''Dead of Night'' is a British television

anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a differ ...

supernatural fiction Supernatural fiction or supernaturalist fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that exploits or is centered on supernatural themes, often contradicting naturalist assumptions of the real world. Description In its broadest definition, supe ...

, produced by the

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and broadcast on

BBC2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...

in 1972 over seven 50-minute episodes.

History

''Dead of Night'' is considered by some to be a spiritual successor to an earlier horror anthology by the BBC, ''

Late Night Horror ''Late Night Horror'' is a BBC horror series shown in 1968 over six 25-minute episodes. An anthology of short horror stories, ''Late Night Horror'' was cancelled after six episodes due to complaints from viewers, and the majority of the series i ...

''. Like ''Late Night Horror'', ''Dead of Night'' ran for a single series in the autumn of 1972. Only the first, second and seventh episodes – "The Exorcism", "Return Flight", and "A Woman Sobbing" – are retained on their original 625 line PAL colour

video Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syste ...

tapes in the BBC Archives. The videotapes of "Bedtime", "Death Cancels All Debts", "Smith" and "Two in the Morning" were either erased for reuse or junked during the mid-1970s, and not even any 16mm black-and-white film

telerecording Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program on motion picture film, directly through a lens focused on the screen of a video monitor. The process was pioneered during the 1940 ...

s made for overseas sales are known to exist. Another programme made by the ''Dead of Night'' production team under

Innes Lloyd George Innes Llewelyn Lloyd (24 December 1925 – 23 August 1991) was a Welsh television producer. He had a long career in BBC drama, which included producing series such as ''Doctor Who'' and ''Talking Heads''. Early life and career Fo ...

, ''

The Stone Tape ''The Stone Tape'' is a 1972 British television horror drama film written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Michael Bates and Iain Cuthbertson. It was broadcast on BBC Two as a Christmas gho ...

'', running to 90 minutes and intended to be the eighth episode, also survives in the BBC Archives, but this was broadcast as a stand-alone story and not shown under the ''Dead of Night'' banner.

BBC Four BBC Four is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002

re-broadcast "The Exorcism" on 22 December 2007. The three surviving episodes of ''Dead of Night'' were released on DVD by the

BFI The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

in October 2013, with extras including a gallery of stills from the four missing episodes, the downloadable scripts for all episodes (surviving and missing); and a booklet featuring essays and biographies by Lisa Kerrigan, Oliver Wake, Derek Johnston and Alex Davidson.

Cast

;"The Exorcism" *

Anna Cropper Anna Cropper (also Roache; 13 May 1938 – 22 January 2007) was an English stage and television actress. Early years Cropper was born in Brierfield, Lancashire, the daughter of Margaret, a stage actress and director, and Jack Cropper, a dentis ...

: Rachel * Sylvia Kay: Margaret *

Edward Petherbridge Edward Petherbridge (born 3 August 1936) is an English actor, writer and artist. Among his many roles, he portrayed Lord Peter Wimsey in the 1987 BBC television adaptations of Dorothy L. Sayers' novels, and Guildenstern in Tom Stoppard's ''Ro ...

: Edmund *

Clive Swift Clive Walter Swift (9 February 1936 – 1 February 2019) was an English actor and songwriter. A classically trained actor, his stage work included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but he was best known to television viewers for ...

: Dan *

Kenneth Kendall Kenneth Kendall (7 August 1924 – 14 December 2012) was a British broadcaster. He worked for many years as a newsreader for the BBC, where he was a contemporary of fellow newsreaders Richard Baker and Robert Dougall. He is also remembered as ...

: Newsreader ;"Return Flight" *

Peter Barkworth Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

: Captain Rolph * Bernard Brown: Frank Warley * Artro Morris: Samuels *

Diana Fairfax Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...

: Rosalind Warley *

Denis Lill Denis Lill (born 22 April 1942) is a New Zealand-born British actor. He is best known for his roles in '' Survivors'' as Charles Vaughan, ''Only Fools and Horses'' as Alan Parry, ''Outside Edge'' as Dennis Broadley and as Consultant General Sur ...

: Froggat * Anthony Dutton: Armstrong * Karin MacCarthy: Zoe * Barrie Fletcher: Arthur Shaw * Christopher Denham: Radar controller * Laurie Asprey: Ground controller *

Roger Avon Roger Avon (23 November 1914 – 21 December 1998) was an English stage, film and television actor born in Jarrow, County Durham. Some of his television appearances include ''Hancock's Half Hour'', ''Dad's Army'', ''When the Boat Comes In'', ...

: Police Inspector * Candida Fawsitt: Linda * Carl Bohen: Ernst * Paul Bentley: Franz * Hannah Kilpinen: Hilde ;"Bedtime" *

Sarah Badel Sarah M. Badel (born 30 March 1943) is a retired British stage and film actress. She is the daughter of actors Alan Badel and Yvonne Owen. Life and career Badel was born in London to actor, Alan Badel and actress, Yvonne Owen. She was educated ...

: Lorna *

Terrence Hardiman Terrence Hardiman (born 6 April 1937)Biographical detail

Sidney Johnson: Antique dealer *

Jacqueline Pearce Jacqueline Pearce (20 December 1943 – 3 September 2018) was a British film and television actress. She was best known for her portrayal of the principal villain Servalan in the British science fiction TV series ''Blake's 7'' (1978–1981), ...

: Sarah Hopkirk *

James Smillie James Smillie, (born 28 November 1944), also credited variously as James Smillie; Jim Smillie and Jim Smilie, is a Scottish-born Australian actor. He has worked in both Britain and Australia in film, extensively on stage, on television, with v ...

: Keith Hopkirk *

Neil Stacy Neil Stacy (born 1941) is a British actor particularly known for his role in the 1980s television series ''Duty Free''.Vahimagi p.292 Selected television filmography * ''The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling'' (1964) * '' It's Dark Outside'' (1965 ...

: Geoffrey Hamilton *

Yutte Stensgaard Yutte Stensgaard (born 14 May 1946) is a Danish actress born in Thisted, Jutland, Denmark, best known for her starring role in Hammer's ''Lust for a Vampire'' (1971). Career Born Jytte Stensgaard, she moved to the United Kingdom to improve her E ...

: Gertrud Wickett ;"Death Cancels All Debts" * David Baron: James Halt * Lucy Griffiths: Florence * Charles Lamb: Clockmender *

Graham Leaman Graham and Graeme may refer to: People * Graham (given name), an English-language given name * Graham (surname), an English-language surname * Graeme (surname), an English-language surname * Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer * Clan Gr ...

: Mr. Simon * Doris Littlewood: Mts. Walter * Frank Littlewood: Mr. Walter *

Preston Lockwood Reginald Herbert Lockwood (30 October 1912 – 24 April 1996), known professionally as Preston Lockwood, was an English radio and television actor. The only son of bus driver Herbert Lewis Lockwood and his wife Ethel May (née Preston), Lockwood ...

: Mr. Denfield * Sebastian Shaw: Powys Jubb * Gladys Spencer: Mrs. Simon *

Nora Swinburne Leonora Mary Johnson (24 July 1902 – 1 May 2000), known professionally as Nora Swinburne, was an English people, English actress who appeared in many Cinema of the United Kingdom, British films. Early years Swinburne was born in Bath, Somer ...

: Mariella Jubb * Marjorie Wilde: Mrs. Denfield * Katya Wyeth: Vanessa ;"Smith" *

John Castle John Michael Frederick Castle (born 14 January 1940) is an English actor. He is best known for his film and television work, most notably playing Bill in Michelangelo Antonioni's ''Blowup'' (1966) and Geoffrey in ''The Lion in Winter'' (196 ...

: Michael *

Christopher Hancock Christopher Anthony Arthur Hancock (5 June 1928 – 29 September 2004) was a British television and theatre actor. He was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. His brother was actor Stephen Hancock. He and his brother trained a ...

: Features editor *

Ruby Head A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sap ...

: Mrs. Hunter *

Gwen Taylor Gwen Taylor (born 19 February 1939) is an English actress who has appeared in many British television programmes. She is known for her roles as Amy Pearce in the sitcom ''Duty Free'' (1984–1986); Barbara Liversidge in the sitcom '' Barbara'' ...

: Tessa *

Stacey Tendeter Stacey Tendeter (21 June 1949 – 26 October 2008) was a British actress best known for her performance as Muriel in the 1971 film ''Two English Girls''. Her other cinematic appearances include ''White Bird'', ''Friend or Foe'', and ''Terminal Game ...

: Anne * John Gabriel: Scrutton * Madi Head: Miss Blatch *

Gerald Cross Gerald Cross (20 February 1912 – 26 February 1981) was an English actor. Among his credits are ''Doctor Who'', Francis Durbridge's ''The World of Tim Frazer'' and the ''Miss Marple'' films '' Murder, She Said'' (1961) and '' Murder Ahoy!'' (1 ...

: Voice * Denis McCarthy: Voice *

Peter Gilmore John Peter Gilmore (25 August 1931 – 3 February 2013), known as Peter Gilmore, was an English actor, known for his portrayal of Captain James Onedin in 91 episodes of the BBC television period drama ''The Onedin Line'' (1971–1980), cre ...

: ''(role unknown)'' * Jason Fithian: Major Smith ;"Two in the Morning" * Donald Douglas: Hazelhurst * John Gregg: Partner *

Frederick Hall Frederick or Fred Hall may refer to: * Frederick Hall (actor) (1923–1995), British actor * Frederick Hall (painter) (1860–1948), English impressionist painter * Frederick Hall (Normanton MP) (1855–1933), British Labour Member of Parliament ...

: Manager *

Peter Jeffrey Peter Jeffrey (18 April 1929 – 25 December 1999) was an English character actor. Starting his performing career on stage, he would later have many roles in television and film. Early life Jeffrey was born in Bristol, the son of Florence ...

: Wisbech * John Nettleton: Grandman *

Ralph Nossek Ralph Nossek (August 1923 – 5 December 2011) was a British actor of stage, television and screen. He was born in August 1923 in the parish of St George in the East, London, England. He died in London on 5 December 2011. From 1953 until his las ...

: Dr. Fortescue * Andrea Allan: New secretary * Vivienne Cohen, Pam Scotcher: Girls on bus * Richard Dennis: Lofthouse * Carrie Jones: Roberta * Lois Kentish: Tea girl * Annabelle Lee: Cashier * Vivienne Martin: Jessie * Judy Matheson: Tessa * David Sinclair: Art teacher * Bernice Spivack: Miss Levy * Marianne Stone: Mrs. Firth * Pauline Stroud: Mary ;"A Woman Sobbing" *

Anna Massey Anna Raymond Massey (11 August 19373 July 2011) was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner's novel ''Hotel du Lac'', a role that one of her co-stars, Julia McKenzie, ha ...

: Jane Pullar *

Ronald Hines Ronald Charles Andrew Hines (20 June 1929 – 28 March 2017) was a British television actor. He had a lengthy career, but possibly his most prominent roles were as Henry Corner in three of the four series of ''Not in Front of the Children'', ...

: Frank Pullar *

Julian Holloway Julian Holloway (born 24 June 1944) is a British actor. He is the son of comedy actor and singer Stanley Holloway and former chorus dancer and actress Violet Lane. He is the father of author and former model Sophie Dahl. Early life Holloway was ...

: Sandy * Yokki Rhodes: Inge * Tommy Boyle: Gas fitter *

John Lee John Lee may refer to: Academia * John Lee (astronomer) (1783–1866), president of the Royal Astronomical Society * John Lee (university principal) (1779–1859), University of Edinburgh principal * John Lee (pathologist) (born 1961), English ...

: Priest *

Margaret John Margaret John (14 December 1926 – 2 February 2011) was a Welsh, BAFTA award-winning actress, known for her role as Doris O'Neill in ''Gavin & Stacey''. Early life Born in Swansea, as a child she wanted to be a nurse or vet, but she could ...

: Fay * John Graham: Philip * David Whitworth, Jan Edwards: In the church hallThis is actually how David Whitworth and Jan Edwards were credited on-screen. * Denis Gilmore: Fitter's mate * Donna Reading: Secretary * Elaine Elder: Dutch au pair * Nicky Cox: Robin * Craig McFarlane: James

Episodes

External links

''Dead of Night''
at the

BFI Film & TV Database The BFI Film & TV Database (ftvdb) is an online database created by the British Film Institute containing information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual e ...

*
"The Exorcism"
at BFI Screenonline

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dead of Night (TV series) 1970s British drama television series 1972 British television series debuts 1972 British television series endings BBC television dramas 1970s British anthology television series British supernatural television shows British horror fiction television series Lost BBC episodes English-language television shows