The Hardacres

The Hardacres is a 2024 period drama television series set in Yorkshire, produced in Ireland for Channel 5, adapted from the novel series by C. L. Skelton.

The Hardacres
Genre	Drama
Created by	Amy Roberts Loren McLaughlan
Based on	The Hardacre (series) by C. L. Skelton
Written by	Amy Roberts Loren McLaughlan Emma Reeves Liz Lake
Directed by	Rachel Carey Kieron J. Walsh
Starring	Claire Cooper Liam McMahon
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6[1]
Production
Executive producers	Amy Roberts Loren McLaughlan Colin Callender
Producer	Alex Jones
Production companies	Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland Newgrange Pictures Red Berry Productions Playground Entertainment
Original release
Network	Channel 5 (UK)
Release	7 October 2024 (2024-10-07) – present

Synopsis

Beginning in Yorkshire in the 1890s, the series is a rags-to-riches tale of a working-class family.^[2]

Cast

• Claire Cooper as Mary Hardacre
• Liam McMahon as Sam Hardacre
• Adam Little as Joe Hardacre
• Shannon Lavelle as Liza Hardacre
• Zak Ford-Williams as Harry Hardacre
• Julie Graham as Ma Hardacre
• Holly Sturton as Adella Fitzherbert
• Cathy Belton as Emma Fitzherbert
• Owen Roe as George Fitzherbert
• Ingrid Craigie as Mrs Dryden
• Siobhan O'Kelly as Lena
• Sarah Agha as Betsy
• Taheen Modak as Saunders
• Shane Toner as Lewis

Production

The six-part series adaptation is from Playground Entertainment and helmed by Amy Roberts and Loren McLaughlan.^[3] Also writing episodes are Emma Reeves and Liz Lake, while Roberts and McLaughlan are executive producers. Rachel Carey is lead director.^[4] Kieron J. Walsh is also slated to direct Episodes 4–6. Alex Jones is producer and it is co-produced by Jackie Larkin.^[5]

Filming

Filming started in Dublin and County Wicklow in Ireland, in 2023.^[6] Filming lasted for four months into February 2024.^[7]

Casting

Announced as leading the cast are Claire Cooper and Liam McMahon as Mary and Sam Hardacre, with their children Joe, Liza, and Harry, played by Adam Little, Shannon Lavelle and Zak Ford-Williams. Mary's mother is played by Julie Graham.^[8]

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.K. viewers (millions)
1	"1.1"	Rachel Carey	Amy Roberts & Loren Mclaughlan	7 October 2024 (2024-10-07)	N/A
Sam (Liam McMahon) and his eldest son Joe (Adam Little) are dockworkers, while Sam's wife Mary (Claire Cooper) and mother-in-law Ma (Julie Graham) gut fish. When Sam suffers an accident, the entire family lose their income and face being rendered homeless. Having heard that the Thornton Hall estate is seeking staff, Mary goes there to ask for work, but is turned away.[9]
2	"1.2"	Rachel Carey	Amy Roberts & Loren Mclaughlan	13 October 2024 (2024-10-13)	N/A
With no other options, Mary undertakes to sell fried herring at the races. After a setback, the stand begins to earn well. With money to spare, they invest, and end up making a fortune. Having heard that Thornton Hall is being sold, the Hardacres buy it and move in, to the chagrin of the head housekeeper, Mrs. Dryden.
3	"1.3"	Rachel Carey	Emma Reeves	21 October 2024 (2024-10-21)	N/A
Liza tries to make amends following her scene at the tea and apologizes to Adella for getting her into trouble. Adella is only too happy to accept Liza's apology especially, as it comes with a request: to teach Liza on how to be a 'proper' lady.[10]
4	"1.4"	Kieron J. Walsh	Liz Lake	28 October 2024 (2024-10-28)	N/A
In the aftermath of the soiree, Mary finds herself snubbed by the charity circle, and Joe turns to Betsy who has long had feelings for him, for comfort. But when news of Adella's engagement causes Joe to doubt the sincerity of his feelings for Betsy, he follows Sam's advice to break up with her, leaving heartbreak in his wake. Sam, meanwhile, rallies the dock workers and impresses them with his profitable introduction of clever efficiencies to the business. But he finds himself outmaneuvered when the board gives him an ultimatum that forces him to go back on his word to the dock workers he had set out to protect. Hating to see his father brought low, Joe makes a difficult decision.[11]
5	"1.5"	Kieron J. Walsh	Amy Roberts & Loren Mclaughlan	4 November 2024 (2024-11-04)	N/A
Betsy confesses to Lena that she's pregnant, and they both confront the Hardacres, who declare that Joe and Betsy shall marry. Her mother having refused to break off her engagement to Hugo, Adella appeals to Joe to accompany her to America. Having discovered what Mrs. Dryden thinks of the Hardacres, Mary fires her.
6	"1.6"	Kieron J. Walsh	Amy Roberts & Loren Mclaughlan	TBA	TBD
After Liza faints from the effects of weight loss pills that Adella gave her, Mary finds the confidence to go to the Fitzherberts' and confronts Emma. Meanwhile Sam's plan pays off at the docks and the family and the workers enjoy a moment of victory. Harry returns home and Sam and Mary are pleased to hear how well he is doing at school. After seeing the family weather this latest storm, Mrs. Dryden wonders if she'd been wrong about them and agrees to oversee Joe and Betsy's wedding.[12]

Broadcast

The series was first broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK on 7 October 2024.^[13]

Reception

Carol Midgely in The Times described the series as "untaxing, escapist fare".^[14] Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph described it as "an old-fashioned taste of how TV used to be”.^[15]