The Hardacres series 2 cast: All the main characters and who plays them in the C5 period drama - including new supervillain
Former Hollyoaks star Claire Cooper leads the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5...
The Hardacres returns for a series two on Channel 5 this May 2026, with a huge ensemble cast of popular actors – and some rather exciting new faces.
The rags-to-riches series follows the fortunes of a working class family after their fortunes changed drastically. Series 1 followed them as they found huge wealth thanks to some good old fashioned hard work and ingenuity.
Now rich, the family encountered snobbery from high society who treated them like they were still fish gutties in the docks. But they knew what it was like to be at the bottom, and that made them a family to contend with.
Here’s who plays who in the cast of The Hardacres series 2 on Channel 5? Here’s a full cast list.
The Hardacres series 2 cast: Claire Cooper plays Mary Hardcastle
Claire Cooper portrays Mary Hardacre in the new Channel 5 period drama. Mary is the resilient matriarch who, to her surprise, brought on the huge change for the family she tries so hard to protect.
The Yorkshire-born actress, 45, is best known for playing Jacqui McQueen in Hollyoaks. She played the role from 2007 to 2013, and returned for a brief appearance in 2023 for a special episode.
She also appeared in Waking the Dead, Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Snatch, and Knightfall. Claire has also popped up in episodes of The Continental, The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Peripheral, and Strike Back.
More recently, Claire played Angela Otis in the supernatural fantasy Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale.
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Of course, Hollyoaks fans will know she is married to former co-star Emmett J Scanlan in real life. They have two children.
Liam McMahon portrays Sam Hardacre
Northern Irish actor Liam McMahon portrays Mary’s loving husband Sam Hardacre in the cast of the Channel 5 show. Sam worked in the docks, until a tragic accident meant he was incapable of earning money (thanks to his git of a boss).
Liam, 50, is probably best known for his role in the multi award-winning 2008 film Hunger. He played Gerry Campbell opposite Michael Fassbender and Liam Cunningham.
His TV roles have included Cromwell’s Servant in The Tudors, Arthur McAllister in Titanic: Blood and Steel, and Blair Macready in Warrior Nun.
More recently, he’s starred as Daniel in Silverpoint, and Sean in ITV drama Joan.
The Hardacres cast: Julie Graham plays Ma
Scottish actress Julie Graham, 60, stars as Mary’s wily mother, Ma. She’s a force to be reckoned with – think Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, only relocated to Yorkshire. The character is a former smuggler, who we’d want on our side in a fight!
Of course, Julie is very well known to TV viewers, having appeared in Benidorm, Shetland, The Bill, and Time. Her first major role was on Channel 4’s Blood Red Roses in 1986, and she went on to bag a recurring role on Casualty in 1988, starring as student nurse Alison McGrellis.
Between 2000 and 2003, she played Megan Hartnoll in At Home with the Braithwaites. Julie appeared in all four seasons of the award-winning comedy-drama, written by Happy Valley’s creator Sally Wainwright.
In 2003, Julie starred alongside Martin Clunes in the BAFTA-nominated William and Mary. The series explored the romance between undertaker William Shawcross and midwife Mary Gilcrest.
From 2008 to 2010, Julie played the lead role of Abby Grant in BBC sci-fi drama Survivors. Abby was the leader of a group of survivors from a deadly flu epidemic.
Next were roles in Being Eileen, and The Bletchley Circle, followed by the big role of DI Perez’s boss Rhona Kelly in Shetland. And then came her famous turn in Benidorm as Sheron.
Her more recent roles have included Acorn TV’s Queens of Mystery, which aired from 2019 to 2021. She also played Annie Marling in Ridley, and Dr Susan Fisher in Maternal. In 2023, she played Lou Harkness in Time, Connie Morris in Payback, and Clover in The Serial Killer’s Wife.
This City of Ours fans will know her for playing gangster’s wife Elaine Phelan in 2025, a role she’ll reprise later this year.
Zak Ford-Williams plays Harry Hardacre
Actor Zak Ford-Williams portrays Mary and Sam’s youngest child Harry Hardacre in the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5. (Although he is actually 27 in real life). Harry is considered the brains of the family, and is destined for university.
Like his character in the series, Manchester-born Zak has cerebral palsy in real life. He’s probably best known for playing Lord Remington in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
His first ever TV appearance was playing Tyler in the 2021 series Wolfe. A year later, he portrayed Tiny Tim in the TV movie A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story. Subsequent roles include Owen Davies in Better, and Ludo Trask in Midsomer Murders.
The Hardacres cast: Adam Little stars as Joe Hardacre
Actor Adam Little stars as Mary and Sam’s eldest child Joe. His first TV role was playing Lee Lyons in the 2019 series Years and Years.
He went on to portray Elliot in The Dumping Ground, Kyle Dobson in Ackley Bridge, Scott Charlton in Doctors, and Blake Myers in Corrie.
Joe Hardacre is arguably his biggest role to date.
Taheen Modak plays Callum Saunders
Actor Taheen Modak, 30, plays banker Callum Saunders in the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5.
He is perhaps most famous for playing the ill-fated DC Ahmed ‘Med’ Kharim in the cast of The Bay series 1 and 2.
Taheen has also portrayed Zaim Jabara in Van der Valk, and Jay in Two Weeks to Live. He’s been in films, including Ruthless.
Edward Mitchell stars as Harry’s new tutor Arthur Lewis
There are three new actors joining the cast of series 2. These are Edward Mitchell as Arthur Lewis, Niall McNamee as Edward Blackwood, and Michele Dotrice as Lady Imelda Hansen. More on them below.
British/Irish actor Edward Mitchell arrives at Hardacre Hall as Harry’s new tutor Arthur Lewis. Harry decides he’s abandoning school, so his parents arrange a tutor for him. And, although Harry protests at first, he soon realises he rather likes Arthur… And that’s all we’ll say for now…
Edward Mitchell made his very first screen appearance in the 2011 Johnny Depp film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides playing a young Spanish officer. That’s a pretty impressive way to make a splash in the acting world (pardon the pun). He went on to play Luke in the 2013 series Comfort Food, about a long distance couple attempting to keep their relationship alive by learning to cook desserts together on the phone.
A year later, Edward starred as Athos in the mini-series The First Musketeer. Since then, he’s popped up in several films including Fratton, Ghost Ship, Justice League, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
His last TV appearance was in 2023, playing Justin Ramsey in Doctors.
Niall McNamee plays Captain Edward Blackwood
Leicester-born Niall McNamee, 32, joins the cast of The Hardacres series 2 as Captain Edward Blackwood. And rather dashing he is too! He becomes rather enamoured with Liza Hardwood, and the feeling is mutual… Watch this space for potential smooches.
On TV, the actor – who has Irish ancestry – is perhaps best known for playing Cyril in the first series of Bad Sisters. He’s also popped up in episodes of Mix Tape, Hope Street, Call the Midwife, In Flight, and Our World War. He’s been in multiple films, including The Foreigner, Love Without Walls, One Night in Bath, and the recent Saipan.
Although he’s hooking up with Liza Hardacre in The Hardacres, he’s actually in a long term relationship with Irish singer Imelda May in real life. They’ve been together since 2018. Niall is actually a singer-songwriter himself when he’s not acting. And often performs with his girlfriend Imelda. Listen to his music here.
The Hardacres series 2 cast: Michele Dotrice as Lady Imelda Hansen
Veteran actress Michele Dotrice, 77, joins the cast of The Hardacres series 2 as snooty Lady Imelda Hansen. She’s Emma Fitzherbert’s mum, so no surprises that she turns out to be a vindictive [bleep]!
Those of you of a certain age (cough cough) will remember Lincolnshire-born actress Michele Dotrice very well. She is best known for playing house-proud Betty Spencer in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. Betty was the long-suffering wife to calamitous Frank Spencer, played by Michael Crawford. She played the role between 1973 and 1978.
Michele – who was married to actor Edward Woodward in real life until his death in 2009 – also starred in several popular 60s and 70s series including Signpost, Katy, The Old Curiosity Shop, Middlemarch, and The Sextet.
In the 80s and 90s, she starred in Chintz, Boon, Bramwell, The Equalizer, and Vanity Fair. Other notable roles include Mrs Pipkin in The Way We Live Now, Barbara Hopewell in A Thing Called Love, and Edna Friendship in A Very English Scandal.
More recently, the actress has played Lyn in the comedy The Cockfields, Queen Victoria in The Royal Mob, and a party guest in Inside No.9. In 2025, Michele totally transformed to play Dot Baines in Unforgotten series 6. Dot was living in squalor with her autistic son Marty who was clearly unable to look after her. Her house was filthy, and her health issues meant she was unable to look after herself.
Who else is in the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5?
Shannon Lavelle stars as Mary and Sam’s middle child, and only girl, Liza. She’s a relative newcomer compared to some of her co-stars. The actress played Chloe in the Sally Wainwright drama Riot Women, and Sam in the 2016 film Hamlin.
Holly Sturton plays Adella from the well-to-do Fitzherbert family. She’s best known for portraying Beatrice Garston in Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale. She recently popped up as Emma in the comedy The Young Offenders.
Irish actress Cathy Belton plays the atrociously snobby neighbour Emma. And she’s quite brilliant. You might know her for her earlier roles in Hidden Assets, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Clean Sweep, and The Catch. She famously played Maura in Roy, and Patricia Hennessy in Dublin-based police drama Red Rock.
Owen Roe plays Emma’s husband George. The Irish actor is most famous for his roles in Ballykissangel, Vikings, and Fair City.
Ingrid Craigie stars as housekeeper Mrs Dryden. A jobbing actress of more than 40 years, she’s appeared in Striking Out, Blood, and Blackshore.
Sarah Agha portrays new mum Betsy Temple. And she’s popped up in Homeland, and Into the Badlands. Meanwhile, Shudder Street’s Ella Maria Carmen is housemaid Maggie, and Moone Boy’s Mark Doherty plays Beesley.
Main cast list for The Hardacres on Channel 5 here:
Claire Cooper stars as Mary Hardacre.
Liam McMahon plays Sam Hardacre.
Julie Graham portrays Ma.
Adam Little is Joe Hardacre.
Shannon Lavelle portrays Liza Hardacre.
Zak Ford-Williams stars as Harry Hardacre.
Michele Dotrice joins the cast as Lady Imelda Hansen.
Holly Sturton plays Lady Adella Fitzherbert.
Cathy Belton is Lady Emma Fitzherbert.
Owen Roe stars as Lord George Fitzherbert.
Sarah Agha is Betsy Temple Hardacre.
Taheen Modak stars as Callum Saunders.
Edward Mitchell joins the cast as Arthur Lewis.
Ingrid Craigie returns as Mrs Dryden.
Mark Doherty plays Beesley.
Ella Maria Carmen is Maggie.
Niall McNamee joins the cast as Edward Blackwood.
