AS THE nights grow colder and darker, there is nothing better than settling down in front of the telly to watch a good period drama.
Channel 5 have unleashed The Hardacres and the new series brings with it a top cast of much-loved actors.
The Hardacres tells an incredible rags to riches story.
The period drama focuses on a poor family, who’s fortunes suddenly change for the better thanks to a turn of events.
Their lives transform from living in a grimy fish dock to moving into a huge country estate and joining high society.
Set in 1890s Yorkshire, The Hardacres brings an impressive cast of actors that fans know and love.
Hollyoaks star Claire Cooper takes the lead in this Channel 5 drama.
Her character Mary is the the matriarch of the Hardacre family, and is the one who helps turn her family’s fortunes around.
Speaking about her character to Channel 5, Claire said: “What’s interesting about Mary is she feels deeply for all the family members, all the people around her, and she does connect with them.
“Even though she finds there is a distance that comes later on, she regroups everyone – she’s the anchor, the pioneer, the entrepreneur. She’s the mother, the wife, the daughter.
“She’s certainly not a wallflower.”
Claire shot to fame on Hollyoaks and is best known for her role as Jacqui McQueen.
She is married to fellow actor Emmett J. Scanlan who she met on the set of the Channel 4 soap.
Playing the part of the patriarch of the Hardacre family is Liam McMahon.
Fans may recognise the actor from shows like Warrior Nun, Agatha and the Truth of Murder, The Fall and The Borgias.
Speaking about his role in The Hardacres, he said: “He’s loyal. He’s dependable.
“He’s reliable. He’s affable. He has the qualities that might immediately make him seem like a leader.
“He takes these assets into all facets of his life which makes me think he is a good husband and good father.”
Much-loved actress Julie Graham is the tough talking Ma Hardacre.
“She’s obviously had a very hard life and has probably had to make very questionable decisions to survive,” the actress said of the role.
“You get this feeling that she’s gone through a lot in her life and come out the other end.”
The star has enjoyed an incredible career since her rise to fame in the 90s.
Julie is known for her roles in The Bletchley Circle, Shetland and Benidorm.
Playing the role of Joe Hardacre is actor Adam Little.
The character is the eldest child of the Hardacres and is described as “the black sheep of the family”,
“The reason that he feels out of place in the family, he brings on himself,” Adam said.
“I think in episode one to three, you see Joe at face value. He comes across a bit cocky.
“But underneath that, there is something really special about him.”
The actor is best known for playing Blake Myers in Coronation Street and Kyle Dobson in Ackley Bridge.
Playing the Hardacre’s sassy teenage daughter is Shannon Lavelle.
This is the young actress’ first role and debut into the world of TV.
Speaking about her character, Shannon said: “As her journey goes on, when her life changes, and they go into the big posh house, that’s really exciting for Liza, but it never changes her in terms of ego or whatever.”
Bridgerton star Zak Ford-Williams plays the youngest member of the Hardcare family.
The actor’s character has cerebral palsy, which is something he also has had since birth.
Zak said: “I think it’s important to make sure we don’t accidentally rewrite history and erase people by making everyone pretty and clean.
“I think it’s really important to give people a proper look into what these periods were like for all sorts of people.”
Away from The Hardacres and the actor is also known for Midsomer Murders, Wolfe and A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story.
The main cast of the The Hardacres are joined in the show by the following stars:
Viewers can tune in on Monday nights at 9pm on Channel 5 to watch The Hardacres.
The series kicked off on October 7, 2024 and is set to run until November 11, 2024.
There are six episodes in total for fans to enjoy.
After each one airs on Channel 5, they are then available on the streaming service My5.
