1962 - 1965
3.0 (2 votes)
4 Seasons
Genres
Drama
Soap
Networks
BBC One
Created By
Peter Ling
Compact
Overview
Compact was a British television soap opera shown by the BBC between 1962 and 1965. The series was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, who together went on to devise Crossroads. In contrast to the kitchen sink realism of Coronation Street, Compact was a distinctly middle-class serial, set in the more "sophisticated" arena of magazine publishing. An early "avarice" soap, it took the viewer into the business workplace, and aligned the professional lives of the characters with more personal storylines. The show was scheduled for broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays, thus avoiding a clash with ITV's Coronation Street on Mondays and Wednesdays. When Compact began, the editor was a woman, Joanne Minster, yet it was not long before she was replaced by Ian Harmon, the son of the magazine's owner. Despite being largely criticised by reviewers, Compact was popular with the general public, and in 1964 a regular omnibus edition was introduced, broadcast on Sundays. Morris Barry, a some-time actor and BBC director – he directed several Doctor Who stories in the 1960s – took over as producer and was given a brief to spice the series up in view of the criticism it had received from the national press. But the BBC, never comfortable with the concept of soap opera, quietly dropped the series in 1965.
Top Cast
Vincent Ball
Robert Desmond
Adrian Coombs
Rachel Gurney
Clinton Greyn
Carmen Silvera
Mandy Miller
Patrick Troughton
Lionel Murton
Seasons
Season 1 (1962)
No overview available.
105 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: The First Issue
1962-01-02Episode 2: Advice To Readers
1962-01-04Episode 3: Efficiency Expert
1962-01-09Episode 4: Cover Photograph
1962-01-11Episode 5: Tea Break
1962-01-16Episode 6: Personal Problem
1962-01-18Episode 7: The New Broom
1962-01-23Episode 8: Sally Speaks Up
1962-01-25Episode 9: Question Of Identity
1962-01-30Episode 10: Wedding Grove
1962-02-01Episode 11: Suspicion Of Theft
1962-02-06Episode 12: Happy Birthday
1962-02-08Episode 13: Valentine's Day
1962-02-13Episode 14: Testing Time
1962-02-15Episode 15: Something To Celebrate
1962-02-20Episode 16: Press Reception
1962-02-22Episode 17: A True Story
1962-02-27Episode 18: Circulation Figures
1962-03-01Episode 19: News From New York
1962-03-06Episode 20: A Breath Of Air
1962-03-08Episode 21: The Party
1962-03-13Episode 22: After The Ball
1962-03-15Episode 23: Shocks And Bruises
1962-03-20Episode 24: Weekend
1962-03-22Episode 25: Action Stations
1962-03-27Episode 26: The Ideal Husband
1962-03-29Episode 27: Future Plans
1962-04-03Episode 28: Facing The Facts
1962-04-05Episode 29: A Night Out
1962-04-10Episode 30: Point Of Departure
1962-04-12Episode 31: Surprises By Post
1962-04-17Episode 32: A Piece Of Cake
1962-04-19Episode 33: Pets Corner
1962-04-24Episode 34: The Man For The Job
1962-04-26Episode 35: Down The Hatch
1962-05-01Episode 36: Stormy Weather
1962-05-03Episode 37: Musical Evening
1962-05-08Episode 38: Talent Contest
1962-05-10Episode 39: Visting Hours
1962-05-15Episode 40: Mixed Receptions
1962-05-17Episode 41: Home And Away
1962-05-22Episode 42: Day Of Frenzy
1962-05-24Episode 43: Moment Of Truth
1962-05-29Episode 44: In A Spin
1962-05-31Episode 45: The Big Chance
1962-06-05Episode 46: Garden Party
1962-06-07Episode 47: Happy Returns
1962-06-12Episode 48: Man And Wife
1962-06-14Episode 49: Blackmail
1962-06-19Episode 50: Take-Over Time
1962-06-21Episode 51: The Proposal
1962-06-26Episode 52: Faraway Places
1962-06-28Episode 53: Barbecue
1962-07-03Episode 54: A Day Of Problems
1962-07-05Episode 55: Comings And Goings
1962-07-10Episode 56: Looking Ahead
1962-07-12Episode 57: Weekend Plans
1962-07-17Episode 58: Settlement Day
1962-07-19Episode 59: Gone Astray
1962-07-24Episode 60: Evening Date
1962-07-26Episode 61: A Night Out
1962-07-31Episode 62: Pay Off
1962-08-02Episode 63: Moving Up
1962-08-07Episode 64: Surprise Party
1962-08-09Episode 65: Riding For A Fall
1962-08-14Episode 66: Unguarded Moment
1962-08-16Episode 67: Skin Deep
1962-08-21Episode 68: The Contest
1962-08-23Episode 69: Ebb And Flow
1962-08-28Episode 70: Budget Leak
1962-08-30Episode 71: Andiamo
1962-09-04Episode 72: Out For The Count
1962-09-06Episode 73: Finger Of Suspicion
1962-09-11Episode 74: Detective Work
1962-09-13Episode 75: The Elopement
1962-09-18Episode 76: Heartbeat
1962-09-20Episode 77: The First Clue
1962-09-25Episode 78: Trapped
1962-09-27Episode 79: The Morning After
1962-10-02Episode 80: Facing The Facts
1962-10-04Episode 81: Heart To Heart
1962-10-09Episode 82: Day Of Revolutions
1962-10-11Episode 83: True To Type
1962-10-16Episode 84: Where There's Smoke
1962-10-18Episode 85: Burns And Shock
1962-10-23Episode 86: Who's Who?
1962-10-25Episode 87: Horoscope
1962-10-30Episode 88: Point Of Departure
1962-11-01Episode 89: The Truth Of The Matter
1962-11-06Episode 90: A Case Of Identity
1962-11-08Episode 91: Questions And Answers
1962-11-13Episode 92: French Leave
1962-11-15Episode 93: Lost And Found
1962-11-20Episode 94: Art And Craft
1962-11-22Episode 95: The Best Laid Plans
1962-11-27Episode 96: Profit And Loss
1962-11-29Episode 97: Setting A Trap
1962-12-04Episode 98: Sparks Flying
1962-12-06Episode 99: The Bad Penny
1962-12-12Episode 100: All That Jazz
1962-12-14Episode 101: Five More Shopping Days
1962-12-18Episode 102: Christmas Spirit
1962-12-20Episode 103: Business As Usual
1962-12-27Episode 121: Unofficial Strike
1963-02-28Episode 279: Many questions
1964-09-07Season 2 (1963)
No overview available.
105 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Happy Birthday
1963-01-01Episode 2: Merely Players
1963-01-03Episode 3: Picture Page
1963-01-08Episode 4: Research Pays Off
1963-01-10Episode 5: Waiting For News
1963-01-15Episode 6: Staff Changes
1963-01-17Episode 7: The New Editor
1963-01-22Episode 8: To See Ourselves
1963-01-24Episode 9: Changing Step
1963-01-29Episode 10: Military Honours
1963-01-31Episode 11: Vital Talks
1963-02-05Episode 12: The Man For The Job
1963-02-07Episode 13: Black Ice
1963-02-12Episode 14: The Magpie's Hoard
1963-02-14Episode 15: The Thief
1963-02-19Episode 16: United We Stand
1963-02-21Episode 17: Shrove Tuesday
1963-02-26Episode 18: Unofficial Strike
1963-02-28Episode 19: Emergency
1963-03-05Episode 20: Normal Working
1963-03-07Episode 21: On The Edge
1963-03-12Episode 22: Shock Tactics
1963-03-14Episode 23: The Winner
1963-03-19Episode 24: Chicken And Champagne
1963-03-21Episode 25: The Highway Man
1963-03-26Episode 26: A List Of Names
1963-03-28Episode 27: The Wrong Idea
1963-04-02Episode 28: Fire And Water
1963-04-04Episode 29: A Question Of Age
1963-04-09Episode 30: Tangled Web
1963-04-11Episode 31: Little Boy Lost
1963-04-16Episode 32: Sent To Coventry
1963-04-18Episode 33: Money Trouble
1963-04-23Episode 34: Mr Bruce Remembers
1963-04-25Episode 35: Echo From The Past
1963-04-30Episode 36: The Puffing Doctor
1963-05-02Episode 37: A Novel Situation
1963-05-07Episode 38: Bitter Wine
1963-05-09Episode 39: Moments Of Truth
1963-05-14Episode 40: The New Understanding
1963-05-16Episode 41: I'll Be In Scotland Before Ye
1963-05-21Episode 42: Auld Acquaintance
1963-05-23Episode 43: Family Crisis
1963-05-28Episode 44: The McDee In London
1963-05-30Episode 45: A Day At The Seaside
1963-06-04Episode 46: Run Away
1963-06-06Episode 47: Truth Will Out
1963-06-11Episode 48: Living In The Past
1963-06-13Episode 49: Big Brother
1963-06-18Episode 50: Out In Limbo
1963-06-20Episode 51: A Case Of Desperation
1963-06-26Episode 52: Welcome Home
1963-06-28Episode 53: Missing Facts
1963-07-02Episode 54: Artist Unknown
1963-07-04Episode 55: Back To Work
1963-07-09Episode 56: Where Is The Skeleton?
1963-07-11Episode 57: A Mystery Solved
1963-07-16Episode 58: Highland Fling
1963-07-17Episode 59: The Ultimatum
1963-07-23Episode 60: Power Play
1963-07-25Episode 61: The Reluctant Heroine
1963-07-30Episode 62: Principles Won't Stop James
1963-08-01Episode 63: Who Pays For Leadership?
1963-08-06Episode 64: Because Of Alan
1963-08-08Episode 65: Stolen - One Cigarette Case, Gold
1963-08-13Episode 66: Man Proposes
1963-08-15Episode 67: Investigations Proceed
1963-08-20Episode 68: A Shower Of Confetti
1963-08-22Episode 69: On The Run
1963-08-27Episode 70: The Gamblers
1963-08-29Episode 71: Lost, Stolen, Or Strayed
1963-09-03Episode 72: A Ring For Iris
1963-09-05Episode 73: Faith And Begorra
1963-09-10Episode 74: A Touch Of The Blarney
1963-09-12Episode 75: Surprise Packet
1963-09-17Episode 76: The Sound Of Fury
1963-09-19Episode 77: Aftermath
1963-09-24Episode 78: The Party Member
1963-09-26Episode 79: The Mighty Fallen
1963-10-01Episode 80: The Reception
1963-10-03Episode 81: Alarms And Excursions
1963-10-08Episode 82: Two Faced
1963-10-10Episode 83: Stranded
1963-10-15Episode 84: Two Lovely Black Eyes
1963-10-17Episode 85: Chain Of Events
1963-10-22Episode 86: Night Call
1963-10-24Episode 87: Dinner At Eight
1963-10-29Episode 88: Marmot James Again
1963-10-31Episode 89: Fireworks All Round
1963-11-05Episode 90: Fire And Water
1963-11-07Episode 91: You Have Talent - We Want It
1963-11-12Episode 92: They Fell Among Thieves
1963-11-14Episode 93: The News Breaks
1963-11-19Episode 94: Happy Birthday
1963-11-21Episode 95: The Tax Man Cometh
1963-11-26Episode 96: Bottled On The Premises
1963-11-28Episode 97: Celebration
1963-12-03Episode 98: Afterthoughts
1963-12-05Episode 99: No Promises - I'll Take Cash
1963-12-10Episode 100: Wait For The Bang
1963-12-12Episode 101: The New Editor
1963-12-17Episode 102: A Job For The Boy
1963-12-19Episode 103: Dress Rehearsal
1963-12-24Episode 105: Happy New Year
1963-12-31Episode 204: On Stage
1963-12-26Season 3 (1964)
No overview available.
102 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Weekend Guest
1964-01-02Episode 2: A Place Of Your Own
1964-01-04Episode 3: A Question Of Morals
1964-01-06Episode 4: The Enquiry
1964-01-14Episode 5: The Opening
1964-01-16Episode 6: Hand In Marriage
1964-01-21Episode 7: The Best Policy
1964-01-23Episode 8: One Of Us Must Go
1964-01-28Episode 9: Love You And Leave You
1964-01-30Episode 10: Battle Of The Sexes
1964-02-04Episode 11: Unexpected Guests
1964-02-06Episode 12: Mutual Understanding
1964-02-11Episode 13: Surprises
1964-02-13Episode 14: Walls Have Ears
1964-02-16Episode 15: In The Air
1964-02-17Episode 16: The Poison Spreads
1964-02-25Episode 17: The Fatal Call
1964-02-27Episode 18: An End And A Beginning
1964-03-03Episode 19: The Night Visitors
1964-03-05Episode 20: Plots And Plans
1964-03-10Episode 21: Secrets And Lies
1964-03-12Episode 22: The Ides Of March
1964-03-17Episode 23: False Evidence
1964-03-19Episode 24: A Difficult Assignment
1964-03-24Episode 25: The Eve Of The Wedding
1964-03-26Episode 26: Just Married - Good Luck
1964-03-31Episode 27: Honeymoon And Holidays
1964-04-02Episode 28: Rush Job
1964-04-07Episode 29: Moment Of Truth
1964-04-09Episode 30: Hot And Cold
1964-04-14Episode 31: Home And Away
1964-04-16Episode 32: Ian In Danger
1964-04-19Episode 33: Investigations
1964-04-24Episode 34: Guilty Conscience
1964-04-28Episode 35: To Be Delivered By Hand
1964-04-30Episode 36: Business Not Blackmail
1964-05-05Episode 37: A Ray Of Hope
1964-05-07Episode 38: Success Story
1964-05-12Episode 39: Wine, Women, And Song
1964-05-14Episode 40: Delicate Negotiations
1964-05-19Episode 41: Parties And Quarrels
1964-05-21Episode 42: Who Is Eddie Pritchard?
1964-05-26Episode 43: Crossed Swords
1964-05-28Episode 44: A Question Of Loyalties
1964-06-02Episode 45: To Catch A Thief
1964-06-09Episode 46: Play On Crime
1964-06-11Episode 47: The Unexpected
1964-06-16Episode 48: Encounter
1964-06-18Episode 49: The Verdict Was Guilty
1964-06-23Episode 50: Emergency Call
1964-06-25Episode 51: The Kiss Of Life
1964-06-30Episode 52: Have You Anything To Say?
1964-07-02Episode 53: Hide And Seek
1964-07-07Episode 54: Find The Lady
1964-07-09Episode 55: Responsibilities
1964-07-14Episode 56: Time Of Trial
1964-07-16Episode 57: A Boy Comes Home
1964-07-21Episode 58: Old Friends And Familiar Faces
1964-07-23Episode 59: The Offer
1964-07-28Episode 60: The Dilemma
1964-07-30Episode 61: The Bowler Hat Trick
1964-08-04Episode 62: A Game Of Consequences
1964-08-06Episode 63: Model Mystery
1964-08-11Episode 64: Unexpected Temperament
1964-08-17Episode 65: Paradise - My Island Home
1964-08-20Episode 66: Departures
1964-08-24Episode 67: Backfire
1964-08-27Episode 68: Business With Pleasure
1964-08-31Episode 69: Treasure Hunt
1964-09-03Episode 70: Many Questions
1964-09-07Episode 71: Blow The Wind - Westerly
1964-09-09Episode 72: Dear Mister Bruce
1964-09-14Episode 73: Unconditional Surrender
1964-09-17Episode 74: Best Laid Plans
1964-09-22Episode 75: Credit Where Credit's Due
1964-09-25Episode 76: The Warning
1964-09-29Episode 77: Departure And Return
1964-10-02Episode 78: Friends And Relations
1964-10-06Episode 79: Goodbye Forever
1964-10-09Episode 80: The Shadow Of Danger
1964-10-13Episode 81: Between Life And Death
1964-10-16Episode 82: A Spy In The Camp
1964-10-20Episode 83: Smugglers Gold
1964-10-23Episode 84: Kooky Christening
1964-10-27Episode 85: Moving On
1964-10-30Episode 86: To The Rescue
1964-11-03Episode 87: Over The Wall
1964-11-06Episode 88: Mistaken Identity
1964-11-10Episode 89: Home And Dry
1964-11-13Episode 90: Maiden Voyage
1964-11-17Episode 91: Tangled Web
1964-11-20Episode 92: Secrets All Round
1964-11-24Episode 93: Lost Property
1964-11-27Episode 94: The Truth Will Out
1964-12-01Episode 95: Weekend Plans
1964-12-03Episode 96: Accident - Presumed Drowned
1964-12-08Episode 97: On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner And Blitzen!
1964-12-11Episode 98: Seven More Shopping Days
1964-12-15Episode 99: Change Partners
1964-12-18Episode 100: Do Me A Favour!
1964-12-22Episode 101: A Surprise For Christmas
1964-12-25Episode 102: A Partridge In A Pear Tree
1964-12-29Season 4 (1965)
No overview available.
60 episodes
