Though American audiences will have to wait a bit longer, UK audiences have been enjoying a promising new period drama on Channel 5, The Hardacres.
Set in 1890s Yorkshire, this six-part series follows the rags-to-riches journey of the Hardacre family, led by Claire Cooper (The Continental) and Liam McMahon (The O'Briens) as Mary and Sam Hardacre. Alongside them is Julie Graham (Ridley) as the formidable Ma.
Expect family drama, hardship, and a spectacular rise from the grimy docks to a gleaming country estate. The official episode description for the first episode reads: "After an unfortunate accident befalls dock worker Sam Hardacre, he and his family lose their jobs at the docks and must race to find work or else end up on the streets."
Though some countries have distribution agreements in place, global distributor Banijay Rights told Deadline that conversations with US buyers are currently taking place - so no news yet.
In the meantime, you can watch the trailer HERE or check out the books HERE.
What we're...
- Watching: Vicar of Dibley - It's been a few years since I last watched this one, but you can never go wrong with a re-watch because it's just that good. The series stars Dawn French as the first female vicar in a small English village (where not everyone is on board with the idea).
- Reading: I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You by Miranda Hart - At the height of her post-Miranda fame, Miranda Hart seemed to disappear almost overnight. Her new book talks about how she developed a tick-borne illness in her teens, with complications that lasted decades - leaving her bedbound at times, unable to commit to rigorous filming schedules. She's also revealed that she recently found "her person", getting married at the age of 51. Such fun!
26 Spooky British Films for Creepy Autumn Nights - We've tried to steer clear of any slasher films, opting instead for the eerie, spooky, and generally creepy - along with a couple of silly cult classics and family-friendly selections.
New & Upcoming
- On PBS Masterpiece, Sunday the 20th brings the season finales of a few great crime dramas - Ridley, Van der Valk, and Moonflower Murders. On the 27th, they'll be adding The Marlow Murder Club, the TV series based on Robert Thorogood's novel of the same name.
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On BritBox, the 14th brought the docuseries Prison (seasons 1 and 2), and on the 17th you can check out Passenger, a dark comedy thriller about a former Met detective who relocates to the Northern village of Chaddar Vale, only to find herself drawn into a series of strange events. On the 15th and 22nd, they're adding seasons 3 and 4 of edgy family drama Shameless.
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On Acorn TV, the 17th brings The Midwich Cuckoos: Village of the Damned, starring Keeley Hawes. On the 21st, the new season of Whitstable Pearl (season 3) will premiere.
- On Apple TV+, the psychological thriller Disclaimer premiered October 11th, telling the story of an unethical journalist who's horrified when a novel shows up on her doorstep, exposing all her secrets.
- On Hulu, Rivals premieres October 18th. The 8-episode series is based on Jilly Cooper's best-selling novel of the same name, and it follows all sorts of powerful people getting into trouble - both in business and the bedroom. David Tennant and Aidan Turner are among the stars.
- On Amazon Prime Video, season 2 of The Devil's Hour premieres October 18th. On the 24th, they'll be adding the film Canary Black, starring Kate Beckinsale.
- On Netflix, the true crime documentary Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare premieres October 16th. It follows a woman who forms a disastrous online friendship with a man she knows as "Bobby".
View all the brand-new British TV premieres in the US for October 2024 HERE
More to Read...
BritBox Announces November US Lineup - New Sherwood, a new Shaun Evans series...it's going to be a good month at BritBox.
40+ of the Books That Introduced Us to British TV Detectives - A great many of our favourite British TV detectives were first created by novelists - and in this list, we take a look at some of the books that went on to inspire TV shows.
350+ British TV Show Status Updates - Need to check on the status of your favourite British TV show from the last 4-5 years? This is the place to do it (and you might just get ideas for more to watch).
16 Atmospheric British Novels Set on the Moors - Even if you've never been to the UK, even very limited exposure to British literature will tell you that creepy things happen on the moors - and that's certainly the case in many of the books on this list.
More to Enjoy...
- A Scottish Love Scheme (2024) - This film follows a middle-aged woman who travels to Scotland and reconnects with an old friend, Logan.
- Mongrels (2010) - This rather unusual series follows a group of anthropomorphic animals who hang around in the back of a pub in London. Though it might seem like a comedy with puppets would be for kids, this one is most definitely not for children.
- The Duchess of Duke Street (1976) - This classic period drama is based on the life of Rosa Lewis, and it follows a young woman who works her way up to the top of a fashionable London hotel (and becomes mistress to Edward VIII).
- A Hazard of Hearts (1987) - Based on Barbara Cartland's novel, this film follows a young woman sent to live at a forbidding clifftop mansion after her father loses everything (including her) in a wager. Dame Diana Rigg (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Christopher Plummer (Lily in Love), Helena Bonham Carter (Toast), and Edward Fox (The Dresser) make it a truly memorable production.
- Red, White, & Royal Blue (2023) - Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, this film follows Alex, the US president's son, and the UK's Prince Henry as they're forced into a staged truce for the purposes of international relations...only to fall in love.
Siegfried Farnon: I must say, that while the flesh is willing, the spirit slightly lacks.
Mrs Hall: The less I hear about your willing flesh, the better for both of us.
All Creatures Great & Small
Stream it (US): PBS Masterpiece
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