The team behind Channel 5’s successful revival of All Creatures Great and Small has announced their next project, The Hardacres, a new period drama based on the novels by C.L. Skelton. The show, set to debut with its first episode on Monday, 7th October at 9 pm, promises to captivate audiences with its rags-to-riches story set in North Yorkshire. However, filming took place across Dublin and Wicklow, Ireland.
The Hardacres is a six-part series, each episode running for an hour. It follows the Hardacre family, a working-class clan in 1890s Yorkshire, navigating life’s challenges, love, and fortune. The narrative tracks their journey from the tough conditions of a grimy fish dock to a sprawling country estate, highlighting the transformation of their lives after a tragic accident leaves Sam and Mary Hardacre jobless and destitute.
Described by Channel 5 as “a bold, gutsy ensemble family drama full of heart,” The Hardacres explores whether wealth can truly bring happiness. The show delves into the dynamics of an ordinary family placed in extraordinary circumstances, touching on themes of resilience and ambition.
The series stars Claire Cooper, best known for her role in Hollyoaks, alongside Liam McMahon, known for his performances in Hunger, The Fall, and The Secret. They play Mary and Sam Hardacre, a married couple struggling to overcome the aftermath of a workplace accident. Along with Mary’s mother and their three children, the Hardacres devise a business plan to escape their impoverished situation, marking the beginning of their rise to fortune.
David Stern, executive producer, said: “We’re incredibly excited to have found a cast that embodies and enhances the spirit, humour and humanity that leaps off the page in both the original novels and the brilliant scripts. Audiences will undoubtedly fall in love with our fantastic group of actors, made up of both seasoned talent and exciting new faces, as they bring this spirited and sweeping rags to riches saga to life on screen.”
Don’t miss Channel 5’s The Hardacres, catch up on My5.
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Feature Image Credit: Channel 5
