{"id":401870,"date":"2026-04-16T16:25:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/401870\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T16:25:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:25:14","slug":"brilliant-period-drama-with-comparisons-to-downton-abbey-gets-exciting-new-season-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/401870\/","title":{"rendered":"“Brilliant” period drama with comparisons to Downton Abbey gets exciting new-season update"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hardacres has unveiled first-look images of its eagerly anticipated second season. Inspired by the bestselling novels by CL Skelton, season one followed the Hardacre family as they navigated their rise from rags to riches and the unexpected twists and turns that wealth brought them.<\/p>\n

Following the success of season one, a second season was announced<\/a> with several returning faces and a whole slate of new ones added to the cast.<\/p>\n

Claire Cooper<\/a> and Liam McMahon will reprise their roles as Mary and Sam Hardacre alongside Julie Graham as Mary’s mother, Ma.<\/p>\n

\"shannon<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

\"liam<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

\"claire<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV+<\/a> <\/p>\n

Adam Little, Shannon Lavelle, and Zak Ford-Williams will also return as the Hardacre children Joe, Liza, and Harry, respectively.<\/p>\n

Holly Sturton, Cathy Belton, Owen Roe, Ingrid Craigie, and Sarah Agha are also set to return for the new episodes, alongside a host of new faces.<\/p>\n

A Very English Scandal’s Michele Dotrice has joined the cast as Lady Imelda Hansen, Lady Emma Fitzherbert’s mother, while Saipan’s Niall McNamee will star as Edward Blackwood.<\/p>\n

Zack Snyder’s Justice League star Edward Mitchell also joined the cast as Arthur Lewis.<\/p>\n

\"niall<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

\"edward<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

A synopsis for season two teases what fans can expect, reading: “Series 2 finds the Hardacre family on the brink of transformation in 1895, as modernity sweeps into Hardacre Hall with electricity and shifting loyalties. <\/p>\n

“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. <\/p>\n

\"michele<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

\"claire<\/p>\n

Channel 5<\/p>\n

“Determined to prove himself, Joe\u2019s impulsive choices threaten his future. Liza, recovering from romantic disappointment, is swept up by a chance encounter with a handsome stranger, while Harry\u2019s plans to abandon school are transformed by an inspiring new tutor. <\/p>\n

“Ma forms an unexpected bond but as some relationships blossom, others are strained. As tensions rise, Lady Imelda Hansen arrives at the Fitzherbert\u2019s home with a dangerous agenda, forcing the Hardacres to unite or risk losing everything.” <\/p>\n

The Hardacres season one is available to stream on 5. A release date for season two is yet to be announced.<\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Sir David Attenborough, is here! Buy Sir David Attenborough in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Lettermark\"<\/p>\n

Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy
\nRebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more.
\nHer particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club.
\nLinkedIn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Hardacres has unveiled first-look images of its eagerly anticipated second season. Inspired by the bestselling novels by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":401871,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[177237,131124,1105,177236,1107,93,61,60,1135,177235,282],"class_list":{"0":"post-401870","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-collection-downton-abbey","9":"tag-collection-latest-news","10":"tag-content-type-news","11":"tag-contentid-b01c8c8c-2e1a-43a5-bdd0-ef5fdba9cd47","12":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-locale-gb","17":"tag-shorttitle-brilliant-period-drama-gets-new-season-update","18":"tag-tv"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=401870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/401871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=401870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=401870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=401870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}