The Befrienders

The Befrienders is an 11-episode British television drama series which aired on BBC1 in 1972. The series was based on the work of the Samaritans, the suicide prevention charity founded in 1953 by the Reverend Chad Varah. Each episode depicted a fictional, dramatised story of an individual in a predicament leading them to contemplate ending their life. Only one of the 11 episodes ended with a death by suicide.

At the time that the television series was broadcast, the Samaritans had 122 branches in the United Kingdom, as well as ten overseas. Most branches offered a 24-hour telephone service staffed by trained volunteers who would listen, often providing callers with relief in being able to have a confidential conversation with an anonymous voice. Some callers were encouraged to come to their local centre; in extreme cases, emergency services would be dispatched to assist the caller in person.

The series was created by Harry W. Junkin, who also wrote many of the episodes, with Varah as an advisor. The leading cast members playing Samaritans helpers included Megs Jenkins as the main character Janet, as well as Michael Culver and Peter Armitage. The producer was John Henderson.