughter'' | Hugo Charteris | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Raymond Huntley Peter Barkworth Fanny Rowe Jennifer Hilary Sylvia Coleridge David Langton Helen Lindsay Neil Wilson Reginald Barratt | |- id="The Apprentices" | {{dts|29 January 1969}} | data-sort-value="Apprentices, The"|''The Apprentices'' | Peter Terson | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | James Gibson Barrie Rutter Allan Swift Paula Wilcox Russell Dixon Gareth Thomas Loftus Burton Peter Turner | The National Youth Theatre production of The Apprentices |- id="Birthday" | {{dts|12 February 1969}} | ''Birthday'' | Michael Frayn | {{sortname|Claude|Whatham}} | Rosemary Leach Angela Pleasence Clive Swift Georgina Ward Roshan Seth Tariq Yunus | |- id="The Big Flame" | {{dts|19 February 1969}} | data-sort-value="Big Flame, The"|''The Big Flame'' | Jim Allen | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Kenneth|Loach|Ken Loach}} | Norman Rossington Godfrey Quigley Ken Jones Griffith Davies Neville Smith Michael Lynch Paddy Joyce | | Yes (35mm tr?) |- id="A Serpent in Putney" | {{dts|26 February 1969}} | data-sort-value="Serpent in Putney, A"|''A Serpent in Putney'' | Fred Watson | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Geoffrey|Nethercott|nolink=1}} | Tony Britton Angela Browne Frances White John Alderton Barry Stanton | | rowspan="2" | missing |- id="Bam! Pow! Zapp!" | {{dts|5 March 1969}} | ''Bam! Pow! Zapp!'' | Nigel Kneale | {{sortname|William|Slater|nolink=1}} | Clive Revill Pauline Delany Robert Powell Jeremy Ranchev Robert James | |- id="Sling Your Hook" | {{dts|2 April 1969}} | ''Sling Your Hook'' | Roy Minton | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Michael|Tuchner}} | Michael Bates Joe Gladwin Kenneth Cranham Barry Jackson Warren Clarke Patrick O'Connell Jo Rowbottom George Layton Johnnie Wade Norman Jones Neville Smith Colin Spaull Andrew McCulloch Derek Keller | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="A Child and A Half" | {{dts|9 April 1969}} | data-sort-value="Child and A Half, A"|''A Child and A Half'' | Owen Holder | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Alan|Bridges}} | Geoffrey Bayldon Caroline Mortimer Dinsdale Landen Rhoda Lewis | | missing |- id="Son of Man" | {{dts|16 April 1969}} | ''Son of Man'' | Dennis Potter | {{sortname|Gareth|Davies|dab=director}} | Colin Blakely Robert Hardy Bernard Hepton Brian Blessed Edward Hardwicke Godfrey Quigley Gawn Grainger Godfrey James Eric Mason Hugh Futcher Edmund Bailey David Cannon Roy Stewart | Repeated also 28 July 1987, and 23 January 2005 on BBC4. | Yes |- id="The Exiles" | {{dts|23 April 1969}} | data-sort-value="Exiles, The"|''The Exiles'' | Errol John | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Herbert|Wise}} | Errol John Esther Anderson Michael Griffiths Lelia Goldoni Donald Douglas Ann Tirard Hugh Morton Robin Scott | | missing |- id="Blodwen, Home from Rachel's Marriage" | {{dts|30 April 1969}} | ''Blodwen, Home from Rachel's Marriage'' | David Rudkin | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Alan|Cooke|nolink=1}} | Ann Beach Gilbert Wynne Megs Jenkins William Squire Declan Mulholland Eamonn Boyce Clive Merrison Clare Jenkins Heather Emmanuel | | missing |- id="The Parachute" | {{dts|6 August 1969}} | data-sort-value="Parachute, The"|''The Parachute'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Tony|Garnett}} | {{sortname|Anthony|Page}} | Alan Badel Jill Bennett John Osborne Isabel Dean Esmond Knight Drewe Henley Barry Jackson John J. Carney Norman Jones Royston Farrell Stephen Whittaker | Repeat of ''Play of the Month'' 21 January 1968. Repeated also 1 September 1976 on BBC2 and 29 November 1980 on BBC2, on 23 June 1988. | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="Pitchi Poi" | {{dts|24 September 1969}} | ''Pitchi Poi'' | François Billetdoux English version by Peter Meyer | {{sortname|Michael|Bakewell}} | {{sortname|Roderick|Graham|nolink=1}} | Georges Rouquier David Spenser Simon Lack Hana Maria Pravda | Repeat; originally shown as part of ''The Largest Theatre in the World'' project of the EBU, 1 November 1967. | Yes |- id="The Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel" | {{dts|1 October 1969}} | data-sort-value="Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel, The"|''The Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel'' | Peter Terson | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Alan|Clarke}} | Richard O'Callaghan John Le Mesurier Paul Brooke Robert Hartley John Owens Jonathan Burn Bill Lyons Griffith Davies John Scott Martin Claire Davenport Angela Pleasence Shelagh Fraser Eileen Way Toke Townley | | Yes (35mm tr) |- id="Patterson O.K." | {{dts|8 October 1969}} | ''Patterson O.K.'' | Ray Jenkins | {{sortname|Pharic|MacLaren|nolink=1}} | | Andrew Robertson Roddy McMillan Callum Mill Virginia Stark | from BBC Scotland | missing |- id="The Mark-Two Wife" | {{dts|15 October 1969}} | data-sort-value="Mark-Two Wife, The"|''The Mark-Two Wife'' | William Trevor | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Philip|Saville}} | Faith Brook Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies Joanna Lumley Henry Gilbert Roger Hammond Alethea Charlton Philip Madoc Lillias Walker | | Yes |- id="Close the Coalhouse Door" | {{dts|22 October 1969}} | ''Close the Coalhouse Door'' | Alan Plater from a story by Sid Chaplin | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Bill|Hays|dab=director}} | Dudley Foster Alan Browning Colin Baker Bryan Pringle John Woodvine Ralph Watson Kevin Stoney James Garbutt | | missing |- id="The Sad Decline of Arthur Maybury" | {{dts|29 October 1969}} | data-sort-value="Sad Decline of Arthur Maybury, The"|''The Sad Decline of Arthur Maybury'' | {{sortname|John|Gorrie|dab=director}} | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|John|Gorrie|dab=director}} | Roland Culver Lally Bowers Valerie White John Ringham John Savident Sheila Grant Harry Littlewood Sylvia Coleridge Paul Greenhalgh Peter Stenson | | missing |- id="All Out for Kangaroo Valley" | {{dts|5 November 1969}} | ''All Out for Kangaroo Valley'' | Noel Robinson | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Bill|Bain|dab=director}} | Sandra Gleeson Mark Edwards Jennifer Young Kerry Francis Peter Arne Peter Collier Donald Pickering Eileen Way | | missing |- id="Happy" | {{dts|12 November 1969}} | ''Happy'' | Alan Gosling | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Marc|Miller|nolink=1}} | Malcolm McDowell Richard Vernon Brenda Bruce Leslie Sands Pauline Collins Frank Mills David Ashford | | missing |- id="There Is Also Tomorrow" | {{dts|19 November 1969}} | ''There Is Also Tomorrow'' | Hugo Charteris | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|John|MacKenzie|John Mackenzie (film director)}} | Glyn Houston Jean Harvey Ann Penfold David Burke Neville Smith John Nettleton Kenneth Farrington Alec Ross | Colour. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 24 June 1971. | missing |- id="Double Bill" | {{dts|26 November 1969}} | ''Double Bill'' | Johnny Speight | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|David|Myerscough-Jones}} | Marty Feldman Eileen Atkins Joby Blanshard Diane Aubrey Donald Gee | Colour. Comprises ''The Compartment'' and ''Playmates''. ''Playmates'' was repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 8 April 1971. | Yes (16mm b&w print) |- id="Blood of the Lamb" | {{dts|3 December 1969}} | ''Blood of the Lamb'' | Leon Whiteson | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Alan|Bridges}} | Frank Finlay Nicola Pagett T.P. McKenna Anthony Corlan Donald Morley Trevor Martin | Colour | missing |- id="The Vortex" | {{dts|10 December 1969}} | data-sort-value="Vortex, The"|''The Vortex'' | Noël Coward | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Philip|Dudley|nolink=1}} | Margaret Leighton Alan Melville Patrick Barr Jennifer Daniel Barry Justice Richard Warwick Felicity Gibson Nancie Jackson David McKail | Colour. Adapted from the play. | Yes |- id="It Wasn't Me" | {{dts|17 December 1969}} | ''It Wasn't Me'' | James Hanley | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | Frances Cuka Ronald Lacey Derek Francis Milton Johns | Colour | missing |- id="The Season of the Witch" | {{dts|7 January 1970}} | data-sort-value="Season of the Witch, The"|''The Season of the Witch'' | {{sortname|Desmond|McCarthy|nolink=1}} and Johnny Byrne | {{sortname|Anne|Head|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Desmond|McCarthy|nolink=1}} | Julie Driscoll Paul Nicholas Robert Powell Maurice Quick Fanny Carby Glynn Edwards Tony Caunter | Colour. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 22 April 1971. | Yes |- id="Mille Miglia" | {{dts|14 January 1970}} | ''Mille Miglia'' | Athol Fugard | {{sortname|Ronald|Travers|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Robin|Midgley}} | Michael Bryant Ronald Lacey Guy Deghy George Roubicek Douglas Ditta | Colour. Repeat of 5 August 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. | rowspan="2" | Yes |- id="The Hunting of Lionel Crane" | {{dts|21 January 1970}} | data-sort-value="Hunting of Lionel Crane, The"|''The Hunting of Lionel Crane'' | Roy Minton | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Michael|Tuchner}} | Robert Powell Michael Robbins Geoffrey Hughes Walter Sparrow John Rees Reg Lye | Colour |- id="Rest in Peace Uncle Fred" | {{dts|28 January 1970}} | ''Rest in Peace Uncle Fred'' | Alan Plater | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Michael|Hayes|dab=director}} | Susan Jameson Corin Redgrave Jack Watson Jo Rowbottom | Colour | missing |- id="Mad Jack" | {{dts|4 February 1970}} | ''Mad Jack'' | Tom Clarke | {{sortname|Jack|Gold}} | Michael Jayston Michael Pennington Clive Swift David Wood Donald Sumpter Ann Beach | Colour. Winner of the first prize and the silver Dore Catholic Prize at the 1971 Monte Carlo International Television Festival. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 18 March 1971. | rowspan="2" | Yes |- id="Nathan and Tabileth" | {{dts|11 February 1970}} | ''Nathan and Tabileth'' | {{sortname|Barry|Bermange|nolink=1}} | data-sort-value="Savory, Gerald"|Gerald Savory, David Koning | {{sortname|Barry|Bermange|nolink=1}} | Albert van Dalsum Nell Knoop | Colour (almost entirely in brown and white, with one colour scene). A BBC/NCRV co-production, shot as a silent film then re-dubbed into both English and Dutch. |- id="The Italian Table" | {{dts|18 February 1970}} | data-sort-value=Italian Table, The|''The Italian Table'' | William Trevor | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Herbert|Wise}} | Leonard Rossiter Isabel Dean Moira Redmond Ronald Hines | Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 17 June 1971. | missing |- id="The Boy Who Wanted Peace" | {{dts|25 February 1970}} | data-sort-value="Boy Who Wanted Peace, The"|''The Boy Who Wanted Peace'' | George Friel | {{sortname|Pharic|MacLaren|nolink=1}} | | Laurance Ruddick Roddy McMillan Joseph Brady Irene Sunters | From BBC Scotland | Yes |- id="The Cellar and the Almond Tree" | {{dts|4 March 1970}} | data-sort-value="Cellar and the Almond Tree, The"|''The Cellar and the Almond Tree'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Alan|Bridges}} | Celia Johnson Peter Vaughan Sydney Tafler Patsy Byrne Bernard Kay Jon Rollason Godfrey James Valentino Musetti | Colour. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 10 June 1971, on BBC2 13 December 1980 and on BBC1 14 July 1988. | Yes |- id="The Year of the Sex Olympics" | {{dts|11 March 1970}} | data-sort-value="Year of the Sex Olympics, The"|''The Year of the Sex Olympics'' | Nigel Kneale | {{sortname|Ronald|Travers|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Michael|Elliott|dab=director}} | Leonard Rossiter Suzanne Neve Tony Vogel Vickery Turner Brian Cox George Murcell Martin Potter Patricia Maynard Derek Fowlds Wolfe Morris | Colour. Repeat of 29 July 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. Repeated again 22 May 2003. | rowspan="5" | Yes (16mm b&w print) |- id="No Trams to Lime Street" | {{dts|18 March 1970}} | ''No Trams to Lime Street'' | Alun Owen | {{sortname|Harry|Moore|nolink=1}} | {{sortname|Piers|Haggard}} | Rosemary Nicols Glyn Owen Anthony May Paul Greenwood Elian Wyn Artro Morris Julia Hand Gerard Hely George Giles | Colour. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 11 March 1971. |- id="To See How Far It Is: 1: Murphy's Law" | {{dts|25 March 1970}} | ''To See How Far It Is: 1: Murphy's Law'' |rowspan=3|Alan Plater |rowspan=3|{{sortname|Michael|Bakewell}} | {{sortname|Roderick|Graham|nolink=1}} | Norman Rodway Nigel Davenport Philip Bond John Bryans Donald Gee Rhoda Lewis Arthur Cox Arnold Ridley | Colour. Repeat of 1 January 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. |- id="To See How Far It Is: 2: The Curse of the Donkins" | {{dts|1 April 1970}} | ''To See How Far It Is: 2: The Curse of the Donkins'' | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Nigel Davenport Norman Rodway Stephanie Bidmead Fiona Walker John Bryans Jill Melford Patricia Maynard Tony Blackburn Judith Chalmers Stephen Jack | Colour. Repeat of 8 January 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. |- id="To See How Far It Is: 3: To See How Far It Is" | {{dts|8 April 1970}} | ''To See How Far It Is: 3: To See How Far It Is'' | {{sortname|Naomi|Capon}} | Nigel Davenport Norman Rodway Geoffrey Bayldon Peter Stephens | Colour. Repeat of 15 January 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. |- id="Wine of India" | {{dts|15 April 1970}} | ''Wine of India'' | Nigel Kneale | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Gilchrist|Calder|nolink=1}} | Annette Crosbie Brian Blessed John Standing Rosemary Nicols Catherine Lacey Ian Ogilvy Reg Whitehead | Colour | missing |- id="Sovereign's Company" | {{dts|22 April 1970}} | ''Sovereign's Company'' | Don Shaw | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|Alan|Clarke}} | Roland Culver Gareth Forwood James Cosmo David Rowlands Raymond Adamson Norman Mitchell Moray Watson John Nettleton | Colour. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 15 April 1971. | Yes |- id="Party Games" | {{dts|29 April 1970}} | ''Party Games'' | Hugh Whitemore | {{sortname|Michael|Bakewell}} | {{sortname|Roderick|Graham|nolink=1}} | Frederick Jaeger Eileen Atkins Derek Smith John Nettleton Nancie Jackson Roger Mutton Paul Angelis Ray Armstrong Roy Pearce Joby Blanshard | Colour. Repeat of 11 March 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. | missing |- id="Emma's Time" | {{dts|13 May 1970}} | ''Emma's Time'' | David Mercer | {{sortname|Graeme|McDonald|Graeme MacDonald}} | {{sortname|Alan|Bridges}} | Michele Dotrice Andrew Keir Robert Kelvin Peter Vaughan Ian Holm John Sharp Kay Dotrice | Colour | rowspan="2" | Yes |- id="Chariot of Fire" | {{dts|20 May 1970}} | ''Chariot of Fire'' | Tony Parker | {{sortname|Irene|Shubik}} | {{sortname|James|Ferman}} | Rosemary Leach Jimmy Gardner Charles Tingwell Stephen Yardley George Selway Frank Mills Michael Turner | Colour. Repeated as a ''Play for Today'' 1 July 1971. |- id="Wind versus Polygamy" | {{dts|27 May 1970}} | ''Wind versus Polygamy'' | Obi Egbuna | {{sortname|Michael|Bakewell}} | {{sortname|Naomi|Capon}} | Earl Cameron Gordon Jackson Charles Hyatt Clifton Jones Rudolph Walker Elroy Josephs | Colour. Repeat of 15 July 1968 ''Theatre 625'' on BBC2. Repeated also 1 April 1971 as a ''Play for Today''. | missing |}

==''The Wednesday Play'' on DVD== * ''Alice'' (written by Dennis Potter; directed by Gareth Davies), as an extra on the DVD of Jonathan Miller's 1966 ''Alice in Wonderland'' * ''Cathy Come Home'' (written by Jeremy Sandford; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''The End of Arthur's Marriage'' (written by Christopher Logue; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''In Two Minds'' (written by David Mercer; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''The Nigel Barton Plays'': ''Stand Up, Nigel Barton'' and ''Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton'' (written by Dennis Potter; directed by Gareth Davies) * ''The Big Flame'' (written by Jim Allen; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''The War Game'' (written and directed by Peter Watkins) * ''3 Clear Sundays'' (written by James O'Connor; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''Up the Junction'' (written by Nell Dunn; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''The Golden Vision'' (written by Neville Smith and Gordon Honeycombe; directed by Kenneth Loach) * ''The Vortex'' (written by Noël Coward; directed by Philip Dudley), in the Noël Coward Collection, BBCDVD2566 * ''The Year of the Sex Olympics'' (written by Nigel Kneale, directed by Michael Elliott), DVD released by the BFI * ''The Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel'' (written by Peter Terson, directed by Alan Clarke), in the 'Alan Clarke at the BBC' box set from the BFI. * ''Sovereign's Company'' (written by Don Shaw, directed by Alan Clarke), in the 'Alan Clarke at the BBC' box set from the BFI.

==See also== * ''Armchair Theatre'' * ''ITV Playhouse'' * ''Play for Today'' * ''Play for Tomorrow'' * ''Screen One'' * ''Screen Two'' * ''Theatre 625'' * ''Thirty-Minute Theatre'' * ''Thursday Theatre''

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *Evans, Jeff. ''The Penguin TV Companion'' (1st edn). London: Penguin Books. 2001. {{ISBN|0-14-051467-8}}. *Vahimagi, Tise. ''British Television: An Illustrated Guide''. Oxford: Oxford University Press / British Film Institute. 1994. {{ISBN|0-19-818336-4}}.

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210919115712/https://www.startrader.co.uk/wed_index.htm ''The Wednesday Play''] site with history and individual episodes listed *[https://web.archive.org/web/20181212093629/https://museum.tv/eotv/wednesdaypla.htm Encyclopedia of Television] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718075448/http://www.tvcream.co.uk/?cat=2693 TV Cream website] *{{BBC programme}} *{{IMDb title|id=0058853}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wednesday Play}} Category:1964 British television series debuts Category:1970 British television series endings Category:1960s British drama television series Category:1970s British drama television series Category:1960s British anthology television series Category:1970s British anthology television series Category:BBC television dramas Category:Black-and-white British television shows Category:English-language British television shows Category:Lost BBC television shows Category:BBC anthology television shows Category:Social realism Category:Wednesday Category:Television series created by Sydney Newman Category:The Wednesday Play