The Afternoon Play is a British television anthology series of standalone contemporary dramas aired during the afternoons of 2003–07 on BBC One, featuring well-known actors in one-off stories. A daytime drama strand showcasing a variety of genres, from comedy to mystery, it was part of a long tradition of afternoon plays on BBC Radio 4, which would go on to influence the television version.

Where to Watch The Afternoon Play • Series 1

5 Episodes

  • Turkish Delight
    E1
    Turkish DelightA bored housewife finds glamour and excitement when she starts a job belly-dancing in a Turkish restaurant.
  • Coming Up for Air
    E2
    Coming Up for AirAn 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.
  • The Real Arnie Griffin
    E3
    The Real Arnie GriffinAn 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.
  • Heroes and Villains
    E4
    Heroes and VillainsOn 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.
  • Girls' Weekend
    E5
    Girls' WeekendFour 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.

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