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The unnamed Landlady (Siobhan McKenna) is the titular main villainess from "The Landlady", episode 1.05 of Tales of The Unexpected (airdate April 21, 1979), based on the Roald Dahl short story of the same name. The episode begins with Billy Weaver (The main protagonist), arriving in Bath as part of a work trip. While there, he looks for accomdation, and sees a bed and breakfast sign in the window of a house. The unnamed woman then invites him in, claiming that a hotel he had been planning to stay at was booked out. Although finding the landlady's overly friendly demeanour off-putting, Billy decides to spend the night.
Acting
McKenna's smile never reaches her eyes. Terrifying.
Direction
Wise squeezes dread from every chintzy cushion.
Writing
Dahl's economical prose, preserved like... specimens.
Director
Herbert Wise
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Roald Dahl himself introduces the episode, his familiar presence lulling viewers before the twist.
This 1979 adaptation arrived when British TV horror thrived in anthology format—Tales of the Unexpected delivered Dahl's macabre domesticity to primetime audiences who never trusted B&Bs again.
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