Channel 5 to revive Play for Today with aim of discovering new talent

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

- Tara Conlan

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.

Continuing the series's history of politically charged social realism, the first four plays cover a failing school in special measures, celebrity and historical abuse, ageing and money, and feature appearances from stars including Alan Davies, Anita Dobson, Nigel Havers and Sue Johnston.

The Channel 5 commissioning editor Paul Testar said Play for Today was "synonymous with high-quality standalone television dramas".

Its revival would help "shape the future of British drama", he added, providing an "opportunity to support emerging talent behind the scenes - from writers and directors to production teams - especially those from lower-income backgrounds".