The Hardacres cast: All the main characters and who plays them in Channel 5 period drama

The Hardacres cast: All the main characters and who plays them in Channel 5 period drama

By Helen Fear | Mon Oct 07 2024

The Hardacres is a new period drama on Channel 5, with a huge ensemble cast of TV actors - some you'll recognise, some you might not.

The six-part series follows the fortunes of a working class family, whose fortunes change drastically after an accident in the workplace.

But far from wallowing, they are forced to start again - and a twist if fate makes them very, very rich...

So who plays who in the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5? Here's a complete cast list.

Claire Cooper plays Mary in the cast of The Hardacres (Credit: Channel 5)

Who plays Mary in the cast of The Hardacres?

Claire Cooper portrays Mary Hardacre in the new Channel 5 period drama. Mary is the resilient matriarch who, unbeknownst to her, brings on the huge change for the family she tries so hard to protect.

The Yorkshire-born actress, 43, 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.

More recently, she's popped up in episodes of The Continental, The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Peripheral, and Strike Back.

Of course, Hollyoaks fans will probably know she is married to former co-star Emmett J Scanlan, with whom she has two children.

Liam McMahon as Sam in the cast of The Hardacres (Credit: Channel 5)

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 works in the docks, until a tragic accident means he is incapable of earning money (thanks to his arse of a boss).

Liam 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.

Julie Graham stars as Mary's wily mother, Ma (Credit: Channel 5)

The Hardacres cast: Julie Graham plays Ma

Scottish actress Julie Graham, 59, stars as Mary's wily mother, Ma. She's a force to be reckoned with - think Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, only in 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. While Sheron only appeared in the last three seasons of the hit comedy, she certainly made it memorable!

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.

Zak Ford-Williams portrays Harry Hardacre in the cast (Credit: Channel 5)

Who 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.

Harry is considered the brains of the family, and is at school.

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.

Adam Little stars as Joe Hardacre (Credit: Channel 5)

The Hardacres cast: Adam Little stars as Joe

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 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.

The Bay star Taheen Modak plays Saunders (Credit: Channel 5)

Taheen Modak plays Callum Saunders

Actor Taheen Modak, 27, plays banker Callum Saunders in the cast of The Hardacres on Channel 5.

He is perhaps most famous for playing the ill-fated D.C. 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.

David Pearse plays Mr Shaw in the cast of The Hardacres (Credit: Channel 5)

The Hardacres cast: David Pearse plays Mr Shaw

Dublin-born actor David Pearse portrays the Dickensian employer Mr Shaw. He's the catalyst of the Hardacre family's problems - not that it would stop him sleeping at night.

David has been on our screens for more than four decades. His first ever role was as Chip in the 1980 TV series From Here to Eternity.

He subsequently portrayed Lawrence in Trivia, Svein in Vikings, and Miles Kynaston in Dalgliesh. More recently, he starred as Doolan in Brassic, Brother Edwig in Shardlake, and Frank in Bodkin.

The Hardacres cast is a huge ensemble (Credit: Channel 5)

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. Although the actress is a newcomer, it's obviously going to be her year... She's also filming Riot Women, the upcoming Sally Wainwright drama.

Holly Sturton, star of Sanctuary, plays Adella from the well-to-do Fitzherbert family. The Catch's Cathy Belton plays Emma, and Vikings' Owen Roe is George. The Fitzherberts are the Hardacres' new neighbours.

Blood's Ingrid Craigie stars as housekeeper Mrs Dryden, with The Tourist's Siobhan O'Kelly playing Lena, and Homeland's Sarah Agha as Betsy.

Meanwhile, Homeland's Sarah Agha stars as Betsy Temple, Blackshore's Ingrid Craigie plays Mrs Dryden, Moone Boy's Mark Doherty portrays butler Beesley, and Shudder Street's Ella Maria Carmen is housemaid Maggie.

The huge ensemble cast also includes Connor Byrne, Conor Deane, Paul Ward, Paula Wolfenden, David Pearse, Michele Moran, and David O’Reilly.