BBC's new drama unveiled featuring Downton Abbey and Beyond Paradise stars

Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

The BBC has shared a sneak peek at Riot Women, which is a six-part drama due to land on BBC One later year
The BBC has unveiled a first glimpse of its forthcoming television series Riot Women, boasting an impressive ensemble cast featuring stars from Downton Abbey and Beyond Paradise.
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The six-episode drama comes from the pen of acclaimed writer Sally Wainwright, whose previous credits include Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack, and is scheduled to debut later this year across BBC One, iPlayer and BritBox.
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Set and shot in the picturesque town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, Riot Women chronicles the journey of five women who form an unlikely punk rock group. The production incorporates original music from the band ARXX.
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"A teacher, a police officer, a pub landlady, a midwife, and a shoplifting freeloader: five menopausal women form a punk rock band to take part in a local talent contest, and suddenly find they have a lot more to shout about than they ever imagined.
"As they become closer, the teacher, Beth, and freeloader, Kitty, discover a surprising, heartbreaking connection," reads the BBC's official synopsis for Riot Women.
The Thick of It's Joanna Scanlan takes on the role of Beth, whilst The Serpent Queen actress Rosalie Craig embodies Kitty, Sexy Beast's Tamsin Greig becomes Holly, Sherwood star Lorraine Ashbourne portrays Jess, and The Buccaneers' Amelisa Bullmore assumes the character of Yvonne.
These five actresses comprise the core Riot Women ensemble, with supporting vocalists Nisha, Kam and Miranda brought to life by Taj Atwal, Chandeep Uppal and Macy Seelochan respectively.
Also starring in the series are Anne Reid from The Sixth Commandment, Downton Abbey's Sue Johnston, Peter Davison of Beyond Paradise, Outnumbered's Claire Skinner, Merlin's Angel Coulby and Jonny Green from White Lines, reports the Express.
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The cast also includes Ellise Chappell, Tony Hirst, Shannon Lavelle, Mark Bazeley, Amit Shah, Rick Warden, Ben Batt and Natalia Tena, as well as Melanie La Barrie, Oliver Huntingdon, Richard Fleeshman, Olwen May, Kevin Doyle, Nicholas Gleaves and Thomas Flynn.
Riot Women consists of six hour-long episodes and is a Drama Republic production, with Sally Wainwright serving as the creator, writer and lead director.
Jessica Taylor, known for her work on Happy Valley and Fool Me One, is the producer, while Roanna Benn, who worked on Doctor Foster, is the executive producer for Drama Republic. Tanya Qureshi takes on the role for the BBC, alongside Robert Schildhouse and Jess O'Riordan for BritBox.
BritBix will broadcast the series in the US and Canada, while Mediawan Rights, in collaboration with Entourage Ventures, will distribute the series internationally.