Wild Cherry: What is the new BBC drama about? Details explored

Wild Cherry, released on November 15 on BBC One and has already managed to capture attention (just like Allegra and Grace) as Britain's answer to the hit show Big Little Lies.

The six-part thriller is an exploration of the secrets lurking beneath the veneer of a well-established community, where we see privilege colliding with scandal in arguably one of the most horrific ways.

BAFTA award-winning writer Nicôle Lecky created the show. Wild Cherry transports audiences into Richford Lake, an exclusive, close-knit community where wealthy families seemingly have it all.

But beneath the surface, vicious secrets threaten to destroy everything these families hold close. The drama examines everything modern as well as complicated: from intricate mother-daughter relationships to peer pressure to privilege in the age of social media. With its engaging narrative and powerful performances, Wild Cherry promises to keep viewers hooked from start to finish.

The story behind Wild Cherry

The premise of Wild Cherry follows two mothers from entirely different worlds. Lorna, portrayed by Carmen Ejogo, is an independent Black businesswoman from South London who has worked very hard to reach her current position.

Her best friend, Juliet (portrayed by Eve Best), was born into the privileged small community of Richford Lake, where they both reside presently. Despite their separate backgrounds, their daughters have formed a close connection.

Allegra and Grace, the daughters of Juliet and Lorna, respectively, are best friends who seem to live their best lives. They attend an exclusive private school and enjoy all the privileges that come with living in Richford Lake.

However, this well-fabricated existence shatters when the girls become involved in a tragic scandal that rocks their whole community. The incident forces both mothers to make complicated choices and take sides, pushing their friendship to a breaking point.

The scandal that transformed their lives in Wild Cherry

The controversy is about a messaging app, created by Grace and Allegra, that revolves around the concept of "catalogue." Through the app, the teenagers upload their pictures to be rated by others in a popularity contest format. People pay to sign up and access the ratings, and the girls make money throughout.

What starts as a way to control their own story quickly spirals into something more threatening. The nature of the secret messaging app mirrors the dangerous social dynamics.

What started as entertainment can quickly transform into a platform where leverage can turn into bullying. The app creates hierarchies among students and exposes them to public scrutiny. The outcome becomes severe when one student, Iris, goes missing after being accused of being a snitch who exposed The Catalogue to authorities.

Life in Richford Lake in Wild Cherry

The community of Richford Lake appears perfect and safe on the outside, with its small entrance and beautiful lawns. Wealthy families reside in beautiful homes and enroll their children in the finest institutions. But the storyline proves that privilege can create dangerous situations. Parents believe they know what their children do when dropped off at school or at friends' homes. The reality is far different from what they imagine.

The show explores how hidden apps and social media create an environment where peer pressure can have unbelievable consequences. It displays what happens when teenagers are left to their own vices. The series tackles the kids' toxic relationships with their phones, while not hesitating to explore the most insidious aspects of being online all the time.

The cast of Wild Cherry

The seasoned ensemble cast is led by House of the Dragon's Eve Best and Your Honor's Carmen Ejogo. Imogen Faires portrays the role of Grace, while Amelia May takes the role of Allegra. The cast also includes Sophie Winkleman and Nicôle Lecky herself, who also serves as both executive producer and writer. The director, Tobu MacDonald, brings his experience to this engaging show.

Carmen Ejogo has praised Lecky for bringing a unique UK perspective to her storytelling. Eve Best wanted to dive into something entirely different after House of the Dragon.

The chemistry between the cast members lends a raw quality to the complicated relationships portrayed in the drama.

Crucial themes explored in Wild Cherry

Wild Cherry aims to be much more than a regular run-of-the-mill teen drama. The show scrutinizes class differences as well as depicts how wealth can create a divide between people. Furthermore, it examines the racial dynamics within elite families and spaces, expanding on how diverse backgrounds influence perceptions of parenting.

Falling under the umbrella of the Eat-the-Rich genre, the thriller probes into how privilege can create blind spots where individuals assume rules do not apply to them. The mother-daughter relationships become central to the narrative, showing how patterns tend to repeat across generations.

Both Juliet and Loran struggle to connect with their daughters while dealing with their own pasts. The show also explores the pressure that teen girls face to present themselves as picture-perfect online. It displays how technology can be both dangerous and empowering.

Where to watch Wild Cherry

The show comprises six episodes, available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The first two episodes of Wild Cherry aired on BBC One. Audiences can watch the whole show or watch episodes at their own pace.

Wild Cherry is an interesting take on the examination of privilege, hidden lives, and scandals that promises to keep audiences engaged throughout.