Play for Today is officially back on Channel 5. The second series of individual films comes one year after the broadcaster revived the show, which originally aired on the BBC in the 1970s and 80s.
The new series will see the drama return with six original films that continue the strand’s commitment to championing emerging talent both on and off screen. The series provides opportunities for first-time writers, directors, and crew, helping to open doors for those traditionally underrepresented in the television industry.
Wild: a survival dramedy in the Scottish Highlands
The new season will land on Channel 5 on Friday, September 25, at 9pm with the film entitled Wild. The episode has been described as a survival dramedy set in the breathtaking yet unforgiving Scottish Highlands.
Wild follows three old friends, Lou, Dev, and Alistair, clinging to their annual wild camping tradition, who 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.
Channel 5 said: "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."
Who stars in Wild?
Daniel Mays stars as Lou. Describing his character, Daniel said: "He’s stuck in a rut and mentally he’s still back at uni with his mates. He wants to hold onto that time even though he knows the dynamic has shifted."
"There’s a David Brent-esque, Alan Partridge quality about him, because he’s got all the gear but no idea. Lou loves vlogging with his GoPro, which was fun for me to film because we improvised a lot, but he isn’t particularly good at it! I really wanted to push his likeability with the audience."
"He embarks on this weird sabotage of his friends, where he deliberately wants to get them lost and go off track, only surviving on berries. As a result, he pushes the audience to the brink of annoyance, but then we bring them back with the emotion of his situation."
Daniel is best known for his roles in Line of Duty, where he played Danny Waldron, A Thousand Blows, and The Thursday Murder Club. He has also starred in Moonflower Murders, Franklin, The Long Shadow, Code 404, White Lines, Good Omens and Porter.
Joel Fry is Al. Describing his character, he said: "He’s quite a balanced man in general, his life is good, but when he connects with his old friends and tries to be young again that makes him unbalanced! Like a lot of guys, Al and his mates Lou and Dev go camping to try to capture something of their younger years and get into contact with something very basic."
"But friendships and people change over the years, and a big part of the story is the fact that Al has become a dad, but his friend Lou hasn’t. Al feels some pity for Lou that he’s so desperate to stay in the past, and he tries to reassure his friend Dev that it’s normal to move on and settle down."
Viewers will recognise Joel from Alice and Steve, Inside No. 9, and Paddington in Peru. He also starred in eight episodes of Game of Thrones as Hizdahr zo Loraq, as well as W1A, Requiem, Plebs, and Ordinary Lies.
Amit Shah plays Dev. On his character, Amit said: "Al is married with kids, while Lou is a bit of a loner and quite isolated - he lives his life like a child in some ways. My character, Dev, is in the middle – he's about to take that first step towards commitment with his girlfriend, by moving to another country with her, but he is still connected to his mates and feels torn."
"He's still trying to retain the person he was as a University student. He’s scared because he doesn't know whether this is going to be the right step for him, and he has to deliver this news to his best friends. He goes on a huge journey through the drama, and by the end, he makes a big discovery, which his friends guide him through."
Amit is recognised for his roles on Murder Before Evensong, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, and Happy Valley, where he played Faisal Bhatti. He has also starred in The Revenge Club, The Long Call, and Crashing.
When to watch
Play for Today returns to Channel 5 on Friday, September 25, at 9pm.
