Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

1979 9 Seasons 112 Episodes ⭐ 6.8 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.

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.

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Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

The Man From the South

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

EP 2

Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat

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

EP 3

William and Mary

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

EP 4

Lamb to the Slaughter

An enraged detective's wife kills her husband by smashing in his skull with a heavy blunt instrument - but no murder wea

EP 5

The Landlady

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

EP 6

Neck

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

EP 7

Edward the Conqueror

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

EP 8

A Dip in the Pool

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

EP 9

The Way Up to Heaven

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

EP 1

Royal Jelly

Mabel’s baby is sick and her bee obsessed husband thinks he has found a remedy. Will he get the baby buzzing back to h

EP 2

Skin

An old street beggar, a former tattooist, was a friend of the famous artist, Soutine. On his back, he has a tattoo by th

EP 3

Galloping Foxley

A man starts to suffer when he becomes haunted by the memory of the brutal treatment he received in his childhood.

EP 4

The Hitch-Hiker

When a driver picks up a hitch-hiker in his car, his journey turns into a thrilling ride.

EP 5

Poison

A poisonous snake keeps a teacher prisoner in India. How can he escape from its evil glare?

EP 6

Fat Chance

The husband of a fat, greedy woman has a clever plan to get rid of her - but the plan is flawed.

EP 7

Taste

A dinner party takes a surprising turn when one pretentious guest is challenged to a wine tasting contest.

EP 8

My Lady Love, My Dove

When Pamela and Arthur invite a young couple over for the weekend, things take a surprising turn.

EP 9

Georgy Porgy

George has problems with female attention, but when a beautiful woman joins his congregation things are set to change.

EP 10

Depart in Peace

An art collector finds himself drawn into an unusual struggle with two beautiful women.

EP 11

The Umbrella Man

A con man arrives in town and starts his scam.

EP 12

Genesis & Catastrophe

A pregnant lady is worried that she may miscarry for the fourth time. Can her doctor reassure her?

EP 13

Mr Botibol's First Love

A jaded businessman sells his company and attempts to change his life for the better by buying a strange piano.

EP 14

Back for Christmas

A philandering physician with an obsession for orchids cultivates a deadly plot to see off his wife.

EP 15

The Orderly World of Mr Appleby

A man married three times might be lucky for the fourth time when he meets a new interest.

EP 16

The Man at the Top

A young, unemployed seaman kills someone in a botched robbery. Convinced the police will trace the knife used back to hi

EP 1

The Flypaper

With a 12-year-old found dead and a killer perhaps on the loose, a young girl becomes paranoid.

EP 2

A Picture of a Place

Hazel is a gullible, old widow whose farmhouse is full of antiques, and Merv is a charming conman who buys a valuable pi

EP 3

Proof of Guilt

Hard-bitten police inspector Walters has a murder on his hands that he can't crack. The prime suspect is George Stamford

EP 4

Vengeance is Mine Inc.

Mrs Wilbur gets more than she bargained for when she calls upon the unusual services of Tom and George, starving writers

EP 5

A Girl Can't Always Have Everything

Struggling actresses Suzy and Pat meet Herbert, a wealthy widower. Seductive Suzy enjoys his money, but things soon don'

EP 6

Parson's Pleasure

Cyril makes a profitable living as a rogue antiques dealer, but when he buys a farmer’s valuable furniture item, his l

EP 7

The Stinker

When millionaire Jack runs into Harold, a boy he bullied at school, he gives him a job. But Harold soon suspects his wif

EP 8

I'll Be Seeing You

When Roland leaves his cruel, millionairess wife Vivien for a fresh start with his mistress Anna, the snubbed spouse pla

EP 9

The Party

When disgruntled factory manager Harry is left feeling undervalued by his colleagues, he decides to take revenge.

EP 1

Would You Believe It?

Two archaeologists working in Jordan get more than they bargained for when they decide to smuggle the statue of a myster

EP 2

Vicious Circle

An old lady catches Rex Tobin, a young burglar who was planning to rob her, and makes friends with him. But what is she

EP 3

The Boy Who Talked with Animals

When David rescues a giant turtle, it looks as though he's found a new friend, but there could be more to his pet than m

EP 4

The Best of Everything

Desperate to win the affections of his boss’s daughter, Arthur accepts the help of his friend Charlie. But is he ready

EP 5

A Woman's Help

Henpecked Arthur decides to get rid of his demanding wife once and for all, so long as he gets her money. Unfortunately,

EP 6

Shatterproof

Property tycoon Gerry Williams is married to the beautiful but unhappy Ellen, and somewhere the marriage has gone terrib

EP 7

The Sound Machine

A botanist has invented a machine that translates the sound of plants into speech. What he hears gives him a shock.

EP 8

Never Speak Ill of the Dead

David is accused of murder when his wife Irene vanishes. Her promiscuous lifestyle made her the talk of the town, but th

EP 9

The Best Policy

Harry Flock has had a temporary promotion as acting manager of a branch bank. He is honest and meticulous to a fault, bu

EP 10

The Last Bottle in the World

Kyros plans on giving his wife a priceless bottle of wine for their anniversary, but he has no intention of drinking to

EP 11

Kindly Dig Your Grave

Madame Lagrue runs a smart but commercial art gallery in Montmartre, Paris, getting rich at the expense of struggling ar

EP 12

Completely Foolproof

The very rich Joe Brisson is a self-made man with a number of enemies - including Lisa, his elegant but dangerously diss

EP 13

There's One Born Every Minute

Arthur and Margaret are a quiet couple. When she inherits £50,000, he reluctantly agrees to gamble it all on a dubious

EP 14

Bosom Friends

Nell and Emma are old school friends who are reunited after years apart. However, things quickly turn sour.

EP 15

A Glowing Future

Jack and Betsy are lovers. That is until Jack decides to go halfway across the world to be with his new Australian girlf

EP 16

The Way to Do it

The casino offers Roger an escape from his domineering aunt. He has a love for both gambling and a pretty hostess, but t

EP 17

Hijack

A hijacker on an aeroplane takes a stewardess hostage before demanding a million dollars and a parachute. Will the capta

EP 1

Blue Marigold

Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold's mental health deteriorates. Years later, she pl

EP 2

The Eavesdropper

Moira hears a woman discussing a trip to Paris with her lover Donald. Is her husband, also called Donald, having an affa

EP 3

Operation Safecrack

In an attempt to prove their safes are impregnable, a company challenges ex-safebreaker Sam to crack one for a cash priz

EP 4

Run, Rabbit, Run

Robert visits a couple who housed him during the war. But in Paris, he discovers that the husband has died, and the hero

EP 5

Stranger in Town

A stranger arrives in town and soon endears himself to the local community – although his motives prove sinister.

EP 6

The Moles

Two cash-strapped business owners tunnel their way into a bank – only to find they missed a crucial notice on the door

EP 7

Decoy

When a woman is murdered in a park, Constable Mary Bryan is used as bait to catch the suspected killer. But what if she

EP 8

Pattern of Guilt

Police doctor Keith Briscoe is desperate to leave his wife for an ex but loses hope when she refuses to divorce him.

EP 9

A Harmless Vanity

When Mary learns her husband is having an affair, she invites her rival to a beach party.

EP 10

Death Can Add

An auditor finds out that Oliver is defrauding his firm. But when he demands some hush money, he discovers a nasty surpr

EP 11

Light Fingers

Tired of gloves vanishing from his factory, Ralph hires a detective. Then, gloves begin appearing in unexpected places.

EP 12

Death in the Morning

Karen marries a rich landowner with a huge house in the country. But after moving in, she senses an evil spirit.

EP 13

What Have You Been Up to Lately?

As Richard and Fergus ponder a girl they both loved, they realise their failures in life.

EP 14

The Absence of Emily

Norma owns a big house and lets her sister Emily and her husband live there. But then Emily disappears.

EP 15

In the Bag

Cara is determined to get back her family jewels, which have been hidden away in a safe. Hiring a safe cracker, she goes

EP 16

A Man with a Fortune

A rich and lonely American ventures to England in search of his long-lost family.

EP 17

Who's Got the Lady?

When a piece of art is stolen, the gallery owner gets his girlfriend to make copies of it to sell.

EP 18

The Skeleton Key

A woman discovers a nasty side to her boyfriend's personality when he goes into hospital before a holiday.

EP 1

A Passing Opportunity

Frank is struggling financially and will do anything for money. Even murder.

EP 2

The Memory Man

Down on his luck, 'Memory Man' Colin agrees to help a shady character remember the number of a station locker. But then

EP 3

A Sad Loss

Claire and her boyfriend have always counted on inheriting her wealthy aunt's fortune - but they are forced to act fast.

EP 4

Clerical Error

While winding up his late father's affairs, Paul finds a bill demanding over £1,000 for pornography.

EP 5

Heir Presumptuous

George Devon, a wealthy rancher, is found murdered. His identical twin nephews stand to inherit his fortune, but one of

EP 6

Where's Your Sense of Humour?

George Forester is a compulsive prankster. His wife and friends have been victims for many years until one day he goes t

EP 7

Down Among the Sheltering Palms

An ex-soldier meets a beautiful woman on a nostalgic trip back to his old base. But she isn't all she seems.

EP 8

The Vorpal Blade

Elderly Teuton Von Baden recalls two men's duel to the death during his student days in Germany.

EP 9

The Wrong 'Un

After closing a deal, a German businessman meets an attractive but mysterious girl in a hotel bar.

EP 10

The Luncheon

Tony eats a pricey meal with Susan Mandeville, the extravagant wife of a filmmaker who wants the rights to his book.

EP 11

The Tribute

Three aristocratic women hear of the death of a woman who once served them as a nanny. They agree to go for lunch in her

EP 12

Hit and Run

Dr Roger Ashburn's beautiful wife tells him their marriage is over. Devastated, he begins a new life.

EP 13

Youth from Vienna

Being admired by the inventor of an anti-ageing formula is handy for Caroline, who is eager to keep her looks.

EP 14

The Turn of the Tide

Criminal lawyer Slade has his reasons for wanting his colleague dead. He meticulously plans the perfect murder.

EP 1

The Dirty Detail

Fred Pearson, a Vietnam veteran, is a broken man after years of punishment from his sergeant. One day, he walks into a b

EP 2

The Best Chess Player in the World

Shaw, the owner of a newspaper, is controlling and very rich. His wife is content with the money he provides, but is hav

EP 3

Proxy

Three men are being blackmailed by a woman for money. One day she is found murdered and the three worry that they will b

EP 4

Have a Nice Death

A writer is being hounded by the feminist movement over his books. If only he was at home with his wife everything would

EP 5

Number Eight

A driver picks up a hitchhiker. They hear on the radio that a serial killer is on the loose, nicknamed Willow the Wisp,

EP 6

The Last of the Midnight Gardeners

Walter is a vain writer and publisher with a wife and a mistress, based in London, and he likes to show off. He stages a

EP 7

The Gift of Beauty

After killing her husband to be with her young lover, an insecure woman is drawn in by a flyer for an anti-ageing proces

EP 8

Wet Saturday

George Princey has a high standing in the community, and when his daughter kills a man, he endeavours to cover it up to

EP 9

Sauce for the Goose

Olivia starts a relationship with a younger man on the basis that she has killed her husband and gained his fortune. Her

EP 10

Bird of Prey

Jack and Edna's pet parrot dies after laying an unusually large egg. On hatching, it reveals an aggressive black-feather

EP 11

I Like it Here in Wilmington

When a clothing manufacturer finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy, he ponders the idea of murdering his wife for the

EP 12

Accidental Death

Steve and Jane are con artists who gain access to people's homes claiming to be doing research into polish. But eventual

EP 13

The Reconciliation

James has walked out on his wife, who still loves him. His lawyer advises him that getting a divorce may be difficult un

EP 14

The Mugger

When a married politician falls in love with a woman at a party, things soon go wrong and his entire career and reputati

EP 15

The Open Window

When a young man climbs through the window of a Connecticut hunting lodge, he emerges on the other side in a strange new

EP 1

People Don't Do Such Things

Trouble looms when married woman Gwen falls for a successful romantic novelist.

EP 2

In the Cards

Madame Myra is a third-rate fortune teller who foresees a dim future for herself. And then she meets a stranger in town

EP 3

Nothin' Short of Highway Robbery

On a long drive through the desert, a couple get their car serviced and are handed an extortionate bill. But they plan o

EP 4

Scrimshaw

Brenda is a lonely drifter living in the island paradise of Key West. She has no friends and drinks a lot to forget her

EP 1

Skeleton in the Cupboard

Robert Smythe is a ruthless executive with a dangerous twenty year old secret. An echo from the past prompts him into a

EP 2

The Colonel's Lady

A colonel's comfortable life is disturbed when his wife writes a bestselling book of poetry. Is this evidence that she's

EP 3

The Surgeon

When wealthy Prince Zawi gives surgeon Robert Sandy a diamond for saving his life, the doctor finds that his new jewel i

EP 4

The Verger

When devoted verger Albert is forced to resign, he sets out to build a new life. But can he succeed in a modern world th

EP 5

The Facts of Life

When sheltered young son Nicholas travels to London to complete in a fencing competition, he gets caught up in a very st

EP 6

Wink Three Times

A timid provincial solicitor visits a smart London hotel on a business trip, and becomes embroiled in a curious case of

EP 7

The Dead Don't Steal

Ken Johnson runs a charter plane service with his lover and air stewardess Lilian, who indulges in a little smuggling on

EP 8

The Finger of Suspicion

Happily married and living in the Middle East, American safe-cracker Steve is suddenly threatened with extradition for a

EP 9

A Time to Die

Yves's marriage has gone stale and his young mistress has announced that she is pregnant. But he then makes a decision w

EP 10

Mr Know-All

When pretty hotel worker Elly is charmed by a guest, archaeologist Max Kelada, it seems that he might not be the man he

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