The Afternoon Play Episode Guide

Episode Guide

The Afternoon Play: Season 5

• Season 5 Episode 5: The Real Deal

  The Real Deal, by Susan Wilkins. A lawyer falls for the son of her lovelorn unattached mother's new boyfriend - but a solicitor's letter later makes her realise the enormity and consequences of what she's done. Last in series, starring Emma Fildes

• Season 5 Episode 4: Pieces of a Silver Lining

  Pieces of a Silver Lining, by Martin Jameson and Alun Nipper. A retired vicar is jailed for refusing to pay his council tax, and finds himself sharing a cell with a lifer whose company broadens his horizons in more ways than one. Jimmy Yuill stars

• Season 5 Episode 3: Come Fly With Me

  Come Fly With Me, by Martin Sadofski. Bride-to-be Kate finds herself jilted at the altar by her deadbeat fiance, throwing her back into the dating game and with a honeymoon about to be wasted. Her best friend and colleague at the register office comes up with the idea of finding her a new man to share the honeymoon with. Hannah Waterman and Kate Isitt star

• Season 5 Episode 2: Death Becomes Him

  Death Becomes Him, by Paul Smith. A cancer sufferer's family are preparing for his imminent death, with his son-in-law eagerly awaiting an inheritance and his wife ready to move on with another man. However, a research associate changes the course of events when he decides to test out a new drug on the patient. Black comedy, starring David Roper, Brian Capron and Kim Medcalf

• Season 5 Episode 1: Johnny Shakespeare

  New series of one-off dramas, beginning with Jim Cartwright's Johnny Shakespeare, the story of a charismatic but illiterate boy whose fortunes take a turn for the better when he meets a teacher. James Cartwright and Greta Scacchi star

The Afternoon Play: Season 4

• Season 4 Episode 5: Molly

  A mechanic discovers the perfect eco-friendly fuel for cars - her father's homebrew. She soon finds herself targeted by disgruntled oil companies desperate to preserve their monopoly, and a friendly patent consultant offers her his assistance. Georgia Taylor stars. Last in series

• Season 4 Episode 4: Jim's Wife

  Roy Dotrice and Ruth Gemmell star in Jim's Wife. The drama tells the story of Charlie, a pensioner who steals from his employer Rachel in an attempt to keep a promise made to his war comrade 60 years previously. Unfortunately, he is caught in the act and fired - but when Rachel hears the full story, she vows to do all she can to help fulfil his friend's wishes

• Season 4 Episode 3: Your Mother Should Know

  Your Mother Should Know, by Martin Sadofski. A steely old lady's meddling brings her daughter-in-law's perfect relationship to the brink of collapse. When she rents a house next door to the lovebirds, it becomes apparent there may be a problem. It takes a clown working as an undercover private detective to reveal the extent of her plot. Comedy drama, with Noah Huntley, Claire Cox, Sheila Reid and Colin Baker

• Season 4 Episode 2: The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds

  The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds, by Alan Plater. When an eccentric gardener dies, ownership of his beloved allotment passes to his student granddaughter Sam - who finds the old man's ghost has taken up residence in one of the sheds. However, property developers also have their eyes on the area. Starring James Bolam

• Season 4 Episode 1: Tea with Betty

  In Tea with Betty, by Paul Smith, a single mother receives a visit from the Queen in recognition of her efforts to revive her housing estate. However, the royal occasion is disrupted by the unwelcome arrival of her ex-husband. Starring Angela Lonsdale, Kieran O'Brien and Rosemary Leach

The Afternoon Play: Season 3

• Season 3 Episode 5: The Singing Cactus

  Raymond Quinn, Peter Capaldi, Melanie Hill and Ryan Regis star in The Singing Cactus, an unusual tale in which a boy receives the gift of a magical cactus plant, but comes to believe it's cursed. Obsessed with the idea of returning it to New Mexico, he looks for help at school, where he attracts the attention of bullies - and a mysterious wolf. Last in series

• Season 3 Episode 4: Reverse Psychology

  Koel Purie, Madhav Sharma, Joe McFadden and Robert Mountford star in Reverse Psychology, a family drama in which a headstrong Asian woman braves the wrath of her father by going out with a penniless potter instead of the family friend he's set her up with

• Season 3 Episode 3: The Good Citizen

  The Good Citizen, by Ed McCardie. A disillusioned husband declares his intention to found his own republic in a small rural village, a move that attracts the attention of a visiting tabloid journalist. The situation spirals out of control as the media descend on his newly created 'country'. Hugh Quarshie and Claire Goose star

• Season 3 Episode 2: The Trouble with George

  Lisa Faulkner, Reece Dinsdale and Siobhan Redmond star in The Trouble with George, a black comedy about a woman who grows bored of married life. She plots the murder of her husband with her fun-loving friend, hoping to claim an insurance payout and fulfil their dreams of life on the open road - but their plans keep backfiring and the duo soon find themselves in a less than ideal situation

• Season 3 Episode 1: The Hitch

  The Hitch stars Niall Buggy as a local priest who reveals himself to be an imposter, throwing his whole community into upheaval - not least two couples who discover they are not legally married. Samantha Janus, Neil Stuke, Nicola Stephenson and Jason Merrells star

The Afternoon Play: Season 2

• Season 2 Episode 5: Glasgow Dreams

  Glasgow Dreams. Christopher Timothy directs this drama set on a tough Glasgow council estate in which Yasmeela, who lives with her father, develops an unlikely friendship with their neighbour Dino, who harbours a natural distrust of foreigners. Shabana Bakhsh and James Young star, with appearances by Edith Bowman and Clare Grogan

• Season 2 Episode 4: Viva Las Blackpool

  Viva Las Blackpool, by Damian Fitzsimmons. Comedy about the exploits of three middle-aged women, Kathy, Mandy and Jill, who find themselves facing a series of emotional crises while at the same time trying to scoop the jackpot at the local bingo club. Former Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire directs, and Denise Black, Paula Wilcox and John McArdle star

• Season 2 Episode 3: Drive

  Kaye Wragg stars as Julie, a 29-year-old temp who becomes increasingly frustrated at living with her boyfriend's grandmother. A new job selling cars looks like her escape route, and she's soon competing with the male salesmen and making a big impression on her boss. But with her boyfriend losing his job, desperate to get married and showing no inclination to move out, she has to decide if he's what she really wants. Jamie Theakston and Jonathan Kerrigan co-star

• Season 2 Episode 2: Sons, Daughters and Lovers

  Sons, Daughters and Lovers, by Matthew Parkhill, in which a divorced father finds love with a younger woman he meets by chance in an antiques shop - but is shocked to discover his son is dating her mother. Starring Michael French, Antonia Bernath, Caroline Langrishe and Liam Garrigan

• Season 2 Episode 1: Venus and Mars

  One-off drama. Robson Green and Tina Hobley star as close friends Oliver and Grace, who are forced to face up to their true feelings for each other as he prepares to marry another woman : who has her own agenda : and she uncovers some unpleasant truths about the new man in her life

The Afternoon Play: Season 1

• Season 1 Episode 5: Girls' Weekend

  Daniela Denby-Ashe stars in Girls' Weekend. Kate, Beccy, Jo and Dawn set off to the coast for Kate's hen weekend, but the trip is beset by disaster almost from the moment of departure - including the drunken revelation that all three of the bride-to-be's friends have slept with her fiance. With Jeremy Edwards

• Season 1 Episode 4: Heroes and Villains

  Former Emmerdale stars Lisa Riley and Nicky Evans team up again in Heroes and Villains, a comedy set on the fictional Blackstead Towers estate. Petty crook Jonny Potter sells a batch of dodgy leather jackets - complete with designer drugs inside - to the residents of the estate. The buyers soon find themselves dodging the Mafia and the police - even at a local funeral

• Season 1 Episode 3: The Real Arnie Griffin

  Ray Burdis, Lucy Benjamin and Lucy Davis star in The Real Arnie Griffin, a comedy about a store detective who investigates a hit-and-run incident involving two car dealers. The adventure that ensues reveals more about the would-be policeman than he could have imagined. Directed by Nigel Havers

• Season 1 Episode 2: Coming Up for Air

  Jeremy Sheffield and June Whitfield star in Coming Up For Air. When his boss orders him to take a week off, solicitor Tom heads for Spain and suffers a type of amnesia brought on by delayed shock, overwork and bereavement. With the help of a woman he meets abroad, he is forced to rediscover who he was and gets to know his children and his mother as if for the first time

• Season 1 Episode 1: Turkish Delight

  Series of daily plays, beginning with Turkish Delight. Carol is an overweight, unattractive woman, with no sex life to speak of and a marriage wearing very thin. Best friend Brenda, however, is a maverick divorcee with the perfect boost for her flagging self-confidence and boring bedtimes - belly dancing lessons. Will Carol be able to prove herself at her new-found hobby? Comedy, starring Denise Welch and Glynis Barber