Riot Women: Where was it filmed and who wrote the music?

The five main cast members of Riot Women pose against a red background. On the left of the image Amelia Bullmore wears a denim jacket and silver skirt while playing a red guitar. Lorraine Ashbourne holds a set of drumsticks as she crouches next to Rosalie Craig, who is holding a microphone. Joanna Scanlan wears a long, black denim jacket and black trousers. She is holding a keyboard. On the right of the picture Tamsin Greig is wearing a red tartan jacket and matching trousers. She is holding a bass guitar.BBC/Drama Republic

All episodes of Riot Women will be available on BBC iPlayer from 12 October

Oliver Wright
Yorkshire

Sally Wainwright's new TV show Riot Women has arrived on BBC iPlayer, with the first episode set to air on BBC One later.

As viewers prepare to laugh and cry along with the exploits of Kitty, Yvonne, Jess, Beth and Holly, here's everything you need to know about the show.

What is Riot Women about?

Riot Women tells the story of five women who decide to form a punk rock band and take part in a local talent contest.

Set in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, the six-part drama charts the fortunes of the group as they navigate coping with elderly parents, adult children, marriages breaking down and work - all while they deal with going through the menopause.

"It's kind of on a level of a Greek tragedy what happens to them, what befalls them, and what they discover about themselves and each other," Wainwright said.

"It's very powerful but very human, very joyous and celebratory too."

Rosalie Craig lies on a orangey brown sofa. She is wearing black leather trousers a black jacket and a white t-shirt. Behind her is a guitar propped against a collection of recording equipment and several instrument and amp cases.BBC/Drama Republic/Helen Williams

West End musical star Rosalie Craig stars as singer Kitty Eckersley

Is it based on a true story?

While not based directly on a true story, Wainwright said the show was based on a blend of personal experience and her own dreams of playing music.

"A lot of what the women go through is stuff I went through," she said.

"So it's half very much a personal thing and it's half a kind of fantasy of what I would love to do, which is be in a rock band."

Tamsin Greig stands behind a microphone. She has grey hair, heavy eye make-up and is wearing a red tartan suit. She is holding a bass guitar.BBC/Drama Republic/Helen Williams

Friday Night Dinner and Green Wing actress plays bassist Holly Gaskell

Where was it filmed?

The show was filmed in and around the Calderdale area of West Yorkshire.

Viewers may recognise key filming locations including:

  • Calder Holmes Park and The Albert Pub in Hebden Bridge

  • Calderdale Royal Hospital, Holdsworth House and The Old Cock pub in Halifax

  • St Michael's Church Hall in Mytholmroyd

  • Nanholme Mill in Todmorden

Joanna Scanlan sits at a red electric keyboard, with her hands above the keys ready to play. She is wearing a black denim jacket and white t-shirt. She has dark eye make up. Her lips are open as though she is singing.BBC/Drama Republic/Helen Williams

Joanna Scanlan, known for her roles in The Thick Of It and No Offence, plays Beth Thornton

Who stars in the show?

Riot Women stars Joanna Scanlan as keyboard player Beth Thornton, Rosalie Craig as singer Kitty Eckersley, Lorraine Ashbourne as drummer Jess Burchill, Tamsin Greig as bass player Holly Gaskell and Amelia Bullmore as lead guitarist Yvonne Vaux.

Other members of the cast include Anne Reid, Taj Atwal, Jonny Green, Ellise Chappell and Sue Johnston.

Lorraine Ashbourne on stage playing the drums. She is wearing a dark blue sequin jacket patterned with white sequin stars. She is holding a drum stick in her right arm as she prepares to hit the sparkly, blue kit. She has bright pink hair and has her mouth open wide.BBC/Drama Republic Ltd

Lorraine Ashbourne plays the band's drummer Jess Burchill

Do the actors play their own instruments?

Rosalie Craig, who plays singer Kitty, is no stranger to singing having performed in several West End musicals.

But none of the other members of Riot Women could play their instruments before they started.

All four spent more than six months working with musicians Toby Higgins and Nick Pinchbeck learning to play, with Wainwright saying it was key to the success of the show.

"I was really keen that they should be playing their own instruments," she said.

"I hate it when you see people pretending or miming as I think it instantly takes you out of it. I think it also helped them to really own their characters."

Amelia Bullmore stands in a pub. She has shoulder-length red hair. She is wearing a sleeveless body warmer and a blue top.BBC/Drama Republic/Matt Squire

Amelia Bullmore, who was worked with Wainwright on Scott & Bailey and Gentleman Jack, plays Yvonne Vaux

Who wrote the music for Riot Women?

Riot Women features a number of original songs, including the theme tune Seeing Red.

The songs were written by ARXX - a punk duo from Brighton made up of Hannah Pidduck and Clara Townsend.

Wainwright said: "They wrote the music and the lyrics, but we also offered them bits - for example, our police advisor, Lisa, came up with the first line 'I'm so depressed, I can't get dressed'.

"So again, we all put little bits in, but ARXX really turned it into their own and brought their fabulous energy to it."

What else has Sally Wainwright written?

Wainwright is perhaps best known for writing crime drama Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire and James Norton.

But she has a string of other dramas to her name including Gentleman Jack, Last Tango in Halifax, and To Walk Invisible.

All episodes of Riot Women will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 06:00 on 12 October ahead of the first episode airing on BBC One at 21:00.

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