Created by Sally Wainwright.
Riot Women premiered on October 12, 2025.
Distributed by BBC Studios, with international streaming handled by BritBox in select regions.
Series Review
Riot Women is a heartwarming and funny British TV series about five friends who decide to start a punk band to bring some excitement back into their lives.
Set in Hebden Bridge, the show mixes comedy and drama as it explores friendship, aging, love, and second chances.
The cast, led by Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, and Tamsin Greig, delivers amazing performances filled with emotion and humor.
The music adds a lot of energy, and the story feels real and relatable.
Some parts move quickly, but the show’s charm and chemistry between the women make it special.
Riot Women is about finding yourself again and proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
It’s uplifting, funny, and full of heart, a perfect watch for anyone who loves stories about friendship, music, and starting over.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
• Google Audience Score: 71% liked this TV show.
Riot Women Actors
Joanna Scanlan as Beth Thornton
DOB: 27 October 1961.
Bio: Joanna Scanlan is a highly regarded British actor known for blending subtle comedy and grounded drama.
With a long career in UK television, including standout work on Getting On, The Thick of It, and No Offence
Role: Beth Thornton is the show’s pragmatic and wry creative lead, often acting as the stabilizing force in a chaotic workplace.
She balances keeping the team on track with navigating personal secrets and professional pressures, providing both comedic and dramatic counterpoints throughout the season.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: Dry humour under pressure, quiet explosions of feeling and scenes where small gestures say everything.
Interesting facts: Scanlan coaxes comedy out of pain; she’s known to do a lot of work on character backstory with writers/directors.
Notable works: Getting On, The Thick of It, No Offence.
Rosalie Craig as Kitty Eckersley
DOB: 30 May 1981.
Bio: British stage and screen actor known for her powerhouse performances and musicality.
Trained in acting and music, she excels in roles that demand emotional intensity, vocal ability, and physical expressiveness.
Role: Kitty Eckersley is the impulsive, creative heart of the band.
She is full of ideas and brittle hopes, often prone to self-sabotage, which makes her both magnetic and heartbreakingly human.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: Passionate, sometimes raw scenes, a character who makes mistakes loudly and loves fiercely.
Interesting facts: Craig’s extensive musical theatre background allowed her to guide on-screen instrument work and help make the band performances feel authentic.
Notable works: West End musicals, Moonflower Murders, 1899.
Tamsin Greig as Holly Gaskell
DOB: July 12, 1966.
Bio: British actor acclaimed for her versatility across comedy and drama.
She gained recognition in series like Black Books, Green Wing, and Friday Night Dinner, demonstrating impeccable comic timing paired with emotional depth.
Role: Holly Gaskell is the band’s moral center and primary caregiver, managing the emotional and practical challenges of aging parents while navigating societal pressures on women as they age.
Her musical journey in the show reflects a personal reclaiming of voice and identity.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: A mix of deadpan laughs, furious outbursts and quietly heartbreaking caregiving scenes.
Interesting facts: Greig learned bass guitar for the role and has emphasized the importance of representing middle-aged women authentically and powerfully.
Notable works: Green Wing, Friday Night Dinner, Black Books.
Lorraine Ashbourne as Jess Burchill
DOB: January 7, 1961.
Bio: Lorraine Ashbourne is a seasoned British character actress with extensive TV, film, and stage credits.
She excels in portraying complex, emotionally textured characters who combine bluntness with subtle humor.
Role: Jess Burchill is outwardly tough and commanding, but privately she harbors both humor and resentments that can land as cutting or tender depending on the moment.
Her personality is essential to the band’s chemistry, providing grounding and sharp interactions.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: Sharp one-liners, surprising vulnerability and a believable working-class backbone.
Interesting facts: Ashbourne balances high-profile TV and stage work with family life; she has spoken about her joy in portraying multi-dimensional women who are strong yet flawed.
Notable works: After the Flood, Sherwood, extensive stage performances.
Amelia Bullmore as Yvonne Vaux
DOB: January 31, 1964.
Bio: British actor, writer, and playwright known for her sharp comedic timing and nuanced dramatic performances.
She has written for acclaimed series such as Scott & Bailey and combines a deep understanding of character with naturalistic delivery, making her work resonate in both comedy and drama.
Role: Yvonne Vaux is the band’s pragmatic realist whose dry, grounded observations keep the group tethered to reality.
Beneath her understated presence, she has a quietly powerful arc exploring identity, belonging, and personal growth.
Episodes: (5 eps).
What to expect: Understated comedy that flips to emotional clarity when the plot needs it.
Interesting facts: Bullmore’s background as a playwright and writer informs her approach to dialogue and scene work, lending authenticity and precision to her performance.
Notable works: Scott & Bailey, Coronation Street (early career), playwright and writing credits.
Taj Atwal as Nisha Lal
DOB: December 1, 1987.
Bio: British actor known for strong, grounded performances on television and stage.
She has appeared in Line of Duty, The Syndicate, and In the Club, consistently bringing warmth, grit, and authenticity to roles that explore personal and social dynamics.
Role: Nisha Lal is a friend and ally to the band whose backstory intersects with local politics and community pressures.
She helps illuminate issues of class, race, and generational tension within the town, adding depth to the ensemble’s story.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: Grounded, honest scenes that add social context to the band’s rebellion.
Interesting facts: Atwal is a patron of regional theatre and often chooses roles that shine a light on working-class perspectives.
Notable works: Line of Duty, Stella, In the Club.
Ellise Chappell as Fearne
DOB: March 21, 1992.
Bio: British actor known for her work on television and stage, including Poldark and The Last Dragonslayer.
She brings emotional sincerity and nuance to her roles, often serving as a relatable perspective for audiences.
Role: Fearne is part of the younger circle around the band, providing a generational lens on the women’s choices.
She can offer sharp critique, unexpected support, or fresh insight, adding depth to the ensemble dynamics.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: Honest, relatable scenes, she tends to bring youthfully blunt observations.
Interesting facts: Chappell trained extensively in drama and is recognized for selecting layered supporting roles that enrich ensemble stories.
Notable works: Poldark, The Last Dragonslayer.
Jonny Green as Tom Thornton
DOB: May 9, 1996.
Bio: Jonny Green is a British actor steadily building a portfolio of TV drama and indie projects.
He is known for bringing naturalism and emotional subtlety to roles that require authenticity and relatability.
Role: Tom is connected to Beth’s personal and family life, and his interactions with the band introduce practical and emotional stakes.
His conflicts and collaborations help highlight the pressures of creative ambition versus everyday realities.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: Scenes that reveal quiet domestic pressures and the human consequences of creative choices.
Interesting facts: Green has appeared in acclaimed UK dramas and continues to grow as a recognizable talent in television.
Notable works: It’s a Sin, Doctor Who (guest).
Ben Batt as Rudy
DOB: February 8, 1986.
Bio: Ben Batt is a British actor recognized for his grounded, charismatic performances across film and television.
Known for his ability to blend toughness with emotional depth, Batt often portrays complex working-class characters who bring authenticity and edge to any ensemble.
Role: Rudy is a local figure whose unpredictable energy complicates the band’s plans, sometimes serving as comic relief, sometimes as a genuine obstacle.
His presence embodies the tensions within the community and adds grit to the show’s social realism.
Episodes: (5 eps).
What to expect: Energetic scenes that can pivot from comic relief to serious complication.
Interesting facts: Batt trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is known for infusing his performances with a natural, lived-in realism.
Notable works: Shameless, Scott & Bailey, The Go-Between.
Natalia Tena as Inez
DOB: November 1, 1984.
Bio: British actress and musician celebrated for her dynamic screen presence and artistic versatility.
Known globally for her roles in Game of Thrones and Harry Potter, she often gravitates toward characters who exude independence, eccentricity, and emotional depth.
Role: Inez is a vibrant figure within the local music scene, part ally, part rival, and always unpredictable.
Her interactions with the band bring authenticity, creative tension, and a spark of rebellious energy that reflects the messy joy of making art together.
Episodes: (4 eps).
What to expect: Musical energy and a hint of outsider mystique; she’s one of the show’s livelier guest presences.
Interesting facts: Tena is the lead singer and accordionist for the band Molotov Jukebox, a real-life project that heavily influenced her portrayal of Inez.
Notable works: Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
Anne Reid as Nancy Gaskell
DOB: May 28, 1935.
Bio: Britain’s most respected actresses, with a career spanning over six decades in television, film, and theatre.
From her early days on Coronation Street to her acclaimed work in later-life dramas, Reid has built a reputation for portraying complex, emotionally rich characters with warmth and truth.
Role: Nancy Gaskell is Holly’s mother, whose struggles with dementia form one of the emotional cores of the series.
Through Nancy, the show explores memory, generational love, and the way music connects past and present.
Episodes: (4 eps).
What to expect: Deep, lived-in moments that underline the show’s themes of time, memory and loss.
Interesting facts: Reid has spoken about finding new creative freedom in her later years, embracing roles that reflect real experiences of older women.
Notable works: Last Tango in Halifax, The Mother, Dinnerladies.
Sue Johnston as Aunt Mary
DOB: December 7, 1943.
Bio: Britain’s most cherished television actresses, celebrated for her ability to blend humor, vulnerability, and quiet strength.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, she has become a familiar and trusted presence on British screens, often portraying women who balance resilience with warmth.
Role: Aunt Mary is a recurring family figure whose blunt wisdom and sharp humor bring both friction and perspective to the group.
Through her, the series explores themes of aging, resilience, and the power of female solidarity across generations.
Episodes: (6 eps).
What to expect: A steady, often dryly funny presence that anchors family scenes.
Interesting facts: Johnston remains an outspoken public voice on social issues and has a large, affectionate fanbase in the UK.
Notable works: Brookside, The Royle Family, Waking the Dead, Downton Abbey.
More Actors
• Macy Seelochan as Miranda.
• Tony Hirst as Jerry Booth.
• Kevin Doyle as Michael.
• Oliver Huntingdon as Carl Gaskell.
• Mark Bazeley as Gavin.
• Shannon Lavelle as Chloe.
• Richard Fleeshman asJoJo.
• Peter Davison as Graham.
FAQ – Riot Women TV Series
What is Riot Women about?
A British drama by Sally Wainwright about five midlife women in Hebden Bridge who form a punk band to reclaim voice, identity and joy while wrestling with menopause, dementia and family drama.
Is Riot Women based on a true story?
No, it’s an original drama written by Sally Wainwright, although it draws on lived experience and real social issues like menopause and caregiving.
How many seasons and episodes are there?
So far there is 1 season comprising 6 episodes (Season 1, 2025).
Where was it filmed?
Riot Women was filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England, giving the series an authentic Northern charm.
Where can I watch it?
In the UK watch on BBC One or stream on BBC iPlayer. Internationally it’s rolling out on platforms such as BritBox (US/Canada) per regional releases.
Conclusion
Riot Women is a fun, emotional, and inspiring series that celebrates friendship, music, and rediscovering yourself later in life.
With great performances, sharp humor, and heartfelt moments, it reminds viewers that age is never a barrier to passion or purpose.
The show blends laughter and emotion beautifully, leaving you cheering for its bold, rebellious characters.
It’s a refreshing and empowering watch that proves it’s never too late to start over, or to rock out.