Channel 5 has revived the BBC's classic drama strand Play for Today, but the result is a far cry from the original's innovative spirit. The broadcaster has merely copied the name and broad premise—standalone dramas by different writers—without capturing the radical edge that made the BBC series a cultural landmark.
The four new episodes tackle thorny issues but in a predictable, run-of-the-mill manner. The first instalment, Never Too Late, follows Cynthia (Anita Dobson) in a retirement village, but descends into banal pantomime with a predictable plot and daytime soap presentation. Big Winners, starring Sue Johnston and Paul Copley, offers more dramatic heft with a devastating look at a marriage shattered by a lottery win.
A Knock at the Door features Alan Davies as a comedian confronted by a stranger, but its thriller elements are telegraphed, lacking the surprise of similar anthologies like Inside No 9. The only episode not focused on retirees, Special Measures, stars Jessica Plummer as an overworked teacher facing an Ofsted inspection, but its depiction of an underfunded school feels depressingly familiar.
Channel 5's chief content officer Ben Frow said the series would reflect thorny issues, but the result is a safe, audience-courting revival aimed at older viewers. While the original Play for Today pushed boundaries, this reboot feels like a missed opportunity to recapture that trailblazing spirit.
