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The Afternoon Play

DramaComedyMystery

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.

Jan 27, 20035 seasons25 episodesEndedEN

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Seasons

Series 1

5 episodes

Premiered Jan 27, 2003

Series 2

5 episodes

Premiered Jan 26, 2004

Series 3

5 episodes

Premiered Jan 24, 2005

Series 4

5 episodes

Premiered Jan 16, 2006

Series 5

5 episodes

Premiered Jan 22, 2007

Episodes

1–5 of 5

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Ep 1

Turkish Delight

Jan 27, 2003

60m

A bored housewife finds glamour and excitement when she starts a job belly-dancing in a Turkish restaurant.

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Ep 2

Coming Up for Air

Jan 28, 2003

60m

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.

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Ep 3

The Real Arnie Griffin

Jan 29, 2003

60m

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.

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Ep 4

Heroes and Villains

Jan 30, 2003

60m

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.

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Ep 5

Girls' Weekend

Jan 31, 2003

60m

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.