Riot Women: Sally Wainwright’s New BBC Drama Rocks West Yorkshire with Rebellion, Friendship, and Secrets

The BBC has unveiled its first look at Riot Women, an electrifying six-part drama set and filmed entirely in West Yorkshire. Created and directed by Sally Wainwright, the award-winning storyteller behind Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Gentleman Jack, this new series promises to mix sharp humour, emotional honesty, and a healthy dose of punk-rock chaos.

A Band of Misfits with Something to Say

At the heart of Riot Women are five ordinary women who decide to do something extraordinary: form a punk band. What begins as a spontaneous bid to enter a local talent competition quickly becomes something much deeper. As the women gather in garages, pubs, and community halls to bash out their first original song, they realise that music gives them a voice they didn’t know they still had — one capable of expressing years of frustration, heartbreak, and longing for change.

Far from youthful rock hopefuls, these women are juggling the demands of middle age: exhausting jobs, grown-up children who still need them, ageing parents, and husbands who have long since “buggered off.” Through the raucous noise of punk, they rediscover both the thrill of rebellion and the forgotten power of friendship.

The Story Beneath the Songs

The official synopsis teases that while their music begins as a form of escape, it becomes “a catalyst for change.” The band forces each woman to confront the compromises and disappointments that have defined her life. As they learn to play together — and fall apart, and try again — the bandroom becomes a confessional, a therapy session, and a launch pad for reinvention.

But Riot Women is not simply a feel-good tale about rediscovery. Beneath the laughter and riffs lies a darker current. A “deeply potent, long-buried secret” threatens to surface, one that binds two of the band’s key members, Kitty and Beth, in a tangled web of guilt, desire, and deception. Their creative partnership — the driving force behind the band’s music — becomes a source of tension that could destroy the fragile unity holding the group together.

Sally Wainwright’s Signature Style

Known for her complex, authentic portrayals of women’s lives, Sally Wainwright again turns her lens on northern working-class communities, capturing both their grit and humour. In Riot Women, she channels the energy of punk — raw, unapologetic, and anti-establishment — into a story about women who refuse to be silenced by age, gender, or social expectation.

Wainwright’s previous work, from the tender humanism of Last Tango in Halifax to the searing realism of Happy Valley, has made her one of Britain’s most beloved television voices. With Riot Women, she brings that same emotional intelligence to a story of midlife rebellion, proving that the spirit of riot never fades — it just evolves.

Setting the Stage: West Yorkshire

The production makes full use of its West Yorkshire setting, with the rugged landscape and industrial towns providing both backdrop and character. From the neon lights of small-town pubs to the misty moors beyond, the show’s visual tone mirrors its themes: beauty found amid hardship, community forged in defiance.

The filming brings jobs and excitement to the region, continuing the BBC’s commitment to producing original northern drama outside London. The local flavour — from the accents to the humour — grounds the show in authenticity.

Music as Liberation

While Riot Women is a drama, music beats through every scene. The punk soundtrack, infused with both classic influences and new original tracks, acts as a rallying cry. The band’s evolution — from hesitant first chords to full-throated performance — mirrors the women’s personal awakening. Their songs become manifestos of rage, joy, and resilience. They may not win the local talent contest, but they rediscover something far more important: themselves.

Themes of Friendship and Female Resilience

Beyond the guitars and amplifiers, Riot Women is about the enduring strength of friendship. These women support, challenge, and save one another. As the pressures of family, romance, and past mistakes close in, it’s the band — and the bond it creates — that keeps them afloat. The show celebrates women who are flawed, funny, and fiercely human, reminding audiences that reinvention doesn’t belong only to the young.

A Drama to Watch

With Wainwright at the helm, expectations are high. The BBC’s first-look images reveal a show that’s both grounded and stylish, filled with defiance and heart. Riot Women looks set to strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt overlooked, unheard, or underestimated. It’s a story about finding your voice — and turning the volume up, loud enough for the whole world to hear.