Taking the form of a sequence of unconnected serials, scripts for Armchair Thriller were adaptations of published novels and stories.

Some trailers for the series showed the same armchair soaked in blood and a screaming, maniacal face; these received criticism from those who considered them too horrific for pre-watershed viewing.

For Armchair Thriller broadcasts Thames Television changed the station ident it used; normally it showed a London landscape in daytime, but here it was the same view as though seen at night.

[2] The ten Thames-produced serials were released by Network in 2008, both as separate stories and as a box-set, with the untransmitted six-part version of "The Chelsea Murders" also included.

The Southern Television-produced "Dead Man's Kit" and "High Tide" were released separately, in 2009 and 2010 respectively, by Simply Home Entertainment.