As 5 gears up to launch the second series of its acclaimed drama anthology strand Play For Today, viewers are preparing for another wave of six standalone, star-studded TV plays. The upcoming run kicks off on Friday, September 25 at 9:00 PM with the premiere of survival dramedy Wild, setting the stage for an expansive lineup featuring top British talent and fresh off-screen voices.
Share this article with someone via Whatsapp:
From high-stakes hospital thrillers and rural protest comedy-dramas to socio-political family disputes, here is everything you can expect from the new series.
Commissioning Editor at 5, Paul Testar, reflected on the vision driving the strand’s second outing:
“The response to the first series of Play for Today was extraordinary not only from audiences but from talent across the industry. This strand is about opening doors to new offscreen talent, taking creative risks, and giving new voices the space to thrive. We’re incredibly proud to expand the strand and discover the next wave of brilliant storytellers.”
Inside 5’s ‘Play For Today’ Series 2 Lineup
Wild — Premieres Friday, 25 September at 9pm
- Writer: Lewis Wren | Director: BRICK
- Overview: Set in the breathtaking yet unforgiving Scottish Highlands, this survival dramedy follows Lou, Dev, and Alistair—three old friends clinging to their annual wild camping tradition. What begins with banter, nostalgia, and amateur vlogging quickly unravels 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, examining how toxic masculinity contributes to the epidemic decline in men’s mental health.
The Quiet Hour
- Writer: Sarah Louise Madden | Director: Margo Roe
- Overview: A gripping, intimate drama set over the course of one relentless night shift in an NHS hospital. Overworked nurse Riya battles exhaustion, guilt, and the ghosts of past mistakes while caring for her patients. As she juggles a collapsing system, an understaffed ward, and a stream of emergencies—ranging from dying patients to Fred, a combative amputee, and a medical error that nearly costs a life—her professional composure begins to fracture. Haunted by the memory of a young girl she couldn’t save and the growing distance from her teenage daughter, Riya’s night spirals into a raw reckoning with compassion, burnout, and the quiet heroism holding the health service together.
Village Idiot
- Writer: Samson Hawkins | Director: Rhys Aaron Lewis
- Overview: A sharp, heartfelt comedy-drama centering on Barbara, a stubborn English grandmother who chains herself to her cottage to resist eviction by High Speed train developers. Her protest takes an intense personal turn when she discovers the company’s liaison sent to remove her is her estranged grandson, Peter. What follows is a clash between generations, class, and values: Barbara’s fierce attachment to home versus Peter’s desperate need to keep his corporate job. As their showdown becomes a public spectacle, both are forced to confront what “home” really means and how love, pride, and belonging can bind and divide a family.
Closing Time
- Writer: Mina Barber | Director: Dan Sloan
- Overview: Mo, a gifted but undocumented migrant working in his uncle’s kebab shop, keeps his culinary ambitions hidden—until he meets Laila, a thoughtful lawyer trapped in a stagnant engagement. Their connection deepens over late-night conversations and cooking sessions, where Laila encourages Mo to pursue his culinary dreams, and he gently challenges her to confront the unfulfilling life she has settled for.
Tatters
- Writer: Matthew Greenhough | Director: Harry Machray
- Overview: 64-year-old Norma Greves is confronted by her daughter Jess after Norma’s extreme political views and connection to a violent far-right incident push their relationship to breaking point. As Jess challenges her mother in a last-ditch attempt to save their bond, Norma is forced to confront the tragic reality that pushed her toward extreme ideology. Ultimately, Norma faces a devastating choice: her family or her loyalty to her core political beliefs.
The Castle
- Writer: Jack Bradfield | Director: Emma Turner
- Overview: Three siblings—Connor, Jamie, and Mia—are left to fend for themselves after their mother suddenly disappears. The children transform their suburban house into a makeshift fortress as they attempt to keep their lives afloat while waiting for her return. Told through the eyes of wildly imaginative middle-brother Connor, The Castle traces fraying sibling relationships, survival strategies, and the grand stories children tell each other to feel safe.
Where to Watch Play for Today
The second series of Play For Today begins Friday, September 25 at 9:00 PM on 5, with episodes available to stream on 5.
Never miss a thing, subscribe to us for free…
Share this article with someone who might like it: