Channel 5 Revives Landmark ‘Play for Today‘ Series with New one-Off Dramas
Channel 5 has brought back the influential drama anthology Play for Today, a strand renowned for its bold and innovative storytelling, with a slate of four new single dramas. the revival marks a departure from current television trends favoring lengthy, multi-season series, a strategy driven by streaming platforms’ demand for “long content.”
The original Play for Today, which ran for 14 years, produced approximately 20 dramas annually, fostering a culture where experimentation and the “right too fail” were embraced. This high volume allowed for the production of now-celebrated plays that might not have been greenlit under stricter, pre-approval systems.
Among the initial offerings are Never too Late and A Knock at the Door,both praised for their acting and writing. A Knock at the Door is described as having a “menacing premise.” The series notably features older protagonists-two octogenarians and two septuagenarians-reflecting a demographic sensibility and a challenge to ageism, with cinematography openly portraying the realities of aging bodies. A scene in Never Too Late features Michael Fenton Stevens removing his shirt, presented without reservation.
Channel 5’s programming strategy, positioning itself as a successor to 1980s television, is evident in the casting choices. The success of the revival hinges on avoiding scripts that function as disguised pilots, maintaining the spirit of ambition and confidence that characterized the original Play for Today.
Play for Today: Never Too Late airs on Channel 5 on November 13.
