Sunday-Night Play (1960)
A landmark BBC anthology drama series that brought diverse, self-contained stories to British living rooms every Sunday evening from 1960 to 1963.
Sunday-Night Play - Series Information
- Original Title: Sunday-Night Play
- First Air Year: 1960
- Last Air Year: 1963
- Type: TV Series
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 231
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: BBC Television
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
- Alternative Titles: BBC Sunday-Night Play (UK)
Sunday-Night Play - Plot
BBC anthology drama series that ran over four seasons and replaced the previous BBC Sunday Night Theatre series.
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Sunday-Night Play - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- William Russell
- Marius Goring
- Raymond Huntley
- Lee Montague
- Michael Brennan
- John Phillips
- John Bennett
- Patsy Rowlands
- Barrie Ingham
- Eric Portman
Writers
- Maurice Edelman
- R. Gore Brown
- Carl Zuckmayer
- Rod Serling
- Miles Malleson
- Hugh Whitemore
Sunday-Night Play - FAQs
What is Sunday-Night Play about?
Sunday-Night Play was a BBC anthology drama series broadcast from 1960 to 1963. Each episode presented a self-contained dramatic story, featuring a rotating cast of British and international actors. It succeeded the earlier BBC Sunday Night Theatre, continuing the tradition of prestige Sunday evening drama on British television.
How many seasons and episodes does Sunday-Night Play have?
Sunday-Night Play ran for four seasons totalling 231 episodes. Season 1 contained 92 episodes, Season 2 had 37, Season 3 delivered 51, and Season 4 rounded out the run with another 51 episodes, making it a remarkably prolific anthology series for its era.
Who are the main actors in Sunday-Night Play?
As an anthology series, Sunday-Night Play featured a rotating cast. Notable performers who appeared include William Russell, Marius Goring, Raymond Huntley, Lee Montague, Michael Brennan, John Phillips, John Bennett, Patsy Rowlands, Barrie Ingham, and Eric Portman.
What replaced BBC Sunday Night Theatre before Sunday-Night Play?
Sunday-Night Play directly succeeded BBC Sunday Night Theatre, stepping into the prestigious Sunday evening drama slot. The transition maintained the BBC's long-standing commitment to high-quality televised drama, keeping the format of standalone plays presented to a wide British audience each week.
Who wrote episodes of Sunday-Night Play?
The series drew on a diverse range of writers, including Maurice Edelman, R. Gore Brown, Carl Zuckmayer, Rod Serling, Miles Malleson, and Hugh Whitemore. The inclusion of Rod Serling — creator of The Twilight Zone — among the contributors highlights the international scope of the anthology's material.
When did Sunday-Night Play first air?
Sunday-Night Play first aired in 1960 on BBC Television. The series concluded in 1963 after four seasons, leaving behind a substantial legacy of 231 individual dramatic episodes that reflected the breadth and ambition of early British television drama.
What network aired Sunday-Night Play?
Sunday-Night Play aired on BBC Television, the United Kingdom's public broadcasting service. It occupied a prestigious Sunday evening slot, consistent with the BBC's tradition of presenting quality drama to broad national audiences throughout the early 1960s.
What are similar shows to Sunday-Night Play?
Fans of anthology drama may enjoy Small Axe (2020), The Romanoffs (2018), Accused (2023), American Horror Stories (2021), Just Beyond (2021), and Miracle Workers (2019). Each series shares the anthology format's appeal of fresh, self-contained stories with varied casts and themes across episodes.
More About Sunday-Night Play
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