L-R: Sally Wainwright, Joanna Scanlan (Image: Misan Harriman), Rosalie Craig (Image: Sergei Sarakhanov), Lorraine Ashbourne (Image: Pip Bourdillon), Tamsin Greig (Image:Harry Livingstone), and Amelia Bullmore (Image: Ruth Crafer).
The BBC has announced the cast for ‘Riot Women‘, the brand-new drama from Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, Gentleman Jack), including Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Amelia Bullmore.
‘Riot Women’ dives headfirst into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest, but in writing their first original song, soon discover that they have a?lot to say – and?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 (set in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire) progresses, it’s more than music that 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, in a complex triangle – and threatens to tear everything apart.
Leading the cast and the Riot Women band are Joanna Scanlan (After Love, The Thick of It) as Beth, Rosalie Craig (Moonflower Murders, Serpent Queen) as Kitty, Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast, Episodes, Green Wing) as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Alma’s Not Normal) as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore (The Buccaneers, Vienna Blood) as Yvonne.
“I think I am more excited about this than anything else I have ever written. Ever. Oh my God,” commented Wainwright. “We have five of the most fabulous actresses on the planet playing the Riot Women. It’s scarily exciting.”
In addition, Anne Reid (The Sixth Commandment) will play Nancy, Holly and Yvonne’s mother, with Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) as Jess’s Aunt Mary. Peter Davison (Doctor Who) and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) and Angel Coulby (Merlin) also join the cast.
The series will also star Taj Atwal (Line of Duty), Chandeep Uppal (Holby City), Jonny Green (White Lines), Ellise Chappell (Yesterday), Macy Jacob Seelochan (Shadow and Bone), Tony Hirst (Hollyoaks), Shannon Lavelle (Hamlin), Amit Shah (Happy Valley), Rick Warden (Red Eye), Ben Batt (Domina), Natalia Tena (Harry Potter), Melanie La Barrie (& Juliet), Oliver Huntingdon (Sherwood), Richard Fleeshman (The Sandman), Olwen May (A Very British Scandal), Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey) and Nicholas Gleaves (Bodyguard).
“We can’t wait for viewers to meet the Riot Women when they arrive on the BBC next year,” adds Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. “Sally’s scripts are magnificent even by her standards, and it’s no surprise that they’ve attracted such a stellar cast to bring this one-of-a-kind band and their vibrant world to life.”
The six-episode series is created, written, and executive produced by Sally Wainwright, who is also the series’ lead director. Amanda Brotchie (Gentleman Jack, Doctor Who) will direct block two, and Jessica Taylor (Happy Valley, Fool Me Once) is the producer. Roanna Benn (One Day, Doctor Foster) is the executive producer for Drama Republic, with Tanya Qureshi for the BBC, Robert Schildhouse and Jess O’Riordan for BritBox International.
‘Riot Women‘ will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK in 2025. BritBox International will air the series in the US and Canada. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
