EXCLUSIVE: Channel 5 (now 5) is leaning into its dynastic period drama The Hardacres and we’ve got new cast and a first look at Season 2.

New faces include Michele Dotrice (A Very English Scandal) as Lady Imelda Hansen, the formidable mother of Lady Emma Fitzherbert, Niall McNamee (Saipan, Bad Sisters) as Edward Blackwood, and Edward Mitchell (Zack Snyder’s Justice League) as Arthur Lewis. They join the likes of Claire Cooper (The Continental, The Peripheral), Liam McMahon (Hunger, Warrior Nun), Julie Graham (The City Is Ours, Time), Adam Little (Ackley Bridge, Coronation Street), Shannon Lavelle (Riot Women) and Zak Ford‑Williams (Bridgerton, Better). More pics can be seen above and below.

Season 2 begins with the Hardacre family on the brink of transformation in 1895, as modernity sweeps into Hardacre Hall with electricity and shifting loyalties. Mary and Sam embrace wealth and opportunity, but their children begin forging identities that challenge expectations.

The show is the Paramount UK network’s attempt at forging a long-running period drama and comes from the same producer, Playground, which is behind 5’s biggest hit drama of the decade, All Creatures Great and Small.

Season 2 premiere date will be confirmed in due course. The series was commissioned by Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell, alongside Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5. Executive producers are Colin Callender (All Creatures Great and Small, The Undeclared War) and David Stern (Howards End, The Last Tycoon) for Playground, Lesley McKimm (The Hardacres, My Name is Emily) for Playground and Red Berry Productions, Simon Cox for Banijay Rights and Kate McColgan for Screen Ireland. Banijay Rights is distributor.