Channel 5 has launched a controversial revival of the BBC's legendary drama strand Play for Today, but this new interpretation appears to have fundamentally misunderstood what made the original series so culturally significant.
A Bold Move That Misses the Mark
While the announcement initially seemed like fantastic news for British television, it quickly became apparent that Channel 5 has borrowed the famous name and basic premise without capturing the radical spirit that defined the BBC's original series. The broadcaster's chief content officer Ben Frow promised dramas that would reflect thornier issues affecting audiences, but the four new programmes largely deliver common, relatable stories rather than the fresh, inventive content that made Play for Today legendary.
The original series, which concluded 41 years ago, was renowned for pushing boundaries and confronting viewers with topics rarely seen on television at the time. This revival, trading on cherished cultural heritage, fails to deliver similar audacity according to early reviews.
Four New Dramas Analysed
The opening drama Never Too Late features Anita Dobson as Cynthia and Nigel Havers as former rock star Frank, exploring retirement village life through what critics describe as a banal pantomime rather than innovative drama. While the programme gives its seventysomething protagonist full personhood, the plot proves maddeningly predictable with daytime soap-esque presentation.
Big Winners, written by Martha Watson Allpress, targets the same older demographic with greater dramatic weight. Starring Sue Johnston as Edith and Paul Copley as Arthur, it delivers a devastating relationship autopsy with a scarily bleak ending, standing as the strongest of the four instalments.
A Knock at the Door features Alan Davies as a comedian confronted by a mysterious visitor, but fails to deliver the ingenious wrongfooting audiences have come to expect from similar formats like Inside No 9. The only episode focusing on younger characters, Special Measures stars Jessica Plummer as an overworked teacher during an Ofsted inspection, presenting depressingly familiar school chaos with naturalistic direction.
What Happened to Television Innovation?
Channel 5's approach appears strategically pragmatic rather than artistically ambitious. With Ofcom's 2024 report revealing that over-65s watch more live TV than everyone under 54 combined, the broadcaster seems determined to court older viewers rather than upend the status quo.
While the arrival of four one-off dramas not focused on murders or wealthy affairs should be celebrated, this revival raises important questions about television's willingness to take creative risks. The next Dennis Potter, Mike Leigh or Stephen Poliakoff might be out there somewhere, but broadcasters will need to embrace far greater artistic bravery to discover them.
Play for Today is now available on Channel 5, offering competent but ultimately safe television that pales in comparison to its groundbreaking predecessor.
