# Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

> A British anthology of sinister, wryly comic tales with sting-in-the-tail endings, introduced by Roald Dahl in its early years.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/2085

## Facts

- Seasons: 9
- Episodes: 112
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, thriller
- Created by: Roald Dahl
- Network: ITV1
- Cast: Roald Dahl, Christopher Blake, Micheline Presle, Joan Greenwood, Gary Bond, John Beck, Eli Wallach, Deborah Harmon
- TMDB rating: 7.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075592/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: wry, sinister, darkly comic, suspenseful, ironic

## What critics say

Audiences rate the British anthology positively for its sinister, wryly comic stories and their sting-in-the-tail endings, with Roald Dahl's introductions and a roster of big-name guest stars adding appeal.

## Synopsis

Tales of the Unexpected (1979-1988) is a British ITV anthology series created by Roald Dahl, with Dahl himself appearing as the on-screen host who introduces the early episodes. Each self-contained story stars a different cast of characters, often played by big-name guest stars such as Eli Wallach, Telly Savalas, Joan Greenwood and Micheline Presle, so the engine of every episode is a fresh situation: an ordinary person drawn into a scheme, a grudge or a bargain that slowly tightens until the closing moments. Across nine seasons and well over a hundred half-hour episodes, the format never changes, and viewers can dip in at any point without losing the thread. The stories run from sinister to darkly comic, with a wry, morbidly amused tone and a reliable sting in the tail that reverses what we thought we understood. Its atmosphere is crisp, mannered and very much of its British television moment, a polished parlour-style menace that recalls The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents for fans of clever, cautionary tales. Dahl's presence gives the early run a distinctive gleeful edge, and the show rewards patient viewers who enjoy being fooled.

## Shows like Tales of the Unexpected

- [Tales from the Darkside (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/1302)
- [Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)](https://ember.film/tv/5003)
- [Black Mirror (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/38427)
- [Suspicion (1957)](https://ember.film/tv/19813)
- [Inside No. 9 (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/55004)
- [Night Gallery (1970)](https://ember.film/tv/4103)
- [Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/15039)
- [The Hitchhiker (1983)](https://ember.film/tv/9632)
- [The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/5351)
- [Murder Most Horrid (1991)](https://ember.film/tv/844)

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