The Hardacres returns to 5 this Spring as first-look images and casting details are revealed for series 2
Posted: 15th April 2026
Ahead of its anticipated return to 5 this spring, the rags to riches family saga The Hardacres unveils casting details for its second series and reveals first-look images for the upcoming series.
Inspired by the bestselling novels by CL Skelton, The Hardacres stars Claire Cooper (The Continental, The Peripheral) and Liam McMahon (Hunger, Warrior Nun) as Mary and Sam Hardacre, alongside Julie Graham (The City Is Ours, Time) as Mary’s mother, Ma. Their children Joe, Liza and Harry are played by Adam Little (Ackley Bridge, Coronation Street), Shannon Lavelle (Riot Women) and Zak Ford Williams (Bridgerton, Better).
The cast also includes Holly Sturton (Lies We Tell, The School for Good and Evil), Cathy Belton (Hidden Assets, Philomena) and Owen Roe (Sherlock, Daughter) as Lady Adella, Lady Emma and Lord George Fitzherbert, with Ingrid Craigie (Blood, Blackshore) as Mrs Dryden, Sarah Agha as Betsy Hardacre (Layla, The Badlands), and Taheen Modak (The Bay) as Callum Saunders.
New faces joining the cast for series 2 include Michele Dotrice (A Very English Scandal) as Lady Imelda Hansen, the formidable mother of Lady Emma Fitzherbert, Niall McNamee (Saipan, Bad Sisters) as Edward Blackwood, and Edward Mitchell (Zack Snyder’s Justice League) as Arthur Lewis.
Following the smash-hit first series, which followed the Hardacre family as they navigated their rise from poverty to staggering wealth and the unexpected twists and turns that money brought, series 2 finds the Hardacre family on the brink of transformation in 1895, as modernity sweeps into Hardacre Hall with electricity and shifting loyalties. Mary and Sam embrace wealth and opportunity, but their children begin forging identities that challenge expectations. Mary champions adult education for dock workers, while Sam expands the family business amid a looming recession, uncertain if Joe is ready to succeed him. Determined to prove himself, Joe’s impulsive choices threaten his future. Liza recovering from romantic disappointment, is swept up by a chance encounter with a handsome stranger, while Harry’s plans to abandon school are transformed by an inspiring new tutor. Ma forms an unexpected bond but as some relationships blossom, others are strained. As tensions rise, Lady Imelda Hansen arrives at the Fitzherbert’s home with a dangerous agenda, forcing the Hardacres to unite or risk losing everything.
From Playground, the award-winning production company behind the internationally acclaimed hit series All Creatures Great and Small; in association with Screen Ireland and Red Berry Productions. Banijay Rights handles international sales for the series.
The series was commissioned by Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell, alongside Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5.
Executive Producers are Colin Callender (All Creatures Great and Small, The Undeclared War) and David Stern (Howards End, The Last Tycoon) for Playground, Lesley McKimm (The Hardacres, My Name is Emily) for Playground and Red Berry Productions, Simon Cox for Banijay Rights and Kate McColgan for Screen Ireland.
Kathryn Kennedy Fenton (Atomic Hope, Leonard & Hungry Paul) is on board as Producer and Rachel Carey (The Hardacres, Obituary Series 2), is returning as Lead Director, with Stephen Bradley (Fran the Man, Noble), directing Block 2. Writers for series 2 include Sarah-Louise Hawkins (Whitstable Pearl, The Mallorca Files), Emma Reeves (The Hardacres, The Beaker Girls), Dan Muirden (Death in Paradise, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators), Cara Loftus (Hidden Assets, Spilt Milk) and Susie Conklin (A Gentleman in Moscow, A Discovery of Witches).
The launch dates for S2 will be confirmed in due course. Series 1 is available to stream on 5.
Discover the first look images below:
