Riot Women

Riot Women

6.8/10
BBC iPlayer Running Drama

1 Season · 6 Episodes · Premiered October 12, 2025

Riot Women centres on the lives of five women of a certain age who come together to create a makeshift, butt-of-the-joke punk-rock band in order to enter a talent contest, but when they rehearse together they suddenly discover that they have a lot more to say than they ever imagined, and this is the way to say it.The drama follows the women as they deal with demanding jobs, grown-up children who still eat up their energy, dependent parents, husbands who've let them down and the menopause. The band becomes a catalyst for change in the women's lives, and it's going to make them question everything.As the story progresses, it's more than music that binds them; a deeply potent, long-buried secret connects Kitty and Beth, the two unlikely creative masterminds behind the band, and it's a secret that could tear everything apart.

Where to Watch: BBC iPlayer

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Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

6 episodes
E01
Episode 1
Sun, Oct 12 2025 5:00 AM GMT+0000 57 min
In a quiet house, Beth Thornton - burnt out and on the brink - prepares to end it all, when an unexpected phone call changes everything. Jess Burchill assembles an unlikely crew of sassy women to form a punk rock band for a local talent contest. Holly Gaskell, a police officer, arrests chaotic Kitty Eckersley, who might just prove to be the missing ingredient the band - and suicidal Beth - needs.
E02
Episode 2
Sun, Oct 12 2025 5:00 AM GMT+0000 58 min
As Beth and Kitty become the Lennon and McCartney of the Riot Women, Jess's feud with rival Hebden bar owner Inez reignites, Nisha grapples with a toxic colleague, and Holly realises her mother's dementia is worsening. A high-octane first band rehearsal gives way to common ground, but as the women start to bond, a long-buried secret smacks Kitty in the face.
E03
Episode 3
Sun, Oct 12 2025 5:00 AM GMT+0000 58 min
Struggling to process the shock of her discovery, Kitty teeters on the verge on a nervous breakdown. Jess writes one song about ungrateful children, Yvonne writes another about the traumas of giving birth, and Holly's promising date turns into an excruciating encounter in the bedroom. Kitty's discovery leads to an explosive Sunday lunch round at Beth's house.
E04
Episode 4
Sun, Oct 12 2025 5:00 AM GMT+0000 58 min
It's the talent contest! After six weeks at Beth's house, a happy, healthy Kitty's world shifts when she runs into her abusive ex-boyfriend Gavin and SpongeBob brings news of her elusive gangland father. Nisha is backed into a brutal corner at work, and instead of the bland pop song they've practised, the Riot Women decide to sing a much more incendiary song, one that Beth and Kitty wrote last week.
E05
Episode 5
Sun, Oct 12 2025 5:00 AM GMT+0000 59 min
While Kitty spends the night in police custody with a broken hand, Beth and Tom have a tragic, terminal conversation about her. Jess has a massive hangover and forgets what she agreed to the night before. Holly visits Nisha in hospital and gets a disturbing shock. Jenny Bollocks wants to manage the Riot Women! But is there enough good will left to move forward?
E06
Episode 6
Sun, Oct 12 2025 5:00 AM GMT+0000 62 min
Beth does everything she can to reconcile Tom and Kitty, but everyone's still struggling. Holly finds a clever way to deal with Rudy, and when the Riot Women make their first proper recording, she gets an eye-popping surprise. Kitty finally goes to court for trashing Gavin's Jag, and former gangland boss, Keith Eckersley, makes an unexpected appearance, with life-changing news for Kitty.

Cast

Joanna Scanlan
Joanna Scanlan as Beth Thornton
Rosalie Craig
Rosalie Craig as Kitty Eckersley
Tamsin Greig
Tamsin Greig as Holly Gaskell
Lorraine Ashbourne
Lorraine Ashbourne as Jess Burchill
Amelia Bullmore
Amelia Bullmore as Yvonne Vaux
Taj Atwal
Taj Atwal as Nisha Lal
Jonny Green
Jonny Green as Tom Thornton
Sue Johnston
Sue Johnston as Auntie Mary
Ellise Chappell
Ellise Chappell as Fearne
Chandeep Uppal
Chandeep Uppal as Kam Lal
Ben Batt
Ben Batt as Alec "Rudy" Rudenko
Anne Reid
Anne Reid as Nancy

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