THE FEUD: DRAMA ANTHOLOGY SET TO RETURN FOR SECOND SERIES ON CHANNEL 5

Channel 5 drama The Feud is set to return for a second series. Speaking to Televisual, Channel 5's head of drama Sebastian Cardwell said: "[The Feud] did incredibly well… an amazing ensemble, lots of fun. Hopefully we’ll do a season two. We’re talking to all the parties at the moment… We see that as a returning anthology series."

The Feud introduces Emma and John Barnett, played by Jill Halfpenny (The Cuckoo, The Long Shadow, Everything I Know About Love) and Rupert Penry-Jones (Spooks, Our House, The Drowning), who, along with their teenage daughter Beth, played by newcomer Megan Trower, appear to live an idyllic life on Shelbury Drive.

They’re close friends with their neighbours, Sonia and Alan, played by Amy Nuttall (Downton Abbey, Chemistry of Death, Mr Bates vs The Post Office) and Ray Fearon (Fleabag, Barbie, Harry Potter), and despite their foibles, are also fond of older couple, Derek and Barbara, played by James Fleet (Unforgotten, Bridgerton, Vicar of Dibley) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Grantchester, Only Fools and Horses, Unforgotten).

Emma Barnett lives a contented life on Shelbury Drive with her husband John, and daughter Beth. A criminal defence solicitor, Emma has a feisty streak, and generally enjoys her suburban life, despite ongoing issues with a stroppy teenage daughter.

Emma likes her neighbours; she gets on well with Alan and Sonia next door, and despite their foibles, is fond of older couple Derek and Barbara (whose son, Marcus, suddenly disappeared a few years ago). Oddball neighbour Nick over the road can be a bit of a pain, but otherwise Shelbury Drive is an idyllic place to live.

Emma and John have been planning to move, however at one of Shelbury Drive’s summer street parties, Emma tells John that she wants to stay and do a kitchen extension instead. John is strangely unenthusiastic, but Emma cheerfully spreads the good news anyway.

From this point onwards, Emma’s innocent extension begins to spin drastically out of control. Derek and Barbara raise objections to the project, citing their ‘precious tree’ as the reason - and why does Barbara cry while watering it?

Nick also relishes sticking his nose in, worried that the noise is going to affect his sleep, and that the increased traffic will cause issues on the street. And so, he uses his obsession with CCTV to keep an eye on goings-on. Sonia on the other hand is thrilled that her friends are staying, but her husband, Alan, less so…

Not one to be easily deterred, Emma ploughs ahead, and gets brusque builder Lee in. He’s not particularly friendly, but he’s cheap, and can start immediately. John, already feeling emasculated, since he’s currently unemployed after leaving his job due to stress, does not like him.

Refusing to cave in to the pressure to stop the extension, Emma makes a questionable decision to get her planning permission rushed through, involving her estranged wheeler-dealer father Terry. And while all of this is going on, Emma’s career takes a complex turn when she comes up against a police officer who sees Emma as having wrecked her career.

With various secrets starting to bubble to the surface and suspicions raised, Nick posts a video from his CCTV camera on the street group chat, leading Emma to suspect that her life which up until now has seemed so straightforward is, in fact, bursting with other people’s secrets…

Further cast include Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls, Screw, Unwelcome) as scorned police officer PC Gallagher, Larry Lamb (The Inheritance, Gavin and Stacey, EastEnders) as Emma’s wheeler-dealer father Terry, Alex Macqueen (The Inbetweeners, The Thick of It, Hijack) as oddball neighbour Nick.

Plus Chris Gascoyne (Coronation Street, New Street Law, Moving On) as intimidating builder Lee. Judith Alexander (The Crown, Coronation Street, Walk Like a Panther), Joel Beckett (The Office, EastEnders, Casualty), and newcomers Luke Hammond and Joel Kai Ali round off The Feud’s cast.

Channel 5 have teased that it's set to reboot a "huge" drama title. 5's Head Of Drama Sebastian Cardwell told Televisual: "We’ve got an IP play we’re close to rebooting, a very big show. That would be amazing. Hopefully we will have news of that early next year."

Cardwell added: "We’re shifting a little bit into comedy drama space. We will probably invest in bigger, richer character-driven precinct shows. Shows that viewers of Hardacres and All Creatures might move across to."

Meanwhile, Channel 5 have ordered a second run of drama anthology strand Play For Today following its relaunch earlier this year. The second run, due to air next year, will consist of six new stories. The recommission was revealed by Broadcast.

Inspired by the iconic Play for Today format, each production will champion new voices and focus on bringing low-income talent into the spotlight behind the scenes in writing, directing and production roles. 

Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor for 5, said: "The response to the first series of Play for Today was extraordinary, not only from audiences but from talent across the industry. This strand is about opening doors to new off-screen talent, taking creative risks, and giving new voices the space to thrive. We’re incredibly proud to expand the strand and discover the next wave of brilliant storytellers."

The second series will include: Wild - set in the Scottish highlands which follows three friends on their annual camping trip; The Quiet Hour - a story set in an NHS hospital during a nightshift; Village Idiot - a comedy about an older woman who resists eviction from her home by train developers.

Also: Closing Time - a story about an undocumented migrant working in his uncle's kebab shop; Tatters - a story about a woman forced between family and her political beliefs, and The Castle - a story about siblings who are left by themselves after their mother vanishes.

More details and casting will be announced in due course.