Tales of the Unexpected

25min

Drama

A British television anthology of stories, often with sinister and wryly comedic undertones, and a twist at the end. With early episodes written and presented by Roald Dahl, the series featured a plethora of big name guest stars.

Production Companies

ITV

Anglia Television

Episodes

Cast

The Man From the South

1. The Man From the South

24min

24th Mar 1979

A young American couple on holiday meet a mysterious old gentleman who makes them a macabre wager.

Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat

2. Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat

25min

31st Mar 1979

Unable to show her dentist husband, Cyril, the fur coat her lover has given her, Mrs Bixby pawns it and pretends that she found the ticket.

William and Mary

3. William and Mary

25min

7th Apr 1979

When her husband William dies, Mary Pearl is shocked that his will stipulates that his brain should be kept alive.

Lamb to the Slaughter

4. Lamb to the Slaughter

25min

14th Apr 1979

An enraged detective's wife kills her husband by smashing in his skull with a heavy blunt instrument - but no murder weapon can be found, and the police are baffled.

The Landlady

5. The Landlady

25min

21st Apr 1979

When a young man arrives in Bath, he is shocked to find his seemingly charming landlady has a dark side.

Neck

6. Neck

24min

28th Apr 1979

A lady is cut down to size by her husband’s loyal butler when it is discovered she is having an affair.

Edward the Conqueror

7. Edward the Conqueror

25min

5th May 1979

When Edward grows tired of Louisa’s obsession with a stray cat and decides to get rid of it, she exacts her revenge.

A Dip in the Pool

8. A Dip in the Pool

25min

12th May 1979

An American gambler must come up with a cunning plan to slow down a ship at sea in order to win a bet.

The Way Up to Heaven

9. The Way Up to Heaven

25min

19th May 1979

Mrs Foster exacts an intriguing revenge on her husband after his dawdling causes her to miss a flight.

First air date

24th Mar 1979

Last air date

13th May 1988

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks