Good news, period drama fans! The creators of All Creatures Great and Small are taking us back to the Victorian Era with a new series called The Hardacres.
Playground, the production company that brought us the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, has something exciting lined up. Get ready for The Hardacres, a brand-new TV series set in 1890s Yorkshire, inspired by C.L. Skelton’s best-selling rags-to-riches novels.
THE HARDACRES BOOK DESCRIPTION (BOOK 1)
“Hardacre” tells the sweeping rags-to-riches story of the Hardacre family, spanning from Victorian times to the 1950s. It follows their transformation from humble beginnings to great wealth, set against major historical events.
Sam Hardacre, a fish gutter, dreams of a better life and builds a business empire with relentless determination, amassing a fortune. His wife, Mary, once a poor street urchin, must adapt to her new role as mistress of a grand house in Yorkshire.
Their sons, Joe and Harry, inherit some but not all of their father’s qualities, leading them to take different paths. Meanwhile, their sister Jane is born into privilege, unaware of the family’s early struggles.
This saga spans love, hate, passion, and tragedy, as the Hardacres’ lives intersect with historical events like the Boer War, the Great War, the Wall Street Crash, the Second World War, and the London Blitz.
ABOUT THE HARDACRES TV SERIES
It will be fascinating to see how these novels translate to the small screen. Playground describes “The Hardacres” as “a bold, gutsy family drama full of heart.” It explores whether money can truly buy happiness while highlighting an ordinary family’s rise to an extraordinary position.
The official description of the show reads:
“Based on the best-selling novels by C.L. Skelton, this series chronicles the rags-to-riches story of a working-class family that strikes it rich and moves into a large Yorkshire estate. The series is penned by Amy Roberts & Loren McLaughlan.”
WRITERS AND PRODUCTION TEAM
Amy Roberts and Loren McLaughlan, who have worked on The Winter King and Call the Midwife, will be the lead writers and executive producers. They will be joined by writers Emma Reeves from The Worst Witch and Liz Lake from Waterloo Road, with Rachel Carey set to direct.
Playground is partnering with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions, and Newgrange Pictures to make the series, with Banijay Rights managing international distribution, ensuring it reaches a global audience.
It’s likely that The Hardacres will air on Paramount+ or PBS in the United States.
The series is commissioned by Sebastian Cardwell, Paramount UK’s Deputy Chief Content Officer, and overseen by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5, and Paramount+. Producers include Alex Jones (Witness Number 3, Penance) and Jackie Larkin (Strike, Mrs. Wilson); Executive Producers are Sir Colin Callender CBE (All Creatures Great and Small), David Stern (Howards End, The Last Tycoon) from Playground, Lesley McKimm for Red Berry Productions, and Andrew Byrne for Screen Ireland.
Sebastian Cardwell expressed his enthusiasm for the period drama, emphasizing that Playground’s record of bringing wonderful stories to life will continue with The Hardacres. He believes viewers will love being transported back to 1890s Yorkshire for this heartwarming family tale.
FILMING LOCATIONS
Unlike All Creatures Great and Small, which showcased Yorkshire’s landscapes, The Hardacres will be filmed in the beautiful setting of Ireland. Even though filming is in Ireland, the story takes place in Yorkshire, promising another visually stunning treat.
CASTING NEWS
Casting announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates about who will bring these captivating characters to life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C.L. Skelton, the talented writer behind the source material, was born in Northumberland in 1919. He had fascinating connections, including Queen Mary wanting him to take Princess Margaret on a date. Skelton joined the RAF during the war, was a theater actor, and was obsessed with the Loch Ness monster, even trying to capture it on film. He published several novels, some with his wife, Alison. The Hardacres is the first adaptation of his works.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Executive Producer David Stern sums up the show as a life-affirming rags-to-riches story about overcoming odds to find that community, friendship, and family are the most treasured aspects of life.
Are you excited about The Hardacres? What do you think about this upcoming period drama? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Stay tuned for further updates and get ready for what promises to be an unforgettable new period drama.
