Channel 5 orders period novel adaptation The Hardacres from Playground

The Hardacres is set in 19th Century Yorkshire and filmed in Ireland

Paramount-owned Channel 5 in the UK has commissioned rags-to-riches family drama The Hardacres, based on author CL Skelton’s series of novels The Hardacre Saga.

The six-part series is being produced by New York- and London-based prodco Playground (All Creatures Great & Small), in association with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions and Newgrange Pictures. Banijay Rights is handling international distribution.

The Hardacres follows the lives of a working-class family in 1890s Yorkshire as they move from a grimy fish dock to a vast country estate. But does success and money really buy happiness?

The executive producers are Sir Colin Callender CBE, David Stern, Lesley McKimm, Cathy Payne, Simon Cox and Andrew Byrne.

The series will be filmed on location in Ireland later this year, with casting to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Playground has a stellar reputation for bringing wonderful stories to life on Channel 5 and we are sure that The Hardacres will continue that success,” said Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer at Paramount UK.

“Our viewers will love being transported back to 1890s Yorkshire for this gutsy, heart-warming tale following the family through stories of love, ambition and the quest for happiness.”