The Hardacres

When Sam’s heroic nature costs him and the rest of the Hardacre family their jobs at the docks, his wife Mary comes up with a risky business venture hoping to relieve their financial stress. Never did she dream it would free them from their humble existence on the North Yorkshire Coast and catapult them into high society.

Excited for a fresh start, the family settle into their grand new home, and soon meet their aristocratic neighbours. However, as Mary prepares to host her first dinner party, it becomes clear that some family members are going to take more easily to their new status than others.

Sam hopes giving Joe responsibility in the new business will be the making of him, but he gets off to a rocky start. Meanwhile, Lady Fitzherbert facilitates Mary’s entry into polite society with an afternoon tea, and Liza isn’t impressed with her first taste of what is expected of young ladies.

Mary and Ma attend their first charitable outing with the society ladies. It unexpectedly brings them face to face with their challenging past, causing friction between the pair. Sam finds the Board unreceptive to his changes on the docks, whilst Joe’s head is turned by the beautiful Lady Adella.

The Board threatens Sam with an ultimatum, whilst Mary continues to receive the cold shoulder from the society ladies after the disastrous soiree. Joe’s conscience is put to the test, and he is forced to make some difficult decisions. Meanwhile Ma suspects something is wrong with Liza.