A new television drama is pulling back the curtain on the lives of the super-rich. Wild Cherry, a six-part series from BAFTA-winning creator Nicôle Lecky, debuted on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on November 15, 2025. The show explore into the fallout of a shocking scandal at an exclusive private school, testing the bonds between two best friends and their daughters.
The Story Behind the Scandal
Wild Cherry is set within the fictional, gated community of Richford Lake, a place where immense wealth creates a facade of perfection. The story follows two women: Lorna, a self-made Black businesswoman from South London who has worked hard for her success, and Juliet, who was born into the privileged world they both inhabit. Their daughters, Grace and Allegra, are best friends living a life of luxury few teenagers can imagine.
The peaceful illusion of Richford Lake shatters when Grace and Allegra find themselves at the center of a major scandal at their elite private school. The incident forces Lorna and Juliet to choose sides, pushing their long-standing friendship to the brink. As the community is rocked by the event, toxic secrets and lies begin to surface, exposing the hidden ugliness and betrayal lurking beneath the perfectly manicured surface.
The series creator, Nicôle Lecky, was inspired by her own curiosity about closed-off, wealthy communities. She explained, “I used to drive through this private gated community in Surrey. There are a few of those places, and I would look at these beautiful homes and mansions and think, ‘Who lives there?’ I felt like we hadn’t seen this side of England before.” Lecky also wanted to explore the complex dynamics between mothers and daughters, believing that a town with extreme privilege was the perfect setting to show that even with vast wealth, families still face universal issues.
Meet the Mothers and Daughters
The drama features an acclaimed cast, led by Carmen Ejogo as Lorna and Eve Best as Juliet. Ejogo is known for her roles in The Penguin and Selma, while Best stars as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
Their characters provide a compelling contrast. Lorna is a protective mother who has placed great pressure on her daughter, Grace, to excel. Carmen Ejogo describes Lorna as retaining a “sense of mystery” and notes that she “put Grace in a very exclusive school, thinking it’s the best for her. But it actually makes her feel like a fish out of water.” Juliet, on the other hand, is a “super-mum” whose own life is not as perfect as it seems. Eve Best says of her character’s relationship with her daughter, “They have a very complicated relationship. Allegra can barely be in the same room frankly, but Juliet is desperate for her love, attention, anything.”
The younger generation is portrayed by Imogen Faires as Grace and newcomer Amelia May as Allegra. Their characters’ actions are the catalyst for the series’ central drama. The cast also includes the show’s creator, Nicôle Lecky, who plays Gigi, the community’s American life coach.
A Look at the Themes
Wild Cherry is more than a simple scandal story; it is a coming-of-age tale for both the teenagers and their mothers. The series tackles heavy themes, including the intense pressure of social media on young women, the corrosive nature of privilege, and the complex ways that parents and children influence one another.
A key question the show poses is how well the daughters truly know the women raising them, and if the phrase “like mother, like daughter” holds true in their world. Lecky emphasizes that her characters are not simply good or bad. “None of the women are bad. None of the women are good. They make terrible decisions and choices and I think that’s realistic in the modern world we live in,” she stated. She also pointed to a deeper message, noting, “There’s often this sense that women are railing against each other, but as the show progresses, you start to realize they’re actually railing against the establishment. There are external forces putting pressure on them.”
Behind the Scenes and How to Watch
The series is produced by Firebird Pictures for the BBC. All six episodes of Wild Cherry are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. The first two episodes also premiered on BBC One on Saturday, November 15. For viewers who enjoy dramas like Big Little Lies that explore the dark secrets beneath a shiny surface, this new series offers a compelling British counterpart.
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Credits: BBC Media Centre, WhatToWatch, Harper’s Bazaar
