Riot Women (2025) is a British TV drama created and written by Sally Wainwright, following five midlife women in Hebden Bridge who form a punk-rock band to reclaim their confidence, voice, and identity. Starring Joanna Scanlan, Lorraine Ashbourne, Tamsin Greig, Amelia Bullmore, and Rosalie Craig, the six-episode BBC One series explores friendship, midlife struggles, and the healing power of music with humour, warmth, and rebellion. It premiered on 12 October 2025 and has already been described by critics as one of Wainwright’s strongest works.
The Story: Finding Freedom Through Noise
At its core, Riot Women is about rediscovery.
The series begins with Beth Thornton (Joanna Scanlan), a weary secondary-school teacher caring for her mother with dementia while struggling through the fog of menopause. Life feels small, dull, and invisible — until her outspoken friend Jess Burchill (Lorraine Ashbourne), a pub landlady with purple hair and a defiant spirit, calls and asks:
“Do you want to be in a rock band?”
That impulsive invitation becomes Beth’s unexpected lifeline. Jess soon ropes in Holly Gaskell (Tamsin Greig), a retired police officer caring for her mother; Yvonne Vaux (Amelia Bullmore), Holly’s witty midwife sister; and Kitty Eckersley (Rosalie Craig), a rebellious singer with a turbulent past.
Their first rehearsals are chaotic — they jokingly name themselves The Old Bags’ Department — but the music soon becomes a release. What begins as a joke turns into a joyful rebellion. “You thought The Clash were angry,” Beth quips, as the women realise they’re not just making noise, they’re finding their voices.
Sally Wainwright’s Creative Vision
Wainwright has said the idea came from wanting to show midlife as powerful rather than diminishing.
“I wanted to explore being a woman in midlife in a way that was uplifting,” she told the Guardian. “We talk about symptoms, but not about strength.”
Originally announced in 2023 under the working title Hot Flush, the project was later renamed Riot Women in homage to the 1990s Riot Grrrl feminist punk movement. The show’s energy is fuelled by original songs written by the Brighton rock duo ARXX, who also mentored the cast in their instruments. Wainwright herself learned the drums during development — proof of her commitment to authenticity and noise.
Cast and Characters
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Joanna Scanlan — Beth Thornton, an English teacher on the edge who rediscovers passion and self-worth through music.
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Lorraine Ashbourne — Jess Burchill, the fiery pub landlady who forms the band and holds the group together.
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Tamsin Greig — Holly Gaskell, a retired police officer caring for her mother while rediscovering her own identity.
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Amelia Bullmore — Yvonne Vaux, Holly’s warm-hearted sister, a midwife juggling work, family, and frustration.
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Rosalie Craig — Kitty Eckersley, a gifted but troubled singer whose wildness fuels the band’s raw edge.
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Supporting cast: Taj Atwal, Anne Reid, Sue Johnston, Claire Skinner, Peter Davison, Kevin Doyle, and Chandeep Uppal.
Production and Setting
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Filming took place across Hebden Bridge, Halifax, and Ripponden during summer 2024. The show embraces the local northern charm that defines much of Wainwright’s work, using real pubs and community spaces to anchor its world.
The actors were trained to play their instruments to add realism. ARXX composed songs such as Seeing Red and Just Like Your Mother, capturing the women’s blend of fury, humour, and freedom.
Themes: Menopause, Mental Health, and Reinvention
Riot Women treats menopause not as a punchline but as a transformative stage of life. It portrays how women navigate invisibility, body changes, and shifting identities with honesty and laughter.
It also captures the sandwich generation experience — caring for both ageing parents and grown-up children. One moving scene involving Holly and her mother (Anne Reid) reflects Wainwright’s own experience of caring for her late mother with dementia, grounding the drama in emotional truth.
Punk and Mental Health: Noise as Healing
Music in Riot Women isn’t background — it’s therapy.
As psychotherapist Katie Evans notes in BBC coverage, “Writing a song is journaling — a way to process emotion.” ARXX drummer Clara Townsend adds, “Hitting something hard for an hour is cathartic.”
A standout episode features the women turning the insult “Just Like Your Mother” into a roaring anthem, reclaiming shame as pride. The noise becomes liberation.
Critics’ Verdict
Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive:
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The Guardian: “Up there with Happy Valley — rich, plot-packed, and perfectly seasoned with humour.”
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The Independent: “A taboo-busting, full-throated celebration of women refusing to be silenced.”
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The Yorkshire Post: “Funny, grounded, and fiercely northern.”
On review aggregators, Riot Women holds around 77/100 on Metacritic and 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating “generally favourable reviews.” Critics praise its warmth, wit, and emotional honesty.
Hidden Easter Egg for Happy Valley Fans
Fans spotted a clever nod to Wainwright’s earlier hit: police officer Nisha Lal (Taj Atwal) has the same collar number — 9675 — as Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) in Happy Valley. Wainwright jokingly called it her “Yorkshire version of 007.”
Will There Be a Season 2?
As of now, the BBC has not announced a renewal. However, the finale leaves room for continuation, and with strong ratings and audience enthusiasm, a second series in 2026 looks likely.
Filming Locations and Community Spirit
The series celebrates Yorkshire’s creative identity. Filming took place in The Albert Pub, Calder Holmes Park, and Sowerby Bridge Station, all real locations around Hebden Bridge and Halifax. The show’s authenticity lies in its rootedness — its people, accents, and music belong to the landscape.
Why Riot Women Resonates
At its heart, Riot Women is about sisterhood, survival, and self-expression.
These women are flawed, funny, and real — balancing grief, ageing, chaos, and laughter. Its message is simple but powerful: it’s never too late to be loud.
In a world that sidelines older women, Sally Wainwright hands them the microphone — and they roar.
Conclusion
Riot Women (2025) isn’t just a BBC drama; it’s a celebration of strength, friendship, and second chances. Wainwright transforms midlife into a stage for rebellion, proving it’s never too late to chase joy or make noise. With outstanding performances, humour, and heart, Riot Women turns life’s encore into its loudest act yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Riot Women about?
A BBC drama about five midlife women who form a punk band and rediscover their confidence and freedom through music.
Who created it?
Sally Wainwright — the award-winning writer of Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Gentleman Jack.
Where was it filmed?
On location across Hebden Bridge, Halifax, and Ripponden, West Yorkshire.
Who stars in it?
Joanna Scanlan, Lorraine Ashbourne, Tamsin Greig, Amelia Bullmore, Rosalie Craig, Taj Atwal, and Anne Reid.
Is there a connection to Happy Valley?
Yes — the police character Nisha Lal shares Catherine Cawood’s collar number 9675, a subtle Easter egg for fans.
Will there be a Season 2?
Not yet confirmed, but critical success and audience demand make renewal very possible.
Where can I watch it?
All six episodes are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on BritBox internationally.
