BBC One has set an October premiere date for ‘Ridley Road‘, an adaptation of Jo Bloom’s critically acclaimed novel from award-winning writer Sarah Solemani (‘Barry’, ‘Aphrodite Fry’).
Inspired by the struggle of the 62 Group, a coalition from the Jewish community who stood up against rising neo-Nazism in post-war Britain, the drama sees Vivien (Agnes O’Casey, in her first TV role) leaving her comfortable life in Manchester and starting to work with them when she realises that Jack, her missing boyfriend (Tom Varey – ‘Ackley Bridge’, ‘No Offence’) has been badly injured. Vivien infiltrates the NSM, a neo-Nazi movement that is becoming increasingly prominent in London. As Vivien descends further into the fascist organisation, she must face challenges both to her courage and her commitment to the cause.
Alongside O’Casey and Varey, the series brings together an award-winning cast including Rory Kinnear (‘Penny Dreadful’, ‘Years and Years’), Tracy-Ann Oberman (‘It’s a Sin’, ‘Friday Night Dinner’), Eddie Marsan (‘Ray Donovan’, ‘The Gentlemen’), Tamzin Outhwaite (‘EastEnders’, ‘New Tricks’), Samantha Spiro (‘Sex Education’, ‘Psychobitches’), Rita Tushingham (‘The Pale Horse’, ‘In the Flesh’), and Danny Hatchard (‘EastEnders’, ‘Our Girl’).
‘Ridley Road’ is a Red Production Company, a Studiocanal Company production commissioned for BBC One by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and and co-produced with Masterpiece. The four-part drama adaption is written, and executive produced by Sarah Solemani and Nicola Shindler and Ayela Butt and Lucy Richer for BBC. Series producer is Betsan Morris Evans (‘The War Of The Worlds’, ‘The City And The City’, ‘NW’) and Lisa Mulcahy (‘Years And Years’, ‘Blood’) directs all four episodes. International rights handled by Studiocanal.
‘Ridley Road‘ premieres Sunday, 3rd October 2021 at 9pm on BBC One, with all episodes available on BBC iPlayer. The series will air later in the USA on PBS Masterpiece.
