Ridley Road is the explosive new drama on BBC iPlayer and it's undoubtedly the next must watch television show of 2021.
Written by Sarah Solemani, Ridley Road is the latest in a long-line of winning television shows in 2021. We had Vigil, the nail-biting show set on a Vanguard submarine boat at the bottom of the sea, and we've had Help on Channel 4, which deals with the devastating first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, we have Jo Bloom's television adaption of Ridley Road.
Set in post-war England, the series follows a brave young woman as she infiltrates one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in Europe.
Where is Ridley Road filmed?
Ridley Road is filmed in Manchester's Northern Quarter, an area of the city which sits between Piccadilly and the Ancoats.
In November last year, people spotted camera crews transforming Tib Street into 1960s London's East End with additional signs and vintage features.
A bustling area of the Northern Quarter normally, Tib Street is home to loads of bars, restaurants and shops. In previous years, it was a pet shop paradise with stores lining each side of the road. If you were to visit the area today, you'd be able to see some iconography of this unusual history on the sides of the buildings.
Other filming locations include Stamford Street in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester.
How many episodes of Ridley Road are there?
There are four episodes of Ridley Road.
The first episode aired on October 3 and all four are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer as part of a box-set series.
If you've watched all four Ridley Road episodes, don't worry, there's still plenty more excitement coming to television before the end of the year. If you like comedy, Complaints Welcome on Channel 4 is the new late-night chat show, starring top comedians and famous faces from television.
What is Ridley Road about?
Ridley Road is the story of the 62 Group, a collection of anti-fascists who stood up against the rising neo-Nazi movement in Britain after World War Two.
The series comes straight from the pages of Jo Bloom's book, which she released in 2014.
Taking place in the year of 1962, Ridley Road follows the perspective of Vivien Epstein, a young Jewish woman who moves from Manchester to East London after her father passes away. Here she attempts to track down Jack Morris, who she had a love affair with some years before. But with little information to find him with, Vivien struggles initially. While looking, she gets a job at a hair salon in Soho.
This is where Vivien meets those who will introduce her to London's growing anti-fascist movement. She soon becomes a spy in the National Socialist Movement (NSM), a neo-Nazi organisation set up by far-right figure Colin Jordan and John Tyndall, a fellow fascist political activist.
During the four hour-long episodes of the series, Vivien comes face-to-face with the leader of the movement himself. Alongside other real-life characters from the era and Jack, her long-lost love.
Screenwriter Sarah Solemani hopes it will bring a new awareness to the growing threat of fascism in the UK today.
Ridley Road cast: Who stars in the show?
- Agnes O'Casey as Vivien
- Eddie Marsan as Soly Malinovsky
- Tracy Ann Oberman as Nancy Malinovsky
- Tamzin Outhwaite as Barbara Watson
- Rory Kinnear as Colin Jordan
- Gabriel Akuwudike as Stevie
- Tom Varey as Jack Morris
Other faces, some of which you may recognise from series like Sex Education and A Taste of Honey, include Samantha Spiro and Rita Tushingham.
Agnes O'Casey is the latest upcoming star we all should know about, as she's making her television debut as Vivien in the series. Her previous work has been in stage productions with Irish drama school The Lir Academy.
Speaking about her role, she said, "Sarah Solemani has blown me away with the detail, sensitivity, and complexity with which she has written Vivien. I can't wait to bring this vital and little-known story to life."
While Jo Bloom wrote the novel, screenwriter Sarah Solemani brought the action onto screens. As well as being an actress herself, starring in the likes of Bad Education and Bridget Jones' Baby, Sarah is a writer and activist.
Ridley road release date
Ridley Road will be on BBC iPlayer from Sunday October 3 2021 at 9pm.
While filming took place from September 2020, it's been a long time coming for those in production. First announced in August 2019, the show had filming delayed continuously due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
Ridley Road trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzdEP7u6ir0
Other must-watch BBC shows released recently include the eye-opening Prince Philip documentary and The Coroner, which returned to the channel for its first series in the summer. While No Time to Die won't be available to stream for some time yet, you can now go and see it in cinemas around the UK.
We can't wait to watch!
-
Balamory is back after two decades - why we can’t wait for the reboot of the iconic BBC seriesWhat's the story in Balamory? Now you can find out, as the BBC announces the return of the beloved children's series nearly 20 years after the final episode aired.
-
Is Francesca in Bridgerton gay? With more great representation in the show, this expert shares how to start the conversation around sexuality with your teen if they’re watchingIs Francesca in Bridgerton gay? It's a question many have asked, and you might need to have conversations around sexuality with your teen if they’re watching.
-
Is Eric a true story? Benedict Cumberbatch lives every parent’s worst nightmare in new Netflix showIs Eric a true story? Every parent’s worst nightmare plays out in Netflix's latest show, against a backdrop of 80s New York grappling with AIDS and racism.
-
Normal People season 2 rumours are circulating, and we have our own Marianne and Connell 'first love' stories to shareNormal People season 2 rumours are flying around, and we have our own Marianne and Connell moments to share - because everyone remembers their first heartbreak.
-
Channel 4 drama The Gathering explores 'toxic teenagers and their even more toxic parents' in an online world dominated by social mediaNew Channel 4 drama explores the challenges of impossible standards set by social media, and how parents themselves become toxic in their need to protect their kids.
-
Is Brandy pregnant? Bluey fans think the Heelers could be about to welcome a new cousin following the season 3 finaleEagle-eyed Bluey viewers are wondering if Aunt Brandy is pregnant, following a touching moment in the season three finale.
-
Is Bluey ending? What we know about the rumours around the kids' cartoon, as the Heelers put their house up for saleBluey's producer has shared an update on the show's future
-
CoComelon has been accused of being 'overstimulating' - the experts explain why it's ok to let your kid watch the popular cartoonCoComelon is adored by kids around the world, but some experts have shared reasons they don't think children should be watching - we look at both sides of the argument.
