Sally Wainwright has given a few insights into her upcoming BBC drama-comedy Riot Women, which will follow a punk band formed by five women going through menopause.
Originally titled Hot Flush, the series sees the Gentleman Jack and Happy Valley creator return to West Yorkshire. Set in Hebden Bridge, Riot Women will look at the experiences of the five protagonists as they find an unexpected outlet for their rage.
"They're angry and they're going to sing about being angry and being of a certain age and all the stuff that goes with being of a certain age and having to go through the menopause at the same time," Wainwright told The Yorkshire Post.
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"They form a punk rock band to sing about what they're angry about," she continued.
"It's just me letting rip really! We've got a song about HRT [hormone replacement therapy] called 'Seeing Red'. I've had a lot of fun writing it."
Wainwright also teased that Riot Women will feature the favourite character she's created so far, as she said: "You've not met her yet! It's one of the Riot Women. She's really exciting to write for."
The writer and director, whose work includes series Last Tango in Halifax and the recent Renegade Nell, has confirmed filming on the new show will start soon and that she's relocating to Calderdale in West Yorkshire for the next few months.
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"I've just started prepping filming for Riot Women, so I'm going to be living up there for the next eight months," she said, also expressing the need for more "working-class and northern voices" in today's TV industry.
Previous details about Riot Women teased a secret connecting two of the protagonists in a mystery that could upend the band and their friendship.
"A deeply potent, long-buried secret connects Kitty and Beth, the two unlikely creative masterminds behind the band," the synopsis reads, "and it's a secret that could tear everything apart."
Riot Women will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
