If you enjoyed watching Lorraine Ashbourne in the most recent series of Sherwood, then you'll want to know about her next BBC drama that's coming soon. Riot Women is the new series from Happy Valley boss Sally Wainwright, and it promises to be a "riotously entertaining and deeply emotional" watch.
The drama will centre around five women who decide to enter a local talent contest as a newly formed punk-rock band. Through their new adventure, they quickly learn they have a lot to say and they mean to share it through music. The official synopsis reads: "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."
When is the release date for Riot Women and where can I watch it?
We don't yet have a confirmed release date for this exciting female-driven drama, however we expect it at some point in 2025.
Riot Women will be a six-part series, and will be available to watch across both BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. It will also air in the US and Canada on BritBox.
Who stars in Riot Women?
The six-part series stars Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood), as previously mentioned, as well as Joanna Scanlan (Slow Horses), Rosalie Craig, Amelia Bullmore (The Jetty) and Tamsin Greig. This group of women make up the titular five as Beth, Kitty, Jess, Yvonne and Holly (seen in these first-look pictures).
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They will also be joined by The Sixth Commandment's Anne Reid in the role of Nancy, mother to Yvonne and Holly. Doctor Who's Peter Davison, Death in Paradise's Taj Atwal and Merlin's Angel Coulby are also among the supporting cast.
Claire Skinner, from the beloved sitcom Outnumbered and who is currently starring in Channel 5's chilling new drama The Trial, is also among the cast.
Who is the team behind Riot Women?
Sally Wainwright (also behind other British hits, such as Gentleman Jack) is the creator, writer, and executive producer for Riot Women. The award winning writer has won BAFTAs for her previous work on Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax.
Riot Women was made for the BBC by Drama Republic, the production company behind Netflix's One Day, the Suranne Jones-fronted Doctor Foster and The English.
The West-Yorkshire-filmed drama is a co-commission with BritBox International.
Related: BBC's "dazzling" drama from The Split boss, also with Nicola Walker, is now streaming free in the UK
Speaking on the upcoming show, Wainwright has shared: "I think I am more excited about this than anything else I have ever written. Ever. Oh my God. We have five of the most fabulous actresses on the planet playing the Riot Women. It's scarily exciting."
Drama Republic's CEO and executive producer Roanna Benn, spoke about the importance of the show when, in a statement, she referred to it as "timely and vital" before going to say it was also a "riotously entertaining and deeply emotional" drama.
Benn went on to say: "It stars and is being made by a phenomenal group of women absolutely in their prime! We cannot wait to share it with everyone."
Riot Women is set to arrive to both BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2025 and will also air in the US and Canada on BritBox.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
