Compact

1962–1965 · Ended · 4 seasons · 374 episodes · Drama, Soap · United Kingdom

Creator Peter Ling · Channel BBC One · Starring Vincent Ball, Robert Desmond, Rachel Gurney

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.
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Episodes

105 episodes · January 1963 – December 1963
  1. Episode 1: 1. Happy BirthdayJanuary 1, 1963 · 30 min
  2. Episode 2: 2. Merely PlayersJanuary 3, 1963 · 30 min
  3. Episode 3: 3. Picture PageJanuary 8, 1963 · 30 min
  4. Episode 4: 4. Research Pays OffJanuary 10, 1963 · 30 min
  5. Episode 5: 5. Waiting For NewsJanuary 15, 1963 · 30 min
  6. Episode 6: 6. Staff ChangesJanuary 17, 1963 · 30 min
Show 99 more episodes
  1. Episode 7: 7. The New EditorJanuary 22, 1963 · 30 min
  2. Episode 8: 8. To See OurselvesJanuary 24, 1963 · 30 min
  3. Episode 9: 9. Changing StepJanuary 29, 1963 · 30 min
  4. Episode 10: 10. Military HonoursJanuary 31, 1963 · 30 min
  5. Episode 11: 11. Vital TalksFebruary 5, 1963 · 30 min
  6. Episode 12: 12. The Man For The JobFebruary 7, 1963 · 30 min
  7. Episode 13: 13. Black IceFebruary 12, 1963 · 30 min
  8. Episode 14: 14. The Magpie's HoardFebruary 14, 1963 · 30 min
  9. Episode 15: 15. The ThiefFebruary 19, 1963 · 30 min
  10. Episode 16: 16. United We StandFebruary 21, 1963 · 30 min
  11. Episode 17: 17. Shrove TuesdayFebruary 26, 1963 · 30 min
  12. Episode 18: 18. Unofficial StrikeFebruary 28, 1963 · 30 min
  13. Episode 19: 19. EmergencyMarch 5, 1963 · 30 min
  14. Episode 20: 20. Normal WorkingMarch 7, 1963 · 30 min
  15. Episode 21: 21. On The EdgeMarch 12, 1963 · 30 min
  16. Episode 22: 22. Shock TacticsMarch 14, 1963 · 30 min
  17. Episode 23: 23. The WinnerMarch 19, 1963 · 30 min
  18. Episode 24: 24. Chicken And ChampagneMarch 21, 1963 · 30 min
  19. Episode 25: 25. The Highway ManMarch 26, 1963 · 30 min
  20. Episode 26: 26. A List Of NamesMarch 28, 1963 · 30 min
  21. Episode 27: 27. The Wrong IdeaApril 2, 1963 · 30 min
  22. Episode 28: 28. Fire And WaterApril 4, 1963 · 30 min
  23. Episode 29: 29. A Question Of AgeApril 9, 1963 · 30 min
  24. Episode 30: 30. Tangled WebApril 11, 1963 · 30 min
  25. Episode 31: 31. Little Boy LostApril 16, 1963 · 30 min
  26. Episode 32: 32. Sent To CoventryApril 18, 1963 · 30 min
  27. Episode 33: 33. Money TroubleApril 23, 1963 · 30 min
  28. Episode 34: 34. Mr Bruce RemembersApril 25, 1963 · 30 min
  29. Episode 35: 35. Echo From The PastApril 30, 1963 · 30 min
  30. Episode 36: 36. The Puffing DoctorMay 2, 1963 · 30 min
  31. Episode 37: 37. A Novel SituationMay 7, 1963 · 30 min
  32. Episode 38: 38. Bitter WineMay 9, 1963 · 30 min
  33. Episode 39: 39. Moments Of TruthMay 14, 1963 · 30 min
  34. Episode 40: 40. The New UnderstandingMay 16, 1963 · 30 min
  35. Episode 41: 41. I'll Be In Scotland Before YeMay 21, 1963 · 30 min
  36. Episode 42: 42. Auld AcquaintanceMay 23, 1963 · 30 min
  37. Episode 43: 43. Family CrisisMay 28, 1963 · 30 min
  38. Episode 44: 44. The McDee In LondonMay 30, 1963 · 30 min
  39. Episode 45: 45. A Day At The SeasideJune 4, 1963 · 30 min
  40. Episode 46: 46. Run AwayJune 6, 1963 · 30 min
  41. Episode 47: 47. Truth Will OutJune 11, 1963 · 30 min
  42. Episode 48: 48. Living In The PastJune 13, 1963 · 30 min
  43. Episode 49: 49. Big BrotherJune 18, 1963 · 30 min
  44. Episode 50: 50. Out In LimboJune 20, 1963 · 30 min
  45. Episode 51: 51. A Case Of DesperationJune 26, 1963 · 30 min
  46. Episode 52: 52. Welcome HomeJune 28, 1963 · 30 min
  47. Episode 53: 53. Missing FactsJuly 2, 1963 · 30 min
  48. Episode 54: 54. Artist UnknownJuly 4, 1963 · 30 min
  49. Episode 55: 55. Back To WorkJuly 9, 1963 · 30 min
  50. Episode 56: 56. Where Is The Skeleton?July 11, 1963 · 30 min
  51. Episode 57: 57. A Mystery SolvedJuly 16, 1963 · 30 min
  52. Episode 58: 58. Highland FlingJuly 17, 1963 · 30 min
  53. Episode 59: 59. The UltimatumJuly 23, 1963 · 30 min
  54. Episode 60: 60. Power PlayJuly 25, 1963 · 30 min
  55. Episode 61: 61. The Reluctant HeroineJuly 30, 1963 · 30 min
  56. Episode 62: 62. Principles Won't Stop JamesAugust 1, 1963 · 30 min
  57. Episode 63: 63. Who Pays For Leadership?August 6, 1963 · 30 min
  58. Episode 64: 64. Because Of AlanAugust 8, 1963 · 30 min
  59. Episode 65: 65. Stolen - One Cigarette Case, GoldAugust 13, 1963 · 30 min
  60. Episode 66: 66. Man ProposesAugust 15, 1963 · 30 min
  61. Episode 67: 67. Investigations ProceedAugust 20, 1963 · 30 min
  62. Episode 68: 68. A Shower Of ConfettiAugust 22, 1963 · 30 min
  63. Episode 69: 69. On The RunAugust 27, 1963 · 30 min
  64. Episode 70: 70. The GamblersAugust 29, 1963 · 30 min
  65. Episode 71: 71. Lost, Stolen, Or StrayedSeptember 3, 1963 · 30 min
  66. Episode 72: 72. A Ring For IrisSeptember 5, 1963 · 30 min
  67. Episode 73: 73. Faith And BegorraSeptember 10, 1963 · 30 min
  68. Episode 74: 74. A Touch Of The BlarneySeptember 12, 1963 · 30 min
  69. Episode 75: 75. Surprise PacketSeptember 17, 1963 · 30 min
  70. Episode 76: 76. The Sound Of FurySeptember 19, 1963 · 30 min
  71. Episode 77: 77. AftermathSeptember 24, 1963 · 30 min
  72. Episode 78: 78. The Party MemberSeptember 26, 1963 · 30 min
  73. Episode 79: 79. The Mighty FallenOctober 1, 1963 · 30 min
  74. Episode 80: 80. The ReceptionOctober 3, 1963 · 30 min
  75. Episode 81: 81. Alarms And ExcursionsOctober 8, 1963 · 30 min
  76. Episode 82: 82. Two FacedOctober 10, 1963 · 30 min
  77. Episode 83: 83. StrandedOctober 15, 1963 · 30 min
  78. Episode 84: 84. Two Lovely Black EyesOctober 17, 1963 · 30 min
  79. Episode 85: 85. Chain Of EventsOctober 22, 1963 · 30 min
  80. Episode 86: 86. Night CallOctober 24, 1963 · 30 min
  81. Episode 87: 87. Dinner At EightOctober 29, 1963 · 30 min
  82. Episode 88: 88. Marmot James AgainOctober 31, 1963 · 30 min
  83. Episode 89: 89. Fireworks All RoundNovember 5, 1963 · 30 min
  84. Episode 90: 90. Wine and a WeekendNovember 7, 1963 · 30 min
  85. Episode 91: 91. You Have Talent - We Want ItNovember 12, 1963 · 30 min
  86. Episode 92: 92. They Fell Among ThievesNovember 14, 1963 · 30 min
  87. Episode 93: 93. The News BreaksNovember 19, 1963 · 30 min
  88. Episode 94: 94. Happy BirthdayNovember 21, 1963 · 30 min
  89. Episode 95: 95. The Tax Man ComethNovember 26, 1963 · 30 min
  90. Episode 96: 96. Bottled On The PremisesNovember 28, 1963 · 30 min
  91. Episode 97: 97. CelebrationDecember 3, 1963 · 30 min
  92. Episode 98: 98. AfterthoughtsDecember 5, 1963 · 30 min
  93. Episode 99: 99. No Promises - I'll Take CashDecember 10, 1963 · 30 min
  94. Episode 100: 100. Wait For The BangDecember 12, 1963 · 30 min
  95. Episode 101: 101. The New EditorDecember 17, 1963 · 30 min
  96. Episode 102: 102. A Job For The BoyDecember 19, 1963 · 30 min
  97. Episode 103: 103. Dress RehearsalDecember 24, 1963 · 30 min
  98. Episode 104: 104. On StageDecember 26, 1963 · 30 min
  99. Episode 105: 105. Happy New YearDecember 31, 1963 · 30 min

Credits

Film and series details

EPISODE LENGTH
30 minutes
FIRST AIRED
January 2, 1962
LAST AIRED
July 30, 1965

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