Rob and Ruth are back!

Rich Lives, Poor Lives Returns to Channel 5

Rich Lives, Poor Lives has been recommissioned by Channel 5, with four new 90-minute specials produced by Lion Television and WPP Media Motion Entertainment.

The new series will once again feature Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman, who will explore how wealth and class shaped everyday life across four key periods of British history, Roman, Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian. From city streets to grand estates, they’ll uncover how people from all walks of life experienced the past in very different ways.

“I’m delighted Rich Lives, Poor Lives is returning,” says Rob Rinder. “The first series proved that history is at its most alive when it’s about people, not just palaces and proclamations. Working with Ruth Goodman has been a joy — together we uncover the textures of everyday life and how it felt to live through the moments that shaped us.”

“We’re thrilled Rich Lives, Poor Lives is returning,” says Sarah Sarkhel, Executive Producer. “Rob and Ruth bring history to life in such an engaging and human way — we can’t wait to share what’s next.”

Rich Lives, Poor Lives series two will air on Channel 5 in 2026.