5 Returns To Play For Today

5 RETURNS TO PLAY FOR TODAY
"Three cheers to Channel 5 for having the vision and courage to resurrect the Play for Today strand" – The Telegraph

"Channel 5's revival of Play for Today is a reboot that feels right for now" – The Guardian

 

Following the successful launch of the revived Play for Today strand,  5 today confirms the next wave of films. Six brand-new one-off films have been announced, working with the two production companies from the first series. 3x45’ films from Vertigo Films and 3x60’ films from LA Productions. The productions will all have a limited theatrical release.

The strand remains a key pillar of 5’s commitment to nurturing new creative voices and providing opportunities for people from low-income backgrounds to break into the television industry. Each film places emerging talent at the centre of its writing, directing, and production teams.

The new wave of projects follows a successful first run, which delivered first credits for new writers, first-time directors, and early-career crew across departments from make-up to set design, reaffirming Play for Today as a launchpad for the next generation of British talent, and 5 as a major home of original British drama. 

Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5, said: “The response to the first series of Play for Today was extraordinary not only from audiences but from talent across the industry. This strand is about opening doors to new offscreen talent, taking creative risks, and giving new voices the space to thrive. We’re incredibly proud to  expand the strand and discover the next wave of brilliant storytellers.”

Wild is a survival dramedy set in the breath-taking yet unforgiving Scottish Highlands. Lou, Dev, and Alistair, three old friends clinging to their annual wild camping tradition, begin with banter, nostalgia, and amateur vlogging, but soon unravel into a battle of egos, secrets, and survival when they get lost, food runs short, and friendships fracture. At once funny, poignant, and unsettling, Wild explores the line between adventure and recklessness, and how toxic masculinity has become a huge part of the epidemic decline in men’s mental health. It’s written by Lewis Wren and directed by Brick. 

The Quiet Hour is a gripping, intimate drama set over the course of one relentless night shift in an NHS hospital, where overworked nurse Riya battles exhaustion, guilt, and the ghosts of past mistakes while caring for her patients. As she juggles a collapsing system, an understaffed ward, and a stream of emergencies, from dying patients to Fred, a combative amputee, and a medical error that nearly costs a life, her professional composure begins to fracture. Haunted by the memory of a young girl she couldn’t save and the growing distance from her teenage daughter, Riya’s night spirals into a raw reckoning with compassion, burnout, and the quiet heroism that holds the health service together. Directed by Margo Roe and written by Sarah Louise Madden.

Village Idiot is a sharp, heartfelt comedy-drama about a stubborn English grandmother, Barbara, who chains herself to her cottage to resist eviction by High Speed train developers. She then discovers that the companies’ liaison sent to remove her is her estranged grandson, Peter. What follows is a clash between generations, class, and values: Barbara’s fierce attachment to home and identity versus Peter’s desperate need to hold onto his corporate job. As their battle becomes public, turning into a small-town spectacle of protest, press, and community chaos both are forced to confront what “home” really means, and how love, pride, and belonging can both bind and divide a family. Witty, warm, and deeply human. Village Idiot captures rural England on the brink of change with equal parts humour and heartbreak. Written by Samson Hawkins directed by Rhys Aaron Lewis.

Closing Time (w/t)  sees Mo, a gifted but undocumented migrant working in his uncle’s kebab shop, keeps his culinary ambitions hidden, until he meets Laila, a thoughtful lawyer trapped in a stagnant engagement. Their connection grows over late-night conversations and cooking sessions, where Laila encourages Mo to pursue his dreams and he gently challenges her to confront the life she’s settled for. Written by Mina Barber and directed by Dan Sloan

Tatters (w/t)  sees 64-year-old Norma Greves confronted by her daughter Jess after Norma’s extreme political views and connection to a violent far-right incident pushes their relationship to breaking point. As Jess challenges her mother in a last ditch attempt to save their relationship, Norma is forced to confront the tragic reality that pushed her to such violent extremes. Ultimately, Norma must make a choice: Beth and her family, or her loyalty to her core political beliefs. Written by Matthew Greenhough and directed by Harry Machray.  

The Castle follows three siblings left to fend for themselves after their mother suddenly disappears. Connor, Jamie, and Mia try to keep their lives afloat, transforming their suburban house into a makeshift fortress as they wait for her return. Told through the eyes of wildly imaginative middle-brother Connor, The Castle traces fraying sibling relationships, survival strategies, and the grand stories children tell each other to feel safe. A tender, soulful story about growing up too soon, and rescuing yourself before it’s too late. Written by Jack Bradfield and directed by Emma Turner.

Wild, The Quiet Hour and Village Idiot are produced by Vertigo Films and Closing Time (w/t) Tatters (w/t) and The Castle are produced by LA Productions.