5 Confirms Season Two of Rich Lives, Poor Lives

Rich Lives, Poor Lives with Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman has been recommissioned by 5 for a second season, set to premiere in 2026.

“After the success of the first series earlier this year, Rob and Ruth are back with four fascinating periods of history,” said Lucy Willis, commissioning editor for unscripted at 5. “With their balance of intelligence and light touch, they’re the perfect guides for the 5 viewers, and I’m delighted to be teaming up with them and Lion again.”

In season two, Goodman and Rinder will turn back the clock to visit four key periods of British history: Roman, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian.

Sarah Sarkhel is set to executive produce for Lion Television, an All3Media company, and Melanie Darlaston will for WPP Media Motion Entertainment. The series producer is Lauren Bennie.

“We are delighted that Rich Lives, Poor Lives is coming back to screens,” said Sarkhel. “The series offers a fresh and accessible perspective on the past, and we are so glad that audiences are able to enjoy the return of Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman, whose on-screen dynamic continues to entertain and educate in equal measure.”

“I’m delighted Rich Lives, Poor Lives is returning,” said Rinder. “The first series proved what I’ve always believed—that history is at its most alive when it’s about people, not just palaces and proclamations. Working with Ruth Goodman has been a joy; together, we uncover the textures of everyday life—how it felt to live through the moments that shaped us, whether from the comfort of a drawing room or the chaos of the street. This new series goes even further into those human stories, reminding us that every age has its divides, and every generation its survivors.”

“Filming series one of Rich Lives, Poor Lives was both fascinating and the most enormous fun,” Goodman added. “Exploring people’s lives as they tried to find their own way through some of history’s greatest upheavals has been enthralling and often deeply moving. I am awaiting this next series with bated breath, not least because I get to share the experience with the marvelous Rob Rinder.”