The Hardacres is Channel 5's very own answer to Downton Abbey. It introduces the Hardacre family who live in a vast country estate in 1890's Yorkshire.

But, unlike the posh Crawley's, the Hardacres know what it's like to be poor... The six-parter is described as "a sweeping rags-to-riches story that follows the lives, loves and fortunes of the working class Hardacre family".

Here's everything you need to know about The Hardacres on Channel 5, including plot, episodes, location, and cast.

What is The Hardacres on Channel 5 about? What's the plot?

In The Hardacres on Channel 5, we follow the fortunes of a family who move from the "grimy fish dock to a vast country estate in 1890's Yorkshire".

After an accident leaves the family unemployed and broke, the Hardacres come up with a radical business idea... In a glorious twist of fate, they soon find themselves rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Catapulted into the frankly snobby world of the upper classes, they are faced with disdain from aristocrats and servants alike. The family must learn the hard way that real class isn't a birth-right, it's something they had all along…

From the award-winning production company behind All Creatures Great and Small.

What happens in The Hardacres episode 1?

In a small Victorian fishing village on the coast of Yorkshire, we're introduced to the working-class Hardacre family.

There's easy-going Sam and eldest son Joe who are dockers. Joe's fiery wife Mary, rebellious daughter Liza, and formidable mother-in-law Ma are all fish gutties.

Meanwhile, their youngest son, Harry, is the brightest of the bunch. He has cerebral palsy and still attends school. Despite the relentless graft of dock work, made only harder by their odious boss Mr Shaw, the Hardacres are the heart of a loyal and decent community, surrounded by friends with indomitable spirits...

But, after an unfortunate accident befalls Sam, the family lose their jobs at the docks and must race to find work elsewhere – or else end up on the street.

Faced with destitution, resourceful Mary comes up with a novel business idea and the family manage to turn their fortunes around. The family find themselves rich beyond their wildest dreams with the chance to move into one of the finest houses in the county...

Is The Hardacres on Channel 5 based on a book?

The new series is based on C.L. Skelton's bestselling series of novels, entitled The Hardacre Family Saga Books 1 and 2.

The novel has been the number 1 bestseller in the Amazon Family Saga Kindle charts in the UK.

The first book Hardacre was first published in 1977, with the sequel Hardacre's Luck following shortly after.

Publishers Weekly said of the books: "History comes alive... Innocents, rascals and middling humans - an authentic bunch to set against tempestuous times."

Where is The Hardacres set? Where was it filmed?

The Hardacres is set in Yorkshire. Grimsby, Bridlington and Whitby are all mentioned in the books.

However, the series was filmed on location in Dublin and Wicklow, Ireland.

Where can I watch The Hardacres season 1?

The Hardacres starts on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 9pm on Channel 5 and My5.

The episodes will air weekly.

How many episodes is it?

The Hardacres is six episodes long, going out weekly every Monday.

Each episode is one hour long, including ads.

Is the series different to the books?

The Hardacres writers made two big changes from books. They told Radio Times: "We wanted to write about a successful marriage, because that's not something that you see on TV very often."

Loren McLaughlan, who interpreted the books for the screen alongside Amy Roberts, said: "Our version is definitely inspired by the book as opposed to an adaptation, because one of the initial things that we changed immediately is that the book is very focused around Sam.

"And what we saw immediately is that we wanted to do a family ensemble show, so immediately you need to move it out and away from Sam. We wanted to make Sam and Mary a team. And we wanted to write about a successful marriage, because again, that’s not something that you see on TV very often, a couple working together."

She added: "And then from that, it very naturally expanded out. There are two brothers, but they are very young in the books, so we needed to age them up a bit. We also needed to bring in more feminine energy, so that's where the idea for [new characters] Ma and Liza came from. I think the family came to us very quickly actually."

Who is in the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5?

Claire Cooper portrays Mary Hardacre in the new Channel 5 period drama. She's best known for playing Jacqui McQueen in Hollyoaks, a role she played from 2007 to 2013 (and a brief reappearance in 2023 for a special episode).

Silverpoint actor Liam McMahon portrays Mary's loving husband Sam Hardacre.

Time and Shetland actress Julie Graham stars as Mary's wily mother, Ma. Mary and Sam's three kids, Joe, Liza, and Harry are played by Adam Little (Ackley Bridge), newcomer Shannon Lavelle, and Better's Zak Ford-Williams.

Holly Sturton, star of Sanctuary, plays Adella from the well-to-do Fitzherbert family. The Catch's Cathy Belton plays Emma, and Vikings' Owen Roe is George. The Fitzherberts are the Hardacres' new neighbours.

Blood's Ingrid Craigie stars as housekeeper Mrs Dryden, with The Tourist's Siobhan O'Kelly playing Lena, and The Bay's Taheen Modak as Saunders.

Meanwhile, Homeland's Sarah Agha stars as Betsy Temple, Blackshore's Ingrid Craigie plays Mrs Dryden, Moone Boy's Mark Doherty portrays butler Beesley, and Shudder Street's Ella Maria Carmen is housemaid Maggie.

The huge ensemble cast also includes Connor Byrne, Conor Deane, Paul Ward, Paula Wolfenden, David Pearse, Michele Moran, and David O'Reilly.

The Hardacres concludes on Monday, November 11, 2024 at 9pm on Channel 5 and My5.