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.
CreatorPeter Ling
The First Issue
Jan 2, 1962
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Advice To Readers
Jan 4, 1962
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Efficiency Expert
Jan 9, 1962
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Cover Photograph
Jan 11, 1962
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Tea Break
Jan 16, 1962
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Personal Problem
Jan 18, 1962
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The New Broom
Jan 23, 1962
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Sally Speaks Up
Jan 25, 1962
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Question Of Identity
Jan 30, 1962
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Wedding Grove
Feb 1, 1962
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Suspicion Of Theft
Feb 6, 1962
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Happy Birthday
Feb 8, 1962
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Valentine's Day
Feb 13, 1962
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Testing Time
Feb 15, 1962
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Something To Celebrate
Feb 20, 1962
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Press Reception
Feb 22, 1962
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A True Story
Feb 27, 1962
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Circulation Figures
Mar 1, 1962
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News From New York
Mar 6, 1962
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A Breath Of Air
Mar 8, 1962
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The Party
Mar 13, 1962
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After The Ball
Mar 15, 1962
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Shocks And Bruises
Mar 20, 1962
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Weekend
Mar 22, 1962
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Action Stations
Mar 27, 1962
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The Ideal Husband
Mar 29, 1962
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Future Plans
Apr 3, 1962
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Facing The Facts
Apr 5, 1962
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A Night Out
Apr 10, 1962
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Point Of Departure
Apr 12, 1962
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Surprises By Post
Apr 17, 1962
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A Piece Of Cake
Apr 19, 1962
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Pets Corner
Apr 24, 1962
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The Man For The Job
Apr 26, 1962
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Down The Hatch
May 1, 1962
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Stormy Weather
May 3, 1962
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Musical Evening
May 8, 1962
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Talent Contest
May 10, 1962
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Visting Hours
May 15, 1962
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Mixed Receptions
May 17, 1962
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Home And Away
May 22, 1962
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Day Of Frenzy
May 24, 1962
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Moment Of Truth
May 29, 1962
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In A Spin
May 31, 1962
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The Big Chance
Jun 5, 1962
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Garden Party
Jun 7, 1962
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Happy Returns
Jun 12, 1962
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Man And Wife
Jun 14, 1962
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Blackmail
Jun 19, 1962
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Take-Over Time
Jun 21, 1962
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The Proposal
Jun 26, 1962
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Faraway Places
Jun 28, 1962
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Barbecue
Jul 3, 1962
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A Day Of Problems
Jul 5, 1962
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Comings And Goings
Jul 10, 1962
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Looking Ahead
Jul 12, 1962
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Weekend Plans
Jul 17, 1962
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Settlement Day
Jul 19, 1962
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Gone Astray
Jul 24, 1962
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Evening Date
Jul 26, 1962
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A Night Out
Jul 31, 1962
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Pay Off
Aug 2, 1962
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Moving Up
Aug 7, 1962
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Surprise Party
Aug 9, 1962
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Riding For A Fall
Aug 14, 1962
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Unguarded Moment
Aug 16, 1962
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Skin Deep
Aug 21, 1962
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The Contest
Aug 23, 1962
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Ebb And Flow
Aug 28, 1962
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Budget Leak
Aug 30, 1962
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Andiamo
Sep 4, 1962
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Out For The Count
Sep 6, 1962
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Finger Of Suspicion
Sep 11, 1962
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Detective Work
Sep 13, 1962
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The Elopement
Sep 18, 1962
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Heartbeat
Sep 20, 1962
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The First Clue
Sep 25, 1962
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Trapped
Sep 27, 1962
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The Morning After
Oct 2, 1962
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Facing The Facts
Oct 4, 1962
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Heart To Heart
Oct 9, 1962
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Day Of Revolutions
Oct 11, 1962
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True To Type
Oct 16, 1962
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Where There's Smoke
Oct 18, 1962
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Burns And Shock
Oct 23, 1962
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Who's Who?
Oct 25, 1962
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Horoscope
Oct 30, 1962
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Point Of Departure
Nov 1, 1962
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The Truth Of The Matter
Nov 6, 1962
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A Case Of Identity
Nov 8, 1962
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Questions And Answers
Nov 13, 1962
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French Leave
Nov 15, 1962
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Lost And Found
Nov 20, 1962
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Art And Craft
Nov 22, 1962
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The Best Laid Plans
Nov 27, 1962
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Profit And Loss
Nov 29, 1962
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Setting A Trap
Dec 4, 1962
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Sparks Flying
Dec 6, 1962
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The Bad Penny
Dec 12, 1962
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All That Jazz
Dec 14, 1962
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Five More Shopping Days
Dec 18, 1962
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Christmas Spirit
Dec 20, 1962
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Business As Usual
Dec 27, 1962
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Unofficial Strike
Feb 28, 1963
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Many questions
Sep 7, 1964
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