Unnatural Causes - Home Cooking (1986)

Episode 1 of the ITV murder anthology series, broadcast 8 November 1986. Written by Paula Milne, and starring Prunella Scales, Brian Cox, Jim Norton and Belinda Lang.

[@dee_seejay]

Fabulous. I need to add an extra couple of decades to my life so that I can watch all these obscure delights I missed back in the 70s and 80s. They were aimed at my parents' generation more than mine (born mid-60s) but since then they've matured like wine, ready for me to sample in my own middle age. Thank you!

[@CarlFrreeland]

Bits great isn't it,there's so many programmes I've forgotten about,thank god for you tubeeh!!?

[@YumchaGirl]

This was FANTASTIC! Wow! You really can't beat good British drama.

[@jamesrouillardjas1671]

What a great discovery this series - and with Prunella Scales to boot! 5 stars 🌟 ⭐️ ✨

[@scotnick59]

Prunella was a very good actress; only knew her from FAULTY TOWERS

[@SmilerORocker]

Poor Prunella, she never did have much luck with husbands and hotels 😂

[@cleopatra1633]

🤣🤣🤣

[@rosemariemcgowan6388]

BASIL BASIL 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@poorthing]

Best comment!❤

[@poorthing]

Wasn't expecting that full frontal, topless, bottomless ... rolling in the bed scene...yikes

[@chargerchick4u]

hehe I thought the same !!!

[@sicooper4230]

The tale goes that eventualy Judith managed to wipe out the entire population of men and to this day cuts cabbage like she means it..

[@cleopatra1633]

It really had a men hating vibe going on, bit too much really.

[@vaska1999]

​@@cleopatra1633What, a thriller about a female psychopath who kills men serially, one after another, wasn't as tender-hearted as it might have been?

[@dryflyman7121]

What a fantastic actress Prunella Scales is and Paula Milne such a great writer. Really enjoyed it, thank you.

[@garysimpson3900]

Great acting & atmosphere. Prunella Scales was such a versatile actress from comic "Fawlty Towers" to this stellar performance. Strange how I don't remember this series.

[@voulafisentzidis8830]

It wasn't a series but a different play each week with a new cast.

[@ruthelainefry2076]

Brilliant ! Much appreciated , this goes back to a time when actors really knew their art .

[@brendaazbill3941]

?????????

[@sicooper4230]

Agree as most of them were raised on stage productions.

[@גקליןיפה]

Thank you again ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Jackie Israel

[@laurallama73]

Love Brian Cox in anything he’s ever been in.

[@anibalfernando3027]

FANTASTIC...WHAT A CAST..❤

[@Vandal_Savage]

Blimey! I think that's the most explicit love scene I've ever seen on KZbin 😂

[@jmccallion2394]

The old Visa card and the Duke of wellington fiver!!! What memories!!!

[@raphaelandrews3617]

Yes, and Access your flexible friend. they ended up been baught by Barclays.

[@flintdacat7836]

Entertaining watch, not seen a younger Prunella Scales before and as always an awesome açtress. Thanks for the upload.

[@RobertLocksley385]

She's in "Hobson's Choice" (1954) as Charles Lawson's youngest daughter. At the age of 21 she was a very pretty girl.

[@glamdolly30]

@@RobertLocksley385 Yes, Prunella Scales was stunning, I always thought how gorgeous she was in 'Fawlty Towers'. Sybill was such a comedy character, you didn't notice how pretty and attractive she was! Fantastic actress too, obviously.

[@laurallama73]

@@RobertLocksley385I’m gonna go check that out!

[@Truth1561]

Faulty towers was before this in the 70s so shes older in this.

[@Truth1561]

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

[@sheristewart3940]

Yikes that was intense! Thanks for uploading this entertaining and suspenseful picture!

[@141Lav]

Oh lord I remember this lol. Showing my age! Great show just like Tales of the Unexpected and Thriller British series from ATV. Saturday night nightmares. The channel Carlton Select now defunct. Thanks for the upload. Any more of similar will be much appreciated 💯.

[@martm216]

Yes, it had quite a Tales of the Unexpected about it.

[@rosemarywilliams9969]

😅 all she wants to do is run a bed-and-breakfast that is family friendly and all these men keep trying to take over her home and her business! Whats a girl to do🤷

[@michelleelston4518]

Thank you so much for your time and patience downloading this you are a star 🌟

[@CarlFrreeland]

Here here!

[@evbraun1328]

Love this series!! Thanks flashbackcaruso, please keep them coming :)

[@StangerStrange]

I have been looking everywhere for these. Thank you for putting this one up :)

[@CrypticusOfficial]

Thanks for sharing! Strange. Starring Prunella & all, seem this could almost be a bizzaro episode of Faulty Towers

[@charlottew1245]

Thank you so much! I love these quality dramas

[@scooterpie423]

Would love to get the entire series on DVD; love these British thrillers.

[@helenawarsinnak]

Being from the US and born in 1979...I never heard of this show....so tonite was the very first time ever hearing of this series...and this episode was great so ill definitely be going to go chk out some more of this!!

[@PrinceAndycd6op]

Your 15 years older then me me born 94

[@helenawarsinnak]

@@PrinceAndycd6op u know how to make someone feel extremely old!! LOL 😂 ....U were born in '94....I graduated highschool in '97!!! 😫 **Enjoy your youth, have fun and be safe doing it!!😘

[@eshaibraheem4218]

What's your birthday got to do with it?

[@rosemariemann1719]

@@PrinceAndycd6op In 1986,I was 38 and got major cancer... Now nearly 76... Prunella is now sadly in decline with dementia...tragic😢 She and husband Timothy West were great in " When We Are Married ". Do try to find it here on KZbin : the play was very well done. Now 0439, Christmas Day. 🎄. I Last eve, I made a lovely fruity, nutty Christmas cake in the Microwave : 2 lots of 14 minutes, at 50%power : tasty ! 🎄😊Peace and joy to all .xx😊🇬🇧🦉🎼🎄 🇬🇧🎄😊🌟💙🎄🌹🇬🇧

[@petergregory9029]

Check out "Hobson's Choice" for a young Prunella. And What a Movie with Charles Laughton and the great John Mills !

[@jacquelinewhite3705]

Omg, I just got my first home when this programme was aired. My digital clock radio was the business. I had a Betamax video recorder with big clunky keys, then switched to VHS because I could rent a broader range of films. My first remote control TV was chunky too, my first computer was a Compaq presario and let's not go there with my first mobile phone...oh the mid eighties to nineties were my ages of technology.

[@cleopatra1633]

Loved my Sony Walkman 😁

[@janetannwhincup934]

Absolutely excellent thank you for sharing this 🙏🌻❄️🌈🎄🦋🧤🧣🎀🐝🌙⭐️🙏

[@rosabellelopez9115]

She's very effective in her role, got annoyed with her great movie great acting brilliant leading casts Brian Cox, Prunella Scales, Tim Burton thank you dear God bless❤😘

[@michelleelston4518]

Absolutely brilliant, thank you for your patience and time, you are a star 🌟 love Michelle XXX keep safe X

[@cajsheen2594]

As a young actress, Prunella was in the film Hobson's Choice! One of my favourite films! ❤ XXX

[@daviddring2365]

Wow .... I remember this when I was a kid..... always thought it was Tales of the Unexpected....... Cheers for the upload

[@vanessahawarden9028]

Brilliant upload, thank you for posting!

[@dazauto1400]

The Unnatural Causes anthology. I've managed so far to find the first 5 episodes. Had no luck with episodes 6 and 7.

[@bowler8]

1986, it would halve their bank balance for a microwave...we've come a long way

[@valerieHamilton-wt3jf]

Prunella Scales can do an excellent sinister look 😳

[@Michelle-cx6jg]

Absolutely brilliant thank you so much made my day 😊

[@rem2267]

I loved this - thanks so much for sharing it!

[@heatherfulmore3412]

Thank you

[@michaelforde4373]

Bishop brennan could not have busted the Georgian wire plated window, great upload

[@andersdottir1111]

Ahh Len - that’s where I know him from.

[@jellyfishattack]

Jim Norton was also on Rumpole for a few years.

[@E-Kat]

He he, the lack of hygiene in the kitchen is appalling! Wiping the blood from meat in a tea towel and next, proceed to do the pastry. Who'd do that?

[@kc3654]

People back then

[@michelewortelhoek6860]

These old ones are so good!

[@sksk-ir5fo]

He did kick me up the arse!!!😂🤣

[@pninnabokov3734]

This is before Prunella married Basil Fawlty! And Brian Cox here was still fairly young - I've always liked that actor. He never disappoints. Thank you!

[@newsbender]

Eh? This is 11 years after the first series of Fawlty Towers. She's clearly older here.

[@pninnabokov3734]

@@newsbender You're right, of course! Silly me and thank you!

[@evelynwaugh4053]

​@@newsbenderIt appears that she's still married to an innkeeper. Slow learner.

[@thadtuiol1717]

@44:50 Was not expecting to see Mrs. Fawlty get frisky like that!

[@karenturner7184]

Is that Nigel Farge at 22 minutes?

[@cleopatra1633]

Saw that too 🤣🤣🤣

[@Vandal_Savage]

I knew it wasn't just me who thought that 😂

[@Spectrescup]

Nigel would never say "stop badgering the woman"

[@CarlFrreeland]

That's wot I thought,¡

[@martm216]

I wondered about that!

[@cazt766]

excellent thanks for sharing . .bishop brennan from father ted jim norton👍

[@mariar4431]

That was excellent. Just can't beat those series.

[@alanmackenzie6909]

Excellent, more please.

[@collinhunter9792]

gees tht was good. better than tales of the unexpected or watever it was. thank you flashback

[@vandamme6379]

That Sauna door? I could've kicked that into 6 pieces. Lmao

[@tranzco1173]

that ruined it for me, that lock could be shaken off, the door pushed upon, never mind a kick.

[@Spectrescup]

​@@tranzco1173and the police not visiting the hotel that a murder victim had just left...

[@soldtobediers]

Good thing Basil didn't have a sauna installed!

[@allybally0021]

LOL.....he wouldn't have lasted the first episode.

[@soniavadnjal7553]

Lol, can imagine the fun the audience would have had with that.

[@digbycrankshaft7572]

🤣🤣

[@merseydave1]

Anybody notice a very young Gina McKee ?

[@royaldesign1984]

Looked through all the comments to find this!

[@molliemae6855]

Her voice!!!

[@simonlovett151]

45:08 - Sausages eh? That's the English way of managing a change of scene, subtle. :-D

[@Star-Core]

Great upload! Been trying to see this for years, watched it when I was a kid on ITV and wanted to know what it was called!

[@DJ-Brownie-UK]

prunella going full nude thats a turn up for the books !!!

[@Meatcity-sf8fm]

Prunella must be a great cook in real life.

[@wanboo02]

she put all that dough into one baking pan..lol.. it's enough for 3 loaves

[@briannumme9337]

Chopping onions for her is not an act!

[@sallyb1689]

Omg the long gone era of my childhood 😢

[@glenncooney3959]

40:32 Nula Conwell (who also portrayed Maureen the barmaid in Only Fools and Horses and WPC Viv Martella in The Bill) plays the young wife who doesn’t want to stay at the hotel

[@kieranday3080]

Prunella Scales in the show "Unnatural Causes" a beautiful young actress.

[@jackevans3480]

She was 54 when she did this. She really didn't look her age.

[@soniavadnjal7553]

@@jackevans3480 Saw her in an episode of midsummer murders. Stole the show.

[@felicitybraxx9394]

My goodness! Brian Cox! A young man!

[@cajsheen2594]

She was indeed an excellent cook! ❤ XXX

[@maryfeehan7896]

Brilliant. Thank you 🇮🇪🙏❤️

[@theresamills5095]

Being married is grim. I live alone now and it’s perfect.

[@rosemarywilliams9969]

😅I hope I'll be able to feel like that one day.

[@janecheyne2943]

Me to, totally agree🤗

[@voulafisentzidis8830]

Better alone than with the wrong man!

[@writeract2]

why grim?

[@jeannemara1600]

Not for everyone. Some of us have happy, peaceful, loving marriages. The secret is marrying the right person. And, working at it, forgiving actions, even fighting (fairly,) and, when marrying, actually seriously meaning the words, "...for better or worse; for richer for poorer; in sickness and in health; forsaking all others, until death do we part."

[@lyndsygillespie4184]

New subscriber pls upload more ! This is awesome thank you ! 😊

[@romystumpy1197]

Jim Norton who played the Gordon character,also played bishop Brennan in ' Father Ted

[@alvinjones670]

INTERESTING SUSPENSE WORTH A WATCH!!!

[@lighthousecollector]

Youd think they would have removed that stupid outside lock after the 1st death but no .

[@collinhunter9792]

i hearyuh, but the lock wouldnt have been part of the accidental death. if it was, it wouldnt be accidental

[@fionasteele3642]

I so agree . What was the point of that outside look ? I can understand one on the inside, but what if the person fainted or had a heart attack, no one could get in to help the person ? I would like the thermostat on the inside ,were it can be turned up or down , by the person in their . Also a blind on the window would be nice .

[@wpl955g9]

​@fionasteele3642 So he wants a padlock on the outside to keep non paying customers out. 09:05, his wife says so. He also wants the heat control on the outside so he can adjust it - presumably turning it down, as he says at 18:12, to let the punters they've overstayed their welcome. He also wants the air vent shut off to save heat, which would lead to asphyxia, if you think about it. One presumes his wife removed or unlocked the padlock before calling the police so it did look like an accident - fell asleep, bad heart, set the thermostat too high kinda thing...

[@LB-gz3ke]

As an American, I can't get over the decor of the bar area with the pictures of topless women. This never would have been seen on American television in 1986. And the fact that the businesswoman is just there casually and not offended by the pictures is mind boggling to me.

[@ukrpgfan4029]

That sauna door must be very strong....

[@valerieHamilton-wt3jf]

Lovely to see him cooking in the sauna 😂

[@skygazer6898]

How did she manage to talk away out of another death in the hot room. thanks or uploading

[@IrelandsMermaidMum]

Brilliant all round. Women were treated so differently in the 1980s. Terrible to think how life was for us back then.

[@My2up2downCastle]

Bishop Brennan, the microwave Salesman!

[@annabelrobin294]

Loved this. Nothing quite so good as home cooking.

[@francisheperi4180]

Loved Prunella Scales since ''Marriage Lines'', early 60's.

[@thraciangrapes]

I'm Irish-American with a tad of British colonial blood, and I absolutely love British shows and movies. Superior to American in my humble opinion. Thank you 😊 for sharing.

[@KarmaKutie1]

And I'm a life long Canadian (Austrian born), and I could not agree more with you re: British shows! No one does them better than the Brits :)

[@lyndsygillespie4184]

If you haven’t already watched some of these newer thrillers from uk 🇬🇧 and you love them , watch these recommendations you won’t be disappointed!! You can usually catch them on bbc i player or itv catch up etc .. ( the victim ) , ( without sin ) , ( the bodyguard ) , ( line of duty box set series ) , ( the catch ) , ( the cry ) , ( doctor foster..: 3 series of this ) , ( happy valley ) , ( the bay ) , ( the holiday ) , ( the serpent ) , ( the accident )…. If you ever want any more drop me a comment on here ! Hopefully I’ve suggested maybe even one you’ve not seen 😅 xx

[@sweetpea_bythesea]

No wonder it went out at 11pm!! Wonder what the police said after the last murder...

[@k8bweigel1]

Freaky story! Had me on edge the whole time

[@stezario]

excellent! cheers mate.

[@marcoscu]

Pru Scales is fantastic in this.

[@mijiyoon5575]

Plop Plop Fizz Fizz...Oh what a relief it is 29:22

[@fredorman2429]

It sure ain’t Fawlty Towers.

[@andyhackett9388]

Hi Caruso, many thanks for uploading this superb thriller, great to have a chance to watch it, having let it pass by in 1986. Other viewers have also asked the same - do you have any other episodes to upload please, especially the third episode called Lost Property, starring Miranda Richardson? I remember the creepy ending to that episode, but was ill at the time, and didn't take in the full story. These episodes aren't available anywhere on the Net, not even a detailed description on Wikipedia, nor are available on DVD. Would mean so much for your reply, and for any more uploads. Thanks in advance.

[@roderickfernandez5382]

If you like for nolia scales you must wash the original map and Lucia it should have you rolling on the floor I'm grabbing at your vitals and laughter

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

great little find

[@birdman4274]

I was trying to figure out who the mother was at 5:27 (Gina McKee). I knew I had seen her in something and it was Episode 1 Series 2 of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet 1986. She was the cowboy girl at the barn dance.

[@user-John666]

She was also in the series “our friends in the north” in 1996….along with a young Daniel Craig playing a very unkempt character!

[@jakecavendish3470]

Find this quite hard to watch ever since I heard the interview where she said she and Samuel West used to beat each other so hard he once knocked her tooth out 😦

[@crystalawen]

She truly cooked his goose

[@soniavadnjal7553]

Top actors!👏👏 Well, Prunella Scales, Belinda Lang.

[@Forestier1]

And BAFTA award winning Gina McKee.

[@qhsperson]

McLevy! Also, the first Hannibal Lecter.

[@traceypace92]

@Im wearing tights that I borrowed from your mum. WOW HOLLYWOOD LEGEND

[@johnvoyce]

Only £200 for a microwave oven in 1986. Only £568 in today's money - but think of the time it would save!

[@timswindley7131]

Dear Sir, You certainly have great collection of classic British tv dramas on your KZbin page. I was wondering if you happened to have A Brothers Tale which is a 3-part series starring Trevor Eve which was shown on ITV in 1983 please ? The story is from Stan Barstow who wrote A Kind Of Loving. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards Tim

[@skygazer6898]

Very weird! So who was the murderer. i am as confused now as i was when watching this.,

[@k8bweigel1]

I'm pretty sure the murderer turned himself in at the end of the episode, so he was neither of the men she killed.

[@SNROPQUEYR]

For further movies - Nigel Kneale - Ladies Night - etc. etc.

[@lesleymcshanemitchell9651]

Thanks loved watching

[@eileenlocke7877]

Very good thank you

[@hughiedavies6069]

Good title, home cooking 😃

[@MegaCaine11]

Thanks for Uploading! Can We Have Some More Please? 😀😀

[@traceypace92]

NO OLIVER TWIST 🐱

[@patsyhodge9071]

Why"d she kill the 2nd one. Im intrigued?

[@k8bweigel1]

I'm pretty sure she killed the second one because he was trying to just step in like her old husband and take over her life. He's the one that talked her into keeping it a gross salesman Hotel rather than the nice clean family Hotel she wanted.

[@cleopatra1633]

Just full of hate of men. The whole video was about that. Bit too much really.

[@wpl955g9]

​​@@k8bweigel1You're not wrong, but you're forgetting two other things: she finds her husband's scarf in his top drawer, next to a dirty magazine. The news report mentions the rapist had lost just such a scarf, remember, and she searches his coat, then notices when her husband can't find it. Bishop Brennan was trying to weasel his way in by making her suspect her husband of being the rapist. The dirty magazine only helped convince her he's no better, like inviting the seedy businessmen back. There are also suggestions throughout that HE might be the rapist (not local, never at weekends, looked like he was dressed for work.) She even thinks to let him out of the sauna when the news reports they've arrested the real suspect, but locks the door again for a combination of the reasons above and to be 'clean,' her big obsession. That's my take anyhow.

[@CarlFrreeland]

​@@wpl955g9very good analysis there thanks,I thought she'd vket him out but I suppose it would of been too nice an ending maybe!!

[@_BillyMandalay]

The men got home cooked, alright.

[@marymary5494]

That second guy what a creep.

[@MrNewtonian]

I've always fancied Sybil Faulty.

[@annalewis5443]

Brilliant loved it

[@jasperedwards3341]

6 pound a hour for sauna thats a bit to steep i paid 20 euro for a whole day