Channel 5's revival of the classic BBC anthology series Play for Today has returned for a second series. The broadcaster brought back the programme, which originally ran on the BBC during the 1970s, last year, and following a well-received debut run, the drama strand, comprising original standalone films, is back.
Six new episodes
The second series comprises six episodes in total, each airing as a self-contained film, reports Wales Online. Similar to the inaugural series, which provided breakthrough opportunities for emerging writers, first-time directors and early-career production teams, Channel 5 has confirmed this latest batch further establishes Play for Today as a springboard for Britain's rising creative talent.
The new series boasts an ensemble of performers, including Line of Duty's Daniel Mays, Game of Thrones star Joel Fry, and Happy Valley's Amit Shah, who all feature in the opening instalment, Wild, penned by Lewis Wren and helmed by BRICK.
Opening episode Wild
The opening entry, titled Wild, will be broadcast on Friday, September 25 at 9pm on Channel 5. A synopsis states: "Lou (Mays), Dev (Shah), and Alistair (Fry), 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."
Release schedule
The full release schedule for the second series is as follows:
- Wild - Friday, September 25
- Village Idiot - Friday, October 2
- Closing Time - Friday, October 9
- The Quiet Hour - Friday, October 16
- The Castle - Friday, October 23
- The Nine O'clock Tot - Friday, October 30
