Channel 5 Greenlights The Hardacres from Playground

Playground (All Creatures Great and Small) has been commissioned to produce The Hardacres, a six-part adaptation of CL Skelton’s best-selling series of novels The Hardacre Saga, for Channel 5.

The period drama chronicles the rags-to-riches story of the working-class Hardacre family in 1890s Yorkshire. When an accident leaves the family unemployed and destitute, they put their last penny into a radical business venture to avoid the workhouse.

The Hardacres has been created for television by Amy Roberts and Loren McLaughlan (The Winter King, Call the Midwife). who will serve as lead writers and executive producers. They are joined by Emma Reeves (The Worst Witch), who will write episode three, and Liz Lake (Waterloo Road), who will write episode four. Rachel Carey (Deadly Cuts) is lead director.

Playground is producing, in association with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions and Newgrange Pictures. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution.

Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer for Paramount UK, said: “Playground have a stellar reputation for bringing wonderful stories to life on Channel 5, and we are sure that The Hardacres will continue that success. Our viewers will love being transported back to 1890s Yorkshire for this gutsy, heartwarming tale following the family through stories of love, ambition and the quest for happiness.”

David Stern, executive producer and joint managing director of Playground, added: “We’re thrilled to be further extending our fantastic partnership with Channel 5 to bring CL Skelton’s glorious novels to the screen. The Hardacres is a life affirming rags to riches story about a family overcoming all odds, but in their quest for financial success they rediscover that community, friendship and family are the most precious things in life. Amy and Loren have done a brilliant job adapting the novels into a television series filled with humour, poignancy and a timely spirit that will resonate greatly with today’s Channel 5 audience.”

Simon Cox, executive producer and executive VP of content and acquisitions at Banijay Rights, commented: “We’re excited to be on this journey with Playground and Channel 5 as we enter the world of The Hardacres, a sweeping family saga that’s set to captivate and resonate with audiences around the world.”