Downton Abbey fans are in for a treat this week, as season two of Channel 5’s period drama The Hardacres is set to hit screens on Thursday 14 May.

Set in Yorkshire in 1895, the rags-to-riches family saga follows the Hardacres, a working-class family who climb the social ladder after coming into sudden wealth.

Based on CL Skelton’s The Hardacre Saga novels and from the producer of All Creatures Great and Small, the show charts the family’s dramatic move from the fishing docks to a sprawling country estate.

Starring Julie Graham (Shetland), Claire Cooper (Hollyoaks) and Liam McMahon (Hunger), The Hardacres is perfect for fans of The Gilded Age and The Forsytes, and returns with even more drama and romance in season two.

A mischievous new character 

Speaking to press, including HELLO!, ahead of the new season’s release, the cast teased that a formidable new character is set to shake up the family dynamic.

Michele Dotrice (Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em) joins the cast as Lady Imelda Hansen, the mother of the Hardacres’ snobbish neighbour, Lady Emma Fitzherbert.

“It’s such a great introduction to the show because Lady Em is played by the wonderful Cathy Belton, who’s ironically the nicest woman on the planet, and it’s a testament to her brilliant acting that you think she’s a bit of a monster,” said Julie, who plays the Hardacre matriarch, Ma.

“But then you meet her mother. I think Ma is very curious to see what kind of woman ‘spawned’ Lady Emma – and she’s not what they expect at all.

“She’s this twinkly, mischievous, playful and warm character, and they’re thinking, ‘What the hell is going on?’ But of course, she’s hiding something. She’s like most good characters in TV – she’s wearing a mask and waiting to reveal the underbelly, which just becomes enormous fun throughout the whole series.”

She added: “That’s really all we can tell you, but she causes a lot of trouble.”

Where do we find Mary and Sam Hardacre?

Alongside the arrival of Lady Imelda Hansen, Mary and Sam Hardacre are focused on keeping the family’s fortune afloat, while Mary enters season two with a renewed sense of confidence.

Claire, who plays Mary, explained: “Mary is doing everything on her own terms now. There’s a real lightness and confidence about her which was really good fun to play because she’s not having to measure herself up against society.”

Meanwhile, Liam said of Sam: “We see him embracing the new wealth, but he has that fear whereby as easy as it came, it can disappear again. And I think that runs throughout season two – he’s constantly trying to better things for the family even though they’re in a really good situation.”

The Hardacres season two lands on 5 on Thursday 14 May.