Channel 5 revives BBC’s Play for Today to ‘help shape future of British drama’

Series aims to follow original in tackling thornier issues', and to support talent from lower-income backgrounds

It was one of the most influential British television series of the last century, renowned for exploring thorny societal issues and bringing the work of emerging talent, such as Ray Winstone, Alison Steadman, Helen Mirren and Dennis Potter, to mass audiences.

Now Play for Today is being revived on Channel 5, to give young writers, actors and producers from lower-income backgrounds a way into TV, helped by established talent.