Play for Today is a British television strand, produced by Channel 5. It is a continuation of the original BBC One series of the same name, which ran from 1970 to 1984. Like the prior series, it is an anthology of original one-off dramas exploring modern social issues. It began broadcasting on 13 November 2025.
In 2025, Channel 5 announced they would revive the series towards the end of that year for a new audience. The project was conceived, following a conversation with Vertigo Filmsâ Allan Niblo. Episodes 1 and 3 were made by Vertigo in London, and the other two by Liverpool-based LA Productions (who had been involved with a similar programme, BBC One's Moving On). Sebastian Cardwell, Channel 5âÂÂs head of drama, stated that the series would act as a gateway for new talent, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to enter the television industry.
Rachel Aroesti in The Guardian gave the series two stars out of five, finding it not as daring as the original series. She did, however, praise Big Winners and several performances. Patrick Smith in The Independent awarded the first episode two out of five stars, commending Dobson but finding it too lightweight for a Play for Today. Keith Watson in The Daily Telegraph was similarly critical, disliking the first episode and awarding it one star out of five.