Eve Best, Carmen Ejogo, and Nicôle Lecky star in BBC One new coming-of-age drama
Eve Best, Amelia May, Carmen Ejogo and Imogen Faires(Image: BBC Studios/Lesley Edith)
Wild Cherry is the latest series to land on BBC One. The coming-of-age drama, which his about mother-daughter relationships, focuses on gated-community residents and best friends Lorna, a self-made businesswoman and Juliet who was born into wealth.
Lorna is played by Carmen Ejogo, known for The Penguin and Your Honour, while House of the Dragon star Eve Best takes on the role of Juliet. Wild Cherry also follows Lorna and Juliet’s daughters Grace (Imogen Faires) and Allegra (Amelia May) who are also best friends.
However, their friendship is strained when their teens Grace and Allegra are accused of a shocking scandal at their exclusive private school, with toxic secrets and lies rippling throughout the community. Imogen Faires is played by Dickensian and Marcella star Imogen Faires, while Allegra is played by Amelia May.
BBC Wild Cherry cast(Image: BBC/Firebird/Natalie Seery)
A synopsis reads: “Wild Cherry is coming-of-age drama for both mothers and daughters as they navigate privilege, power and social media. ‘Like mother like daughter’ rings loudly in a complex world, where danger and betrayal is never far from the surface – even in a perfect town.”
The cast also includes Sweetpea star Nicôle Lecky, who wrote Wild Cherry and stars as Gigi, alonside Sophie Winkleman (Peep Show, Sanditon), James Murray (Masters of the Air, The Crown), Nathaniel Martello-White (I Hate Suzie, Guerrilla), Jason York (Mood, Dreaming Whilst Black), Isabelle Allen (Les Misérables, Find Me in Paris) Catriona Chandler (Rivals, Enola Holmes 2) and Tara Webb (Phoenix Rise).
Eve Best as Juliet
Eve Best as Juliet(Image: BBC/Firebird/Natalie Seery)
On her character Juliet’s relationship with daughter Allegra, Eve said: “They have a very complicated relationship. Allegra can barely be in the same room frankly, but Juliet is desperate for her love, attention, anything.”
Viewers will recognise Eve for her role as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in House of the Dragon and Anna Clayton in Lucky Man. She also starred as Carole Middleton in The Crown, Rosaline in Maryland and Farah Dowling in Fate: The Winx Saga and Nurse Jackie.
Carmen Ejogo as Lorna
Lorna Gibbons (Carmen Ejogo) and Steven Gibbons (Nathaniel Martello-White)(Image: BBC/Firebird Pictures/Natalie Seery)
Carmen says her character Lorna still has a “sense of mystery,” who puts “a lot of pressure” on her daughter Grace to be excellent.
Selma is known for her role as Coretta Scott King in the film Selm and Seraphina Picquery and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Television credits include The Penguin, Your Honour, True Detective and Kidnapped.
Nicôle Lecky as Gigi
Nicôle Lecky as Gigi(Image: BBC/Firebird Pictures/Natalie Seery)
Writer of Wild Cherry Nicôle also stars as Gigi a life coach and the community’s resident American. She also narrates the series. Viewers will recognise Nicôle for her roles in Sky Atlantic’s Sweetpea, Death in Paradise and the George Clooney film Jay Kelly.
She said: “I think maybe it’s not as unique anymore, but being a showrunner, writing and executive-producing the entire series is already a big role. To make it even more fun (or harder!), I was also acting in the show, playing Gigi. It’s a lot. You’re focused on what the other cast are doing, what they’re wearing, having meetings with the director about production design, locations etc so it’s all-consuming.
“But I’m so passionate about the story, the show, and the women in the show. You have your late nights, but hopefully it’s all worth it and people love the show.”
Imogen Faires as Grace
Imogen stars as Lorna’s daughter Grace. Imogen has starred in Goldie’s Oldies, Marcella, in the role of Emma Backland, and Nell in Dickensian. More recently Imogen starred in an episode of Casualty.
Wild Cherry stars on Saturday, November 15 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
