Compact (1962 – 1965)

1962 • 4 seasons • Drama, Soap

Metacritic

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Synopsis

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.

1

105 episodes

The First Issue

Episode 1

Advice To Readers

Episode 2

Efficiency Expert

Episode 3

Cover Photograph

Episode 4

Tea Break

Episode 5

Personal Problem

Episode 6

The New Broom

Episode 7

Sally Speaks Up

Episode 8

Question Of Identity

Episode 9

Wedding Grove

Episode 10

Suspicion Of Theft

Episode 11

Happy Birthday

Episode 12

Valentine's Day

Episode 13

Testing Time

Episode 14

Something To Celebrate

Episode 15

Press Reception

Episode 16

A True Story

Episode 17

Circulation Figures

Episode 18

News From New York

Episode 19

A Breath Of Air

Episode 20

The Party

Episode 21

After The Ball

Episode 22

Shocks And Bruises

Episode 23

Weekend

Episode 24

Action Stations

Episode 25

The Ideal Husband

Episode 26

Future Plans

Episode 27

Facing The Facts

Episode 28

A Night Out

Episode 29

Point Of Departure

Episode 30

Surprises By Post

Episode 31

A Piece Of Cake

Episode 32

Pets Corner

Episode 33

The Man For The Job

Episode 34

Down The Hatch

Episode 35

Stormy Weather

Episode 36

Musical Evening

Episode 37

Talent Contest

Episode 38

Visting Hours

Episode 39

Mixed Receptions

Episode 40

Home And Away

Episode 41

Day Of Frenzy

Episode 42

Moment Of Truth

Episode 43

In A Spin

Episode 44

The Big Chance

Episode 45

Garden Party

Episode 46

Happy Returns

Episode 47

Man And Wife

Episode 48

Blackmail

Episode 49

Take-Over Time

Episode 50

The Proposal

Episode 51

Faraway Places

Episode 52

Barbecue

Episode 53

A Day Of Problems

Episode 54

Comings And Goings

Episode 55

Looking Ahead

Episode 56

Weekend Plans

Episode 57

Settlement Day

Episode 58

Gone Astray

Episode 59

Evening Date

Episode 60

A Night Out

Episode 61

Pay Off

Episode 62

Moving Up

Episode 63

Surprise Party

Episode 64

Riding For A Fall

Episode 65

Unguarded Moment

Episode 66

Skin Deep

Episode 67

The Contest

Episode 68

Ebb And Flow

Episode 69

Budget Leak

Episode 70

Andiamo

Episode 71

Out For The Count

Episode 72

Finger Of Suspicion

Episode 73

Detective Work

Episode 74

The Elopement

Episode 75

Heartbeat

Episode 76

The First Clue

Episode 77

Trapped

Episode 78

The Morning After

Episode 79

Facing The Facts

Episode 80

Heart To Heart

Episode 81

Day Of Revolutions

Episode 82

True To Type

Episode 83

Where There's Smoke

Episode 84

Burns And Shock

Episode 85

Who's Who?

Episode 86

Horoscope

Episode 87

Point Of Departure

Episode 88

The Truth Of The Matter

Episode 89

A Case Of Identity

Episode 90

Questions And Answers

Episode 91

French Leave

Episode 92

Lost And Found

Episode 93

Art And Craft

Episode 94

The Best Laid Plans

Episode 95

Profit And Loss

Episode 96

Setting A Trap

Episode 97

Sparks Flying

Episode 98

The Bad Penny

Episode 99

All That Jazz

Episode 100

Five More Shopping Days

Episode 101

Christmas Spirit

Episode 102

Business As Usual

Episode 103

Unofficial Strike

Episode 121

Many questions

Episode 279

2

105 episodes

Happy Birthday

Episode 1

Merely Players

Episode 2

Picture Page

Episode 3

Research Pays Off

Episode 4

Waiting For News

Episode 5

Staff Changes

Episode 6

The New Editor

Episode 7

To See Ourselves

Episode 8

Changing Step

Episode 9

Military Honours

Episode 10

Vital Talks

Episode 11

The Man For The Job

Episode 12

Black Ice

Episode 13

The Magpie's Hoard

Episode 14

The Thief

Episode 15

United We Stand

Episode 16

Shrove Tuesday

Episode 17

Unofficial Strike

Episode 18

Emergency

Episode 19

Normal Working

Episode 20

On The Edge

Episode 21

Shock Tactics

Episode 22

The Winner

Episode 23

Chicken And Champagne

Episode 24

The Highway Man

Episode 25

A List Of Names

Episode 26

The Wrong Idea

Episode 27

Fire And Water

Episode 28

A Question Of Age

Episode 29

Tangled Web

Episode 30

Little Boy Lost

Episode 31

Sent To Coventry

Episode 32

Money Trouble

Episode 33

Mr Bruce Remembers

Episode 34

Echo From The Past

Episode 35

The Puffing Doctor

Episode 36

A Novel Situation

Episode 37

Bitter Wine

Episode 38

Moments Of Truth

Episode 39

The New Understanding

Episode 40

I'll Be In Scotland Before Ye

Episode 41

Auld Acquaintance

Episode 42

Family Crisis

Episode 43

The McDee In London

Episode 44

A Day At The Seaside

Episode 45

Run Away

Episode 46

Truth Will Out

Episode 47

Living In The Past

Episode 48

Big Brother

Episode 49

Out In Limbo

Episode 50

A Case Of Desperation

Episode 51

Welcome Home

Episode 52

Missing Facts

Episode 53

Artist Unknown

Episode 54

Back To Work

Episode 55

Where Is The Skeleton?

Episode 56

A Mystery Solved

Episode 57

Highland Fling

Episode 58

The Ultimatum

Episode 59

Power Play

Episode 60

The Reluctant Heroine

Episode 61

Principles Won't Stop James

Episode 62

Who Pays For Leadership?

Episode 63

Because Of Alan

Episode 64

Stolen - One Cigarette Case, Gold

Episode 65

Man Proposes

Episode 66

Investigations Proceed

Episode 67

A Shower Of Confetti

Episode 68

On The Run

Episode 69

The Gamblers

Episode 70

Lost, Stolen, Or Strayed

Episode 71

A Ring For Iris

Episode 72

Faith And Begorra

Episode 73

A Touch Of The Blarney

Episode 74

Surprise Packet

Episode 75

The Sound Of Fury

Episode 76

Aftermath

Episode 77

The Party Member

Episode 78

The Mighty Fallen

Episode 79

The Reception

Episode 80

Alarms And Excursions

Episode 81

Two Faced

Episode 82

Stranded

Episode 83

Two Lovely Black Eyes

Episode 84

Chain Of Events

Episode 85

Night Call

Episode 86

Dinner At Eight

Episode 87

Marmot James Again

Episode 88

Fireworks All Round

Episode 89

Wine and a Weekend

Episode 90

You Have Talent - We Want It

Episode 91

They Fell Among Thieves

Episode 92

The News Breaks

Episode 93

Happy Birthday

Episode 94

The Tax Man Cometh

Episode 95

Bottled On The Premises

Episode 96

Celebration

Episode 97

Afterthoughts

Episode 98

No Promises - I'll Take Cash

Episode 99

Wait For The Bang

Episode 100

The New Editor

Episode 101

A Job For The Boy

Episode 102

Dress Rehearsal

Episode 103

On Stage

Episode 104

Happy New Year

Episode 105

3

103 episodes

Weekend Guest

Episode 1

A Place Of Your Own

Episode 2

A Question Of Morals

Episode 3

The Enquiry

Episode 4

The Opening

Episode 5

Hand In Marriage

Episode 6

The Best Policy

Episode 7

One Of Us Must Go

Episode 8

Love You And Leave You

Episode 9

Battle Of The Sexes

Episode 10

Unexpected Guests

Episode 11

Mutual Understanding

Episode 12

Surprises

Episode 13

Walls Have Ears

Episode 14

In The Air

Episode 15

The Poison Spreads

Episode 16

The Fatal Call

Episode 17

An End And A Beginning

Episode 18

The Night Visitors

Episode 19

Plots And Plans

Episode 20

Secrets And Lies

Episode 21

The Ides Of March

Episode 22

False Evidence

Episode 23

A Difficult Assignment

Episode 24

The Eve Of The Wedding

Episode 25

Just Married - Good Luck

Episode 26

Honeymoon And Holidays

Episode 27

Rush Job

Episode 28

Moment Of Truth

Episode 29

Hot And Cold

Episode 30

Home And Away

Episode 31

Ian In Danger

Episode 32

Investigations

Episode 33

Guilty Conscience

Episode 34

To Be Delivered By Hand

Episode 35

Business Not Blackmail

Episode 36

A Ray Of Hope

Episode 37

Success Story

Episode 38

Wine, Women, And Song

Episode 39

Delicate Negotiations

Episode 40

Parties And Quarrels

Episode 41

Who Is Eddie Pritchard?

Episode 42

Crossed Swords

Episode 43

A Question Of Loyalties

Episode 44

Picture Clue

Episode 45

To Catch A Thief

Episode 46

Play On Crime

Episode 47

The Unexpected

Episode 48

Encounter

Episode 49

The Verdict Was Guilty

Episode 50

Emergency Call

Episode 51

The Kiss Of Life

Episode 52

Have You Anything To Say?

Episode 53

Hide And Seek

Episode 54

Find The Lady

Episode 55

Responsibilities

Episode 56

Time Of Trial

Episode 57

A Boy Comes Home

Episode 58

Old Friends And Familiar Faces

Episode 59

The Offer

Episode 60

The Dilemma

Episode 61

The Bowler Hat Trick

Episode 62

A Game Of Consequences

Episode 63

Model Mystery

Episode 64

Unexpected Temperament

Episode 65

Paradise - My Island Home

Episode 66

Departures

Episode 67

Backfire

Episode 68

Business With Pleasure

Episode 69

Treasure Hunt

Episode 70

Many Questions

Episode 71

Blow The Wind - Westerly

Episode 72

Dear Mister Bruce

Episode 73

Unconditional Surrender

Episode 74

Best Laid Plans

Episode 75

Credit Where Credit's Due

Episode 76

The Warning

Episode 77

Departure And Return

Episode 78

Friends And Relations

Episode 79

Goodbye Forever

Episode 80

The Shadow Of Danger

Episode 81

Between Life And Death

Episode 82

A Spy In The Camp

Episode 83

Smugglers Gold

Episode 84

Kooky Christening

Episode 85

Moving On

Episode 86

To The Rescue

Episode 87

Over The Wall

Episode 88

Mistaken Identity

Episode 89

Home And Dry

Episode 90

Maiden Voyage

Episode 91

Tangled Web

Episode 92

Secrets All Round

Episode 93

Lost Property

Episode 94

The Truth Will Out

Episode 95

Weekend Plans

Episode 96

Accident - Presumed Drowned

Episode 97

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner And Blitzen!

Episode 98

Seven More Shopping Days

Episode 99

Change Partners

Episode 100

Do Me A Favour!

Episode 101

A Surprise For Christmas

Episode 102

A Partridge In A Pear Tree

Episode 103

4

61 episodes

Ring In The New

Episode 1

Day Of Deliverance

Episode 2

Fare Thee Well, For I Must Leave Thee

Episode 3

Discoveries Of The Day

Episode 4

Togetherness

Episode 5

Troublemaker

Episode 6

The Last Straw

Episode 7

Heart To Heart

Episode 8

Late Call

Episode 9

A Marriage Has Been Arranged…

Episode 10

Many A Slip

Episode 11

Thunder On The Left

Episode 12

Tell It Not In Faith

Episode 13

A Family Affair

Episode 14

Change Of Plan

Episode 15

Kidnapped

Episode 16

It Happens To Other People

Episode 17

Where There's Smoke

Episode 18

Patience On A Monument

Episode 19

Blow Hot, Blow Cold

Episode 20

Change Of Heart

Episode 21

Food For Thought

Episode 22

The End Of A Song

Episode 23

The Man From Paris

Episode 24

The Wrong Set

Episode 25

The Egnet Sings

Episode 26

A Cigarette That Bears A Lipstick's Trace

Episode 27

The Last Act

Episode 28

A Tangled Web

Episode 29

Who's Who?

Episode 30

Never Trust A Woman

Episode 31

Travellers Return

Episode 32

Gone Away

Episode 33

Publish And Be Damned

Episode 34

Action For Libel

Episode 35

Testing Time

Episode 36

Plots, Plans, And A Party

Episode 37

True Or False?

Episode 38

Hide And Seek

Episode 39

Wild Goose Chase

Episode 40

High Court, Low Court

Episode 41

Hostilities Called Off

Episode 42

Best Laid Schemes

Episode 43

Trouble Brewing

Episode 44

Any Other Business?

Episode 45

Time Flies

Episode 46

Friends And Enemies

Episode 47

Day Of Decision

Episode 48

Hidden Depths

Episode 49

Appearances Can Be Deceptive

Episode 50

The Truth Will Out

Episode 51

The Off-White Elephant

Episode 52

Winners And Losers

Episode 53

Engagements At Sea

Episode 54

Storm Warning

Episode 55

Change Of Plans

Episode 56

Trouble Across The Water

Episode 57

Destination - Paris

Episode 58

Paris Is For Lovers

Episode 59

If The Shoe Fits…

Episode 60

Journey's End

Episode 61

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