All updates are blog essays/reviews unless otherwise stated. These dates refer to first posting. (Dates of updates are listed on the pages themselves.) We only list updates as new pieces if they are revised so substantially as to constitute a new piece (for instance, making widespread use of new research findings). Scroll down for a list of revised pieces.
September 2021
December 2020
January 2019
February 2018
January 2018
June 2017
May 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
March 2016
February 2016
December 2015
November 2015
- Changes to design (different template); removed illustrated menu second sidebar; minor changes in presentation (for instance, in titles and bylines) throughout.
October 2014
September 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
- Playhouse: The Unborn (1980)
- The Creature (1955). [Major updates to existing piece.]
- The July Plot (1964). [Major updates to existing piece.]
- Doctor Korczak and the Children (1962) [Major updates to existing piece.]
- Also revisions to Wear a Very Big Hat (1965), James MacTaggart .
December 2013
November 2013
- (Times and) Spaces of Television – Doctor Who: Warriors’ Gate (1981)
- Michael Barry [Major updates to existing piece.]
October 2013
- John Osborne
- Iain MacCormick [Major updates to existing piece.]
- The Old Men at the Zoo (1983)
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
- The Girl (2012)
- New material added, and amendments made, to several biographies, in particular Philip Saville: Play for Today and Don Taylor
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
- The Creature (1955) Revised version of earlier piece
- This is England ’88 (2011)
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
September 2011
August 2011
- Removed Play for Today episode guide tables after site crashed; began year-by-year pages with accompanying scans and images
July 2011
- DVD review: Tales Out of School (1983)
May 2011
April 2011
- From The Blue Lamp (1950) to The Black and Blue Lamp (1988): the police in TV drama
- Moved to new layout; moved options to drop-down menu; added DVD promo box; made minor design and content changes in Play for Today section.
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
- The Creature (1955)
- Richard I in TV drama – Doctor Who: The Crusade (1965) and beyond
- Restructure: integrated Play for Today site into main site, moving all essays (all PFT entries listed below) and episode guide
October 2010
August 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
- Play for Today: Sunset Across the Bay (1975)
- Added Contents section
July 2009
May 2009
- The War Game (1965)
- Play for Today: The Long Distance Piano Player (1970)
- Play for Today: Brimstone and Treacle (1976, tx. 1987)
- Alan Clarke: Play for Today (rewrite of pre-2009 piece)
- Uploaded pre-2009 Play for Today pieces – Philip Saville piece (old version, now deleted), episode guide and the following:
- Tony Parker: Play for Today
- Play for Today: Angels Are So Few (1970)
- Play for Today: Robin Redbreast (1970)
- Play for Today: The Hallelujah Handshake (1970)
- Play for Today: The Foxtrot (1971)
- Play for Today: The Rank and File (1971)
- Play for Today: Traitor (1971)
- Play for Today: Evelyn (1970)
- Started British Television Drama site, plus Play for Today mini-site (later incorporated).
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We often update posts with new information. Here are some of the biggest recent revisions with new research findings:
- Out of this World, Philip Saville: Play for Today biography. Updated in April 2022.
- Doctor Korczak and the Children, The July Plot, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1954) – Myth Versus Reality, Stalingrad, Underground, Wear a Very Big Hat, Peter Luke, James MacTaggart, Cedric Messina,Don Taylor. Updated in March 2022.
- Introduction to Play for Today section.
Updated in October 2020 with new material and revisions. - Underground. Updated in November 2018 with new material and substantial revisions.
- Out of This World. Updated in June 2018 with new material, images and revisions.
- You dirty old man! Masculinity and class in Steptoe and Son. Updated in February 2016 with new material, images and revisions.
- The Good Companions. Updated in November 2015 with new material.
- Ian Curteis. Updated again in April 2015 with new material.
- Stalingrad. Replaced in December 2014 with a new version containing much new material.
- Traitor. Updated in December 2014 with new material.
- Tony Parker. Updated in November 2014 with new material.
- Ian Curteis. Updated in October 2014 with new material.
- Underground. Updated in August 2014 with new material.
- The Creature. Updated in January 2014 and March 2014 with new material.
- The July Plot. Updated in January 2014 with new material.
- Doctor Korczak and the Children. Updated in January 2014, with new material.
- Michael Barry. Updated in November 2013 with new material and a list of credits.
- Iain MacCormick. Updated in October 2013 with new material and a list of credits. Further amended in January 2014 with new material.