BBC One and BritBox have released first-look pictures of Riot Women, the brand-new drama from the multi-BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, Gentleman Jack).
Set and filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, the six-part series is made by Drama Republic, a Mediawan Company (One Day, Doctor Foster, The English) for the BBC in a co-commission with BritBox. Mediawan Rights handles worldwide distribution.
In Riot Women, we dive headfirst into the world of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band to enter a local talent contest but, in writing their first original song, soon discover that they have a lot to say – and that this is their way to say it.
As they juggle demanding jobs, grown-up children, complicated parents, husbands who’ve buggered off, and disastrous dates and relationships, the band becomes a catalyst for change in their lives, and it’s going to make them question everything. The six-part series is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who refuse to be silenced by age or expectation. As the story progresses, more than music binds them; a deeply potent, long-buried secret begins to surface – one that unexpectedly entangles Kitty and Beth, the two unlikely creative masterminds behind the band – and threatens to tear everything apart.
The new pictures give a first look at the Riot Women band in action and feature Joanna Scanlan (After Love) as Beth, Rosalie Craig (The Serpent Queen) as Kitty, Tamsin Greig (The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin) as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne (Alma’s Not Normal) as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore (Vienna Blood) as Yvonne, with Taj Atwal (Line of Duty), Chandeep Uppal (Holby City), and Macy-Jacob Seelochan (Shadow and Bone) as Nisha, Kam and Miranda, the band’s riotous backing singers.
Riot Women creator, writer, director and executive producer Sally Wainwright says: “I’m having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone!”
Riot Women, Drama Republic Ltd. © Matt Squire and Helen Williams BBC Pictures
As previously announced, Riot Women will also star Anne Reid, Sue Johnston, Peter Davidson, Claire Skinner, Angel Coulby, Jonny Green, Ellise Chappell, Tony Hirst, Shannon Lavelle, Mark Bazeley, Amit Shah, Rick Warden, Ben Batt, Natalia Tena, Melanie La Barrie, Oliver Huntingdon, Richard Fleeshman, Olwen May, Kevin Doyle, Nicholas Gleaves and Thomas Flynn.
Riot Women features original songs from the band ARXX.
Riot Women will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK later this year. BritBox will air the series in the US and Canada.
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