One by One (TV series)

One by One
GenreDrama
Created byAnthony Read
StarringRob Heyland
James Ellis
Sonia Graham
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes32
Production
ProducerBill Sellars
Running time50 minutes
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release29 January 1984 (1984-01-29) –
2 May 1987 (1987-05-02)

One by One is a British television series made by the BBC between 29 January 1984 and 2 May 1987.

The series, created by Anthony Read, followed the career of international veterinary surgeon David Taylor (called Donald Turner in the series) and his work caring for exotic animals at zoos in Britain, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Each series was set during a different decade, with exteriors filmed at Dudley Zoo, Chester Zoo and Knowsley Safari Park.

Thirty-two episodes were made over three series, transmitted on BBC1 in the early parts of 1984, 1985 & 1987. BBC1 repeated series 2 during the early months of 1986, as no new series had been made that year. The third series was also repeated on BBC1 over the Spring & Summer of 1988.

Cast

Series overview

Series Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
Series 1 10 29 January 1984 1 April 1984
Series 2 12 5 January 1985 23 March 1985
Series 3 10 28 February 1987 2 May 1987

Episodes

Series 1

# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate
1"We Called in the Experts"Christopher BakerAnthony Read29 January 1984 (1984-01-29)
2"Nature's Great Masterpiece"Christopher BakerAnthony Read5 February 1984 (1984-02-05)
3"They Shoot Tigers in India"Richard BramallAnthony Read12 February 1984 (1984-02-12)
4"Silver Linings"Richard BramallAnthony Read19 February 1984 (1984-02-19)
5"Pastures New"Christopher BakerAnthony Read26 February 1984 (1984-02-26)
6"Time and Motion"Christopher BakerAnthony Read4 March 1984 (1984-03-04)
7"A Long Weekend"Richard BramallAnthony Read11 March 1984 (1984-03-11)
8"Doctor's Orders"Richard BramallAnthony Read18 March 1984 (1984-03-18)
9"The Woman's Touch"Christopher BakerAnthony Read25 March 1984 (1984-03-25)
10"Ends and Beginnings"Christopher BakerAnthony Read1 April 1984 (1984-04-01)

Series 2

# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate
11"Blood, Toil, Tears and Spit"Michael E. BriantAnthony Read5 January 1985 (1985-01-05)
12"Parting of the Ways"Michael E. BriantAnthony Read12 January 1985 (1985-01-12)
13"Of Babes and Sucklings"Richard BramallJohnny Byrne19 January 1985 (1985-01-19)
14"To Hear the Sea Maid's Music"Richard BramallJohnny Byrne26 January 1985 (1985-01-26)
15"End of an Era"Michael E. BriantJohnny Byrne2 February 1985 (1985-02-02)
16"You and Whose Army?"Michael E. BriantJohnny Byrne9 February 1985 (1985-02-09)
17"Pride of Place"Richard BramallJohnny Byrne16 February 1985 (1985-02-16)
18"It's All Done with Mirrors"Richard BramallAnthony Read23 February 1985 (1985-02-23)
19"Dangerous Practice"Michael E. BriantJohnny Byrne2 March 1985 (1985-03-02)
20"A Killer Called Cuddles"Richard BramallAnthony Read9 February 1985 (1985-02-09)
21"Thank You, Mr. D.H. Lawrence"Richard BramallAnthony Read16 March 1985 (1985-03-16)
22"A Close Run Thing..."Michael E. BriantJohnny Byrne23 March 1985 (1985-03-23)

Series 3

# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate
23"Changing Places"Andrew MorganJohnny Byrne28 February 1987 (1987-02-28)
24"Remember the Humble Guinea-Pig"Andrew MorganJohnny Byrne7 March 1987 (1987-03-07)
25"First Things First"Roderick GrahamJohnny Byrne14 March 1987 (1987-03-14)
26"Tiger, Tiger"Roderick GrahamJohnny Byrne21 March 1987 (1987-03-21)
27"The Monkey in Between"Andrew MorganTerry Hodgkinson28 March 1987 (1987-03-28)
28"Dangerous Games"Andrew MorganJohnny Byrne4 April 1987 (1987-04-04)
29"The Elephant and the Kangaroo"Roderick GrahamTerry Hodgkinson11 April 1987 (1987-04-11)
30"A Dying Breed"Andrew MorganFreda Kelsall18 April 1987 (1987-04-18)
31"Down Below"Roderick GrahamTerry Hodgkinson25 April 1987 (1987-04-25)
32"Coming to Terms"Andrew MorganJohnny Byrne2 May 1987 (1987-05-02)