Ready to ROCK!

Five middle-aged Yorkshire women form a life-changing punk band in Sally Wainwright's latest drama

- By Caren Clark

From no-nonsense cop Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley to unconventional 19thcentury businesswoman Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack, award-winning writer Sally Wainwright is adept at exploring the lives of strong females who refuse to stay quiet.

Now, in her new BBC1 drama Riot Women, five uncompromising middle-aged friends roll back the years when they form a punk-rock band.

The six-part series, set in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, sees pub landlady Jess (Sherwood’s Lorraine Ashbourne) decide to put together a group for a fundraising school talent contest.

Taking on the role of drummer, she recruits her depressed friend, teacher Beth (The Larkins’ Joanna Scanlan) to play keyboard. Soon-to-be retired cop Holly (Friday Night Dinner’s Tamsin Greig) and her sister, midwife Yvonne (The Jetty’s Amelia Bullmore), then join them as bass player and lead guitarist, while troubled shoplifter Kitty (Moonflower Murders’ Rosalie Craig) is brought in as the group’s singer.

The band soon provides the women with the perfect outlet to express themselves about the trials of middle age and the menopause.