Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected gathers standalone British dramas that blend wry, often sinister humor with a punchy twist at the end. Each episode presents a short, self-contained story about ordinary people whose choices, secrets or vanities lead to ironic outcomes. Roald Dahl wrote and introduced many of the early episodes, giving those installments a mischievous, conversational tone, while later entries broadened the pool of writers and guest performers. The series keeps stories tight and focused, shifting from playful nastiness to genuinely unsettling moments, and it rarely overstates its case, preferring a compact setup that lets the ending reframe what came before.

Created by Roald Dahl and first broadcast in 1979, the show used an anthology format with Dahl scripting and presenting several early instalments, and a rotating roster of notable guest actors kept each episode distinct.

Its knack for neat reversals and dry wickedness left certain episodes in the popular imagination, and the series still comes up when people talk about short televised stories that end with a sting in the tail. Fans continue to reference memorable premises and surprise conclusions, and the show helped keep the twist-ending anthology alive on television.

Critical and audience response has been mixed to favorable, the vote average sitting at about 6.708 out of 10 from 48 votes. Viewers and reviewers point to recurring themes of moral comeuppance, class friction, petty cruelty and human weakness, with some episodes leaning toward satire and others toward darker menace, producing an uneven but distinctive tonal range.

The series wasn’t a major awards magnet, yet Dahl’s visible role and several standout guest turns earned it steady appreciation. Rather than a large haul of industry prizes, it gained lasting attention through repeat viewings and ongoing fan discussion, securing a modest but enduring place in British TV history.