Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

Short dramas each with a twist of some kind; across the first four seasons most of these are from short stories by Roald Dahl.

Genre: ComedyDramaHorror

Cast:Roald DahlAndrew RayForbes CollinsRichard JohnsonJoan CollinsSheila GishJohn MillsLucy GutteridgeCyril LuckhamMark LewisDouglas LambertJean KitsonGiles PhibbsRichard FoxtonPat LewisRoy MarsdenAnthony ValentineColin Blakely


1Season 5

S5.E1 ∙ Blue Marigold

Sun, Apr 25, 1982

Myra is an actor and the face--but not the voice--of Blue Marigold perfume, which leads to feelings of dejection.

2Season 5

S5.E2 ∙ The Eavesdropper

Sun, May 2, 1982

Moira overhears a conversation in a restaurant. Is the woman having an affair with her husband?

3Season 5

S5.E3 ∙ Operation Safecrack

Sun, May 9, 1982

Holdwell Safes do a publicity stunt featuring a top safe-cracker but now he has changed career.

4Season 5

S5.E4 ∙ Run, Rabbit, Run

Sun, May 16, 1982

Ex-soldier Robert goes back to visit his old billet in Paris to learn how things have changed around since World War Two.

5Season 5

S5.E5 ∙ Stranger in Town

Sun, May 23, 1982

A charming and eccentric stranger arrives in town. But why?

6Season 5

S5.E6 ∙ The Moles

Sun, May 30, 1982

An unlikely ensemble come together to rob a bank.

7Season 5

S5.E7 ∙ Decoy

Sun, Jun 6, 1982

Chief Inspector McLintock sets up WPC Mary Bryan as a decoy to catch a serial killer.

8Season 5

S5.E8 ∙ Pattern of Guilt

Sun, Jun 13, 1982

A man desperate to divorce his wife takes drastic action to rid himself of her.

9Season 5

S5.E9 ∙ A Harmless Vanity

Sun, Jun 20, 1982

Mary discovers her husband is having an affair so has a life-changing makeover.

10Season 5

S5.E10 ∙ Death Can Add

Sun, Jun 27, 1982

High-flying Oliver has a scam to make his firm, and himself, rich. Can death add?

11Season 5

S5.E11 ∙ Light Fingers

Sun, Jul 4, 1982

Ralph Stackpole runs a glove factory but gloves are being stolen on a regular basis, throwing suspicion on all those employed there, including Cotter, his designer. Henry brings in Semple, a private detective who comes up with a plan to trap the thief and at breakfast Henry explains it to his usually disinterested wife Joan. As a consequence stolen items start to crop up in the most unlikely places.

12Season 5

S5.E12 ∙ Death in the Morning

Sun, Jul 11, 1982

Newly married young wife Karen seeks to discover and overcome a malign presence in her new abode.

13Season 5

S5.E13 ∙ What Have You Been up to Lately?

Sun, Jul 18, 1982

Two failed actors meet by chance and go for a drink together. Once rivals, they discover they now have more in common than they imagined.

14Season 5

S5.E14 ∙ The Absence of Emily

Sun, Jul 25, 1982

Two sisters and the husband of one have their differences. When Emily goes absent what will the repercussions be?

15Season 5

S5.E15 ∙ In the Bag

Sun, Aug 1, 1982

Sam is an expert safe cracker - 'a professional'. His accomplice, however, is an anxious amateur.

16Season 5

S5.E16 ∙ A Man with a Fortune

Sun, Aug 8, 1982

Calculating Janet reckons she will benefit from helping 'Man with a fortune' John Smith find out about his ancestors.

17Season 5

S5.E17 ∙ Who's Got the Lady?

Sun, Aug 15, 1982

Gallery owner Parnell invests in extensive security measures for a valuable painting he is loaned for display.

18Season 5

S5.E18 ∙ The Skeleton Key

Sun, Aug 22, 1982

Emma and Max are getting together and her previous boyfriend Andy is not happy about it. Can an old watch key resolve the situation?