The Afternoon Play
The Afternoon Play is a BBC One anthology of individual plays. Five 5-episode seasons were produced between 2003 and 2008.
Seasons
1. Turkish Delight
Air Date: 2003-01-27
A bored housewife finds glamour and excitement when she starts a job belly-dancing in a Turkish restaurant.
2. Coming Up for Air
Air Date: 2003-01-28
An overworked, unhappy widower who suffers from stress ends up with shock-related amnesia when he takes a holiday in Spain. With the help of a woman he meets out there, he then has to rediscover his old identity, meeting family and colleagues as if for the first time.
3. The Real Arnie Griffin
Air Date: 2003-01-29
An undercover store detective, who prides himself on his disguises but longs to solve real crimes, seizes a chance to impress both his estranged wife and investigate a hit-and-run.
4. Heroes and Villains
Air Date: 2003-01-30
On a deprived housing estate, down-and-out Jonny steals some dodgy leather jackets that turn out to have drugs in them. When his girlfriend Marlene sells them on to the locals, she receives a tip-off about their contents and realises they must be retrieved.
5. Girls' Weekend
Air Date: 2003-01-31
Four old friends take a hen weekend by the sea, where the bride-to-be discovers that the others have all slept with her fiancé. The fiancé, meanwhile, realising something is wrong, abandons his stag weekend to go and find her.
1. Venus and Mars
Air Date: 2004-01-26
Best friends Oliver and Grace begin to ponder why they have never taken their relationship further. After a passionate weekend in the country, they attempt to go back to their normal lives, but Oliver's new fiancé has her own agenda – and it's not long before both Oliver and Grace are forced to make life-changing decisions.
2. Sons, Daughters and Lovers
Air Date: 2004-01-27
Divorcee Hardy Rose finds new love with high-flyer Kate, whilst his son, Ben, falls head over heels for an older woman, Anna. But when Anna is revealed as Kate's mother, father and son realise that they have fallen for the wrong partner.
3. Drive
Air Date: 2004-01-29
Julie, a 29-year-old temp with a steady boyfriend, finds her life is going nowhere, but when she gets a contract at Sunshine Cars, she gets a new lease of life. Suddenly, Julie is forced to compete with the men, making changes to impress her boss. But will she have to compromise to reach the top?
4. Viva Las Blackpool
Air Date: 2004-01-30
Divorcee Kathy is not taking being separated too well, but her situation is further complicated by her ex-husband's new wife trying to bed her best friend's son, and her teenage daughter becoming increasingly difficult to handle.
5. Glasgow Dreams
Air Date: 2004-02-02
Yasmeela and her father, Arob, who live on an isolated, rough Glaswegian council estate, find themselves being avoided and ridiculed on a daily basis – until an unexpected encounter with their enigmatic young neighbour, Dino, whose humour and optimism brings both romance and ambition into their lives.
1. The Hitch
Air Date: 2005-01-24
Two couples learn that their ten-year marriages were not legal as the priest was a fake reflect on their lives while preparing for a new ceremony.
2. The Trouble with George
Air Date: 2005-01-25
A woman finds that marriage to her sweet-but-dull husband is becoming intolerable, but as her friendship blooms with a female neighbour, they soon find themselves planning ways to do away with him, collect the life insurance and live together unhindered.
3. The Good Citizen
Air Date: 2005-01-26
A man enters a rural police station and announces he is seceding from Britain and starting his own republic. As he is hounded by the press, threatened by the government and exposed by his fame-seeking ex-wife, he struggles to retain the rural simplicity he thought would solve all his problems, while his growing relationship with a tabloid journalist only complicates his life further.
4. Reverse Psychology
Air Date: 2005-01-27
Sonia, a very successful sexual health doctor, is unhappy about her parents' constant interference in her day-to-day life, and decides to speak out. But her father is anything less than happy about that, and tries everything to correct her life and hook her up with a man.
5. The Singing Cactus
Air Date: 2005-01-28
14-year-old schoolboy John Reilly, suffering from his father's death, finds escape in his own world with an imaginary 'singing cactus', Native American mysticism, Morris dancers, and an ominous wolf.
1. Tea with Betty
Air Date: 2006-01-16
Single mum Wendy, bringing up an autistic son and dealing with a challenging ex-husband, faces a constant struggle as she tries to encourage the residents of the housing estate where she lives to maintain some respect for their surroundings. On the 10th anniversary of the riots that nearly destroyed their home, the Queen visits the estate and meet Wendy in her own home, throwing the other residents into a rare show of community spirit.
2. The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds
Air Date: 2006-01-17
Sam, an overworked young student, inherits her grandfather's allotment and finds herself taking on his ghost into the bargain. She finds herself strangely drawn to this peaceful new world, until the allotments come under threat. Sam and the allotment committee fight to save their world as they know it.
3. Your Mother Should Know
Air Date: 2006-01-18
A battle of wills between Edith, a steely little old lady, and her new daughter-in-law, Jessica, ensues when hapless hunk Gary arrives on the scene. As Jessica's perfect relationship disintegrates at the hands of a seemingly helpless old woman, the courts intervene, and events take a turn for the worse.
4. Are You Jim's Wife?
Air Date: 2006-01-19
Rachel is devastated when husband Matt insists they divorce and sell the cafe they ran together. Determined to avoid the inevitable, Rachel throws herself into helping elderly employee Charlie fulfil a promise – to deliver a message of love to the long-lost wife of a friend who died in his arms in WWII. During the race to find Jim's wife, Rachel finally finds the courage to put the past behind her.
5. Molly
Air Date: 2006-01-20
To the frustration of her snobbish mother, Molly's never happier than when she's spending time with loser boyfriend Johnny, or tinkering with an engine. But when Molly discovers a self-sustaining, emission free, inexhaustible fuel, she grabs the opportunity to fulfil her dream of helping others, unintentionally leaving Johnny behind. Innocent, optimistic Molly finds herself in the lion's den of the oil industry as she contends with some dodgy characters, but will she succeed in her dream?
1. Johnny Shakespeare
Air Date: 2007-01-22
Johnny, a confident and charismatic but illiterate young man, finds that after life on his estate, the only way is down. But when he meets a drama teacher, he finds the world opening up in a way he'd never dreamt of.
2. Death Becomes Him
Air Date: 2007-01-23
Hospital patient Frank lies silently in a coma as his family gather around him, preparing for the inevitable, until a maverick doctor decides that Frank will be his latest experiment – and that he is not going to give up without a fight.
3. Come Fly with Me
Air Date: 2007-01-24
After being dumped at the altar by text, bride Kate advertises for a man to go with her on her fully booked, all expenses paid dream honeymoon. But will anyone have the confidence to accept her offer? Or will candidates be champing at the bit?
4. Pieces of a Silver Lining
Air Date: 2007-01-25
Retired vicar Geoffrey takes a stand on his council tax and gets sent to prison for his trouble. Trapped in a cell with a lifer proves to be both a terrifying and life changing experience, but Geoffrey retract on his principles?
5. The Real Deal
Air Date: 2007-01-26
Smart and cynical solicitor Clare thinks the only place she deals with matters of the heart is at work – in the divorce court. But when she meets Tom, her whole life turns upside down. Is Clare right in thinking she has met 'The One'?
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Rating
0.0/10
Release Date
2003-01-27
Episodes
25 (5 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
BBC Birmingham