Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, today announces that BritBox has acquired the North American streaming rights for period drama The Hardacres.
Produced by award-winning production company Playground (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, All Creatures Great and Small), in association with Screen Ireland, Red Berry Productions for 5 in the UK,The Hardacres is a sweeping rags to riches story that follows the lives, loves and fortunes of the working class Hardacre family as they move from a grimy fish dock to a vast country estate in 1890’s Yorkshire.
BritBox has acquired seasons one and two of the series for North America in a deal negotiated by Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Acquisitions and Coproductions, Banijay Rights. The first season will debut on 10thSeptember in the US and Canada.
Renewed last month for a second season, the ensemble family drama premiered on 5 in October 2024 and was the channel’s best new weekly drama launch. The second season will chart the Hardacre family as they settle into Hardacre Hall and turn their attention to reshaping the world around them…with all the ambition, friction, and fallout that entails.
Matt Creasy said: “The Hardacres is a sweeping rags to riches family saga that has proved a huge hit with international buyers and audiences alike. We are sure BritBox’s US viewers will take this family’s extraordinary journey to their hearts.”
David Stern, Joint Managing Director, Playground said: “From its debut on 5, The Hardacres struck a deep chord with UK audiences, offering a rare blend of humour, drama, and warmth – a reminder of the enduring power of hope. We’re confident BritBox viewers will be equally captivated by the Hardacre family’s extraordinary journey as they continue to evolve and discover their place in society.”
Inspired by CL Skelton’s epic novel, The Hardacres places an ordinary family in an extraordinary position and explores the age-old question – can money ever buy true happiness?
The Hardacre family consists of Claire Cooper (The Continental, The Peripheral) and Liam McMahon (Hunger, The Secret, Warrior Nun) as loving married couple Mary and Sam Hardacre, alongside Julie Graham (Time, Ridley, Penance), as Mary’s wily mother, Ma, and their three kids, Joe, Liza, and Harry, played by Adam Little (Ackley Bridge, Coronation Street), newcomer Shannon Lavelle and Zak Ford-Williams (Better, Bridgerton).
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 (My Name is Emily, Sunlight) for Red Berry Productions, Cathy Payne and Simon Cox for Banijay Rights and Kate McColgan for Screen Ireland.
Kathryn Kennedy Fenton (The Miracle Club, Atomic Hope) is on board as Producer and Rachel Carey (The Hardacres, Obituary season 2), is returning as Lead Director.