| Play for Today | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama television plays anthology social realism kitchen-sink drama |
| Created by | Simon Warne & Lydia Marchant |
| Based on | Play for Today |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 45 mins |
| Production companies | Vertigo Films LA Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 5 |
| Release | 13 November 2025 – present |
Play for Today is a British television strand, produced by Channel 5. It is a continuation of the original BBC One series of the same name, which ran from 1970 to 1984. Like the prior series, it is an anthology of original one-off dramas exploring modern social issues. It began broadcasting on 13 November 2025. [1] [2]
In 2025, Channel 5 announced they would revive the series towards the end of that year for a new audience. [3] The project was conceived, following a conversation with Vertigo Films’ Allan Niblo. Episodes 1 and 3 were made by Vertigo in London, and the other two by Liverpool-based LA Productions (who had been involved with a similar programme, BBC One's Moving On ). Sebastian Cardwell, Channel 5’s head of drama, stated that the series would act as a gateway for new talent, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to enter the television industry. [4]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Never Too Late" | Sara Harrak | Simon Warne & Lydia Marchant | 13 November 2025 | N/A | |
Elderly Cynthia is forced into a retirement village by her family, but her plans to get evicted go awry when she meets an old flame. Starring: Anita Dobson and Nigel Havers. | ||||||
| 2 | "Big Winners" | Emma Turner | Martha Watson Allpress | 20 November 2025 | N/A | |
A £14 million win in the lottery causes chaos in a decades-long marriage. Starring: Sue Johnston and Paul Copley. | ||||||
| 3 | "A Knock at the Door" | Daniel Rands | David Whitehouse | 4 December 2025 | TBD | |
His career undone by accusations of impropriety with several women, comedian Lenny Bray's life unravels further when a bleeding delivery driver shows up at his home, claiming to have been mugged. Starring: Alan Davies and Nikki Amuka-Bird. | ||||||
| 4 | "Special Measures" | Jack McLoughlin | Lee Thompson | 11 December 2025 | TBD | |
A surprise OFSTED inspection causes havoc in a struggling Liverpool school, which is dealing with demoralized staff, hungry students and a lack of funds. Starring: Jessica Plummer. | ||||||
Rachel Aroesti in The Guardian gave the series two stars out of five, finding it not as daring as the original series. She did, however, praise Big Winners and several performances. [5] Patrick Smith in The Independent awarded the first episode two out of five stars, commending Dobson but finding it too lightweight for a Play for Today. [6] Keith Watson in The Daily Telegraph was similarly critical, disliking the first episode and awarding it one star out of five. [7]