Compact (1962)

Compact

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.

Compact

Watch Providers

Seasons

Season 1

Season 1

Season 2

Season 2

Season 3

Season 3

Season 4

Season 4

Episodes season 1

  • 1x1

    The first issue

  • 1x2

    Advice to readers

  • 1x3

    Efficiency expert

  • 1x4

    Cover photograph

  • 1x5

    Tea break

  • 1x6

    Personal problem

  • 1x7

    The new broom

  • 1x8

    Sally speaks up

  • 1x9

    Question of identity

  • 1x10

    Wedding grove

  • 1x11

    Suspicion of theft

  • 1x12

    Happy birthday

  • 1x13

    Valentine's day

  • 1x14

    Testing time

  • 1x15

    Something to celebrate

  • 1x16

    Press reception

  • 1x17

    A true story

  • 1x18

    Circulation figures

  • 1x19

    News from new york

  • 1x20

    A breath of air

  • 1x21

    The party

  • 1x22

    After the ball

  • 1x23

    Shocks and bruises

  • 1x24

    Weekend

  • 1x25

    Action stations

  • 1x26

    The ideal husband

  • 1x27

    Future plans

  • 1x28

    Facing the facts

  • 1x29

    A night out

  • 1x30

    Point of departure

  • 1x31

    Surprises by post

  • 1x32

    A piece of cake

  • 1x33

    Pets corner

  • 1x34

    The man for the job

  • 1x35

    Down the hatch

  • 1x36

    Stormy weather

  • 1x37

    Musical evening

  • 1x38

    Talent contest

  • 1x39

    Visting hours

  • 1x40

    Mixed receptions

  • 1x41

    Home and away

  • 1x42

    Day of frenzy

  • 1x43

    Moment of truth

  • 1x44

    In a spin

  • 1x45

    The big chance

  • 1x46

    Garden party

  • 1x47

    Happy returns

  • 1x48

    Man and wife

  • 1x49

    Blackmail

  • 1x50

    Take-over time

  • 1x51

    The proposal

  • 1x52

    Faraway places

  • 1x53

    Barbecue

  • 1x54

    A day of problems

  • 1x55

    Comings and goings

  • 1x56

    Looking ahead

  • 1x57

    Weekend plans

  • 1x58

    Settlement day

  • 1x59

    Gone astray

  • 1x60

    Evening date

  • 1x61

    A night out

  • 1x62

    Pay off

  • 1x63

    Moving up

  • 1x64

    Surprise party

  • 1x65

    Riding for a fall

  • 1x66

    Unguarded moment

  • 1x67

    Skin deep

  • 1x68

    The contest

  • 1x69

    Ebb and flow

  • 1x70

    Budget leak

  • 1x71

    Andiamo

  • 1x72

    Out for the count

  • 1x73

    Finger of suspicion

  • 1x74

    Detective work

  • 1x75

    The elopement

  • 1x76

    Heartbeat

  • 1x77

    The first clue

  • 1x78

    Trapped

  • 1x79

    The morning after

  • 1x80

    Facing the facts

  • 1x81

    Heart to heart

  • 1x82

    Day of revolutions

  • 1x83

    True to type

  • 1x84

    Where there's smoke

  • 1x85

    Burns and shock

  • 1x86

    Who's who?

  • 1x87

    Horoscope

  • 1x88

    Point of departure

  • 1x89

    The truth of the matter

  • 1x90

    A case of identity

  • 1x91

    Questions and answers

  • 1x92

    French leave

  • 1x93

    Lost and found

  • 1x94

    Art and craft

  • 1x95

    The best laid plans

  • 1x96

    Profit and loss

  • 1x97

    Setting a trap

  • 1x98

    Sparks flying

  • 1x99

    The bad penny

  • 1x100

    All that jazz

  • 1x101

    Five more shopping days

  • 1x102

    Christmas spirit

  • 1x103

    Business as usual

  • 1x121

    Unofficial strike

  • 1x279

    Many questions

Episodes season 2

  • 2x1

    Happy birthday

  • 2x2

    Merely players

  • 2x3

    Picture page

  • 2x4

    Research pays off

  • 2x5

    Waiting for news

  • 2x6

    Staff changes

  • 2x7

    The new editor

  • 2x8

    To see ourselves

  • 2x9

    Changing step

  • 2x10

    Military honours

  • 2x11

    Vital talks

  • 2x12

    The man for the job

  • 2x13

    Black ice

  • 2x14

    The magpie's hoard

  • 2x15

    The thief

  • 2x16

    United we stand

  • 2x17

    Shrove tuesday

  • 2x18

    Unofficial strike

  • 2x19

    Emergency

  • 2x20

    Normal working

  • 2x21

    On the edge

  • 2x22

    Shock tactics

  • 2x23

    The winner

  • 2x24

    Chicken and champagne

  • 2x25

    The highway man

  • 2x26

    A list of names

  • 2x27

    The wrong idea

  • 2x28

    Fire and water

  • 2x29

    A question of age

  • 2x30

    Tangled web

  • 2x31

    Little boy lost

  • 2x32

    Sent to coventry

  • 2x33

    Money trouble

  • 2x34

    Mr bruce remembers

  • 2x35

    Echo from the past

  • 2x36

    The puffing doctor

  • 2x37

    A novel situation

  • 2x38

    Bitter wine

  • 2x39

    Moments of truth

  • 2x40

    The new understanding

  • 2x41

    I'll be in scotland before ye

  • 2x42

    Auld acquaintance

  • 2x43

    Family crisis

  • 2x44

    The mcdee in london

  • 2x45

    A day at the seaside

  • 2x46

    Run away

  • 2x47

    Truth will out

  • 2x48

    Living in the past

  • 2x49

    Big brother

  • 2x50

    Out in limbo

  • 2x51

    A case of desperation

  • 2x52

    Welcome home

  • 2x53

    Missing facts

  • 2x54

    Artist unknown

  • 2x55

    Back to work

  • 2x56

    Where is the skeleton?

  • 2x57

    A mystery solved

  • 2x58

    Highland fling

  • 2x59

    The ultimatum

  • 2x60

    Power play

  • 2x61

    The reluctant heroine

  • 2x62

    Principles won't stop james

  • 2x63

    Who pays for leadership?

  • 2x64

    Because of alan

  • 2x65

    Stolen - one cigarette case, gold

  • 2x66

    Man proposes

  • 2x67

    Investigations proceed

  • 2x68

    A shower of confetti

  • 2x69

    On the run

  • 2x70

    The gamblers

  • 2x71

    Lost, stolen, or strayed

  • 2x72

    A ring for iris

  • 2x73

    Faith and begorra

  • 2x74

    A touch of the blarney

  • 2x75

    Surprise packet

  • 2x76

    The sound of fury

  • 2x77

    Aftermath

  • 2x78

    The party member

  • 2x79

    The mighty fallen

  • 2x80

    The reception

  • 2x81

    Alarms and excursions

  • 2x82

    Two faced

  • 2x83

    Stranded

  • 2x84

    Two lovely black eyes

  • 2x85

    Chain of events

  • 2x86

    Night call

  • 2x87

    Dinner at eight

  • 2x88

    Marmot james again

  • 2x89

    Fireworks all round

  • 2x90

    Fire and water

  • 2x91

    You have talent - we want it

  • 2x92

    They fell among thieves

  • 2x93

    The news breaks

  • 2x94

    Happy birthday

  • 2x95

    The tax man cometh

  • 2x96

    Bottled on the premises

  • 2x97

    Celebration

  • 2x98

    Afterthoughts

  • 2x99

    No promises - i'll take cash

  • 2x100

    Wait for the bang

  • 2x101

    The new editor

  • 2x102

    A job for the boy

  • 2x103

    Dress rehearsal

  • 2x105

    Happy new year

  • 2x204

    On stage

Episodes season 3

  • 3x1

    Weekend guest

  • 3x2

    A place of your own

  • 3x3

    A question of morals

  • 3x4

    The enquiry

  • 3x5

    The opening

  • 3x6

    Hand in marriage

  • 3x7

    The best policy

  • 3x8

    One of us must go

  • 3x9

    Love you and leave you

  • 3x10

    Battle of the sexes

  • 3x11

    Unexpected guests

  • 3x12

    Mutual understanding

  • 3x13

    Surprises

  • 3x14

    Walls have ears

  • 3x15

    In the air

  • 3x16

    The poison spreads

  • 3x17

    The fatal call

  • 3x18

    An end and a beginning

  • 3x19

    The night visitors

  • 3x20

    Plots and plans

  • 3x21

    Secrets and lies

  • 3x22

    The ides of march

  • 3x23

    False evidence

  • 3x24

    A difficult assignment

  • 3x25

    The eve of the wedding

  • 3x26

    Just married - good luck

  • 3x27

    Honeymoon and holidays

  • 3x28

    Rush job

  • 3x29

    Moment of truth

  • 3x30

    Hot and cold

  • 3x31

    Home and away

  • 3x32

    Ian in danger

  • 3x33

    Investigations

  • 3x34

    Guilty conscience

  • 3x35

    To be delivered by hand

  • 3x36

    Business not blackmail

  • 3x37

    A ray of hope

  • 3x38

    Success story

  • 3x39

    Wine, women, and song

  • 3x40

    Delicate negotiations

  • 3x41

    Parties and quarrels

  • 3x42

    Who is eddie pritchard?

  • 3x43

    Crossed swords

  • 3x44

    A question of loyalties

  • 3x45

    To catch a thief

  • 3x46

    Play on crime

  • 3x47

    The unexpected

  • 3x48

    Encounter

  • 3x49

    The verdict was guilty

  • 3x50

    Emergency call

  • 3x51

    The kiss of life

  • 3x52

    Have you anything to say?

  • 3x53

    Hide and seek

  • 3x54

    Find the lady

  • 3x55

    Responsibilities

  • 3x56

    Time of trial

  • 3x57

    A boy comes home

  • 3x58

    Old friends and familiar faces

  • 3x59

    The offer

  • 3x60

    The dilemma

  • 3x61

    The bowler hat trick

  • 3x62

    A game of consequences

  • 3x63

    Model mystery

  • 3x64

    Unexpected temperament

  • 3x65

    Paradise - my island home

  • 3x66

    Departures

  • 3x67

    Backfire

  • 3x68

    Business with pleasure

  • 3x69

    Treasure hunt

  • 3x70

    Many questions

  • 3x71

    Blow the wind - westerly

  • 3x72

    Dear mister bruce

  • 3x73

    Unconditional surrender

  • 3x74

    Best laid plans

  • 3x75

    Credit where credit's due

  • 3x76

    The warning

  • 3x77

    Departure and return

  • 3x78

    Friends and relations

  • 3x79

    Goodbye forever

  • 3x80

    The shadow of danger

  • 3x81

    Between life and death

  • 3x82

    A spy in the camp

  • 3x83

    Smugglers gold

  • 3x84

    Kooky christening

  • 3x85

    Moving on

  • 3x86

    To the rescue

  • 3x87

    Over the wall

  • 3x88

    Mistaken identity

  • 3x89

    Home and dry

  • 3x90

    Maiden voyage

  • 3x91

    Tangled web

  • 3x92

    Secrets all round

  • 3x93

    Lost property

  • 3x94

    The truth will out

  • 3x95

    Weekend plans

  • 3x96

    Accident - presumed drowned

  • 3x97

    On, comet! on, cupid! on, donner and blitzen!

  • 3x98

    Seven more shopping days

  • 3x99

    Change partners

  • 3x100

    Do me a favour!

  • 3x101

    A surprise for christmas

  • 3x102

    A partridge in a pear tree

Episodes season 4

  • 4x1

    Ring in the new

  • 4x2

    Day of deliverance

  • 4x3

    Fare thee well, for i must leave thee

  • 4x4

    Discoveries of the day

  • 4x5

    Togetherness

  • 4x6

    Troublemaker

  • 4x7

    The last straw

  • 4x8

    Heart to heart

  • 4x9

    Late call

  • 4x10

    A marriage has been arranged…

  • 4x11

    Many a slip

  • 4x12

    Thunder on the left

  • 4x13

    Tell it not in faith

  • 4x14

    A family affair

  • 4x15

    Change of plan

  • 4x16

    Kidnapped

  • 4x17

    It happens to other people

  • 4x18

    Where there's smoke

  • 4x19

    Patience on a monument

  • 4x20

    Blow hot, blow cold

  • 4x21

    Change of heart

  • 4x22

    Food for thought

  • 4x23

    The end of a song

  • 4x24

    The man from paris

  • 4x25

    The wrong set

  • 4x26

    The egnet sings

  • 4x27

    A cigarette that bears a lipstick's trace

  • 4x28

    The last act

  • 4x29

    A tangled web

  • 4x30

    Who's who?

  • 4x31

    Never trust a woman

  • 4x32

    Travellers return

  • 4x33

    Gone away

  • 4x34

    Publish and be damned

  • 4x35

    Action for libel

  • 4x36

    Testing time

  • 4x37

    Plots, plans, and a party

  • 4x38

    True or false?

  • 4x39

    Hide and seek

  • 4x40

    Wild goose chase

  • 4x41

    High court, low court

  • 4x42

    Best laid schemes

  • 4x43

    Trouble brewing

  • 4x44

    Any other business?

  • 4x45

    Time flies

  • 4x46

    Friends and enemies

  • 4x47

    Day of decision

  • 4x48

    Hidden depths

  • 4x49

    Appearances can be deceptive

  • 4x50

    The truth will out

  • 4x51

    The off-white elephant

  • 4x52

    Winners and losers

  • 4x53

    Engagements at sea

  • 4x54

    Storm warning

  • 4x55

    Change of plans

  • 4x56

    Trouble across the water

  • 4x57

    Destination - paris

  • 4x58

    Paris is for lovers

  • 4x59

    If the shoe fits…

  • 4x60

    Journey's end

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