Channel 5 is reviving the iconic Play for Today strand, which originally aired on the BBC between 1970 and 1984, with four new original dramas. The first of these, Big Winners, follows an elderly couple whose £14m lottery win forces them to confront unfulfilled dreams and buried traumas.
The original Play for Today series was known for its experimental, hard-hitting dramas that gave a platform to working-class voices. Ken Loach's Cathy Come Home and Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party were among its most famous entries. The revival aims to address what Channel 5's head of drama Sebastian Cardwell calls a 'crisis' in UK drama, where access is often limited to those with connections.
Big Winners was written by Martha Watson Allpress, a playwright making her television debut. The drama stars Paul Copley and Sue Johnston as Arthur and Edith Thistle, who find that their lottery win brings up long-suppressed ambitions, particularly for Edith. The film contrasts their stilted existence with the vitality of a younger neighbour, Jade, played by Alexa Davies.
Watson Allpress said she deliberately avoided studying the original Play for Today archive, preferring to write 'a play for today' rather than imitate past works. The drama is one of four produced by Vertigo Films and LA Productions, with more episodes planned.
