BBC’s latest mother-daughter drama proves money can’t buy happiness (but it can buy chaos)

Words by Naomi Chadderton.

Let’s be honest - nothing’s more complicated (or fascinating) than our relationships with our mums. For some of us, they are our best mates while, for others, that relationship is… well, a bit more complex.

It’s that mix of love, tension and history that promises to get us hooked on a new BBC drama that has recently aired to rave reviews.

With a female-led cast at its core, Wild Cherry taps into everything that makes modern life so messy and relatable. From shifting social expectations to the pressure of growing up (and parenting) in a digital world, it’s guaranteed to have everyone debating who’s right, who’s wrong, and who’s just doing their best to survive it all.

Oh, and it also happens to be the brainchild of Nicôle Lecky (who also stars in the series), the woman who brought us the BAFTA-winning Mood. You remember Mood - the series that had us totally hooked as Sasha fell deeper into the chaos of social media and sex work. So you already know this is going to be good.

What is Wild Cherry about?

Set behind the gates of an ultra-exclusive Home Counties estate, Richford Lake, Wild Cherry is a six-part drama that peels back the gloss on a world where privilege and power rule, and where the biggest scandals don’t stay buried for long.

At the centre are Lorna, a successful self-made South London businesswoman, and Juliet, her oldest friend who was born into the privileged gated community they both call home. Their teenage daughters, Grace and Allegra, have grown up side-by-side in a bubble of money, influence and Instagram, until a shocking incident at their private school knocks everything on its head.

With the women forced to pick sides, long-held secrets start rising to the surface, and the show becomes less about the girls’ mistakes and more about the women raising them.

It’s a sharp, addictive look at class, motherhood and the quiet competitiveness that simmers beneath female friendship - especially in a world where reputation is everything.

Who is in the cast of Wild Cherry?

There’s plenty of old and new faces to look out for in this coming-of-age drama, including Eve Best (House of the Dragon, The King’s Speech) as Juliet Lonsdale, Carmen Ejogo (True Detective, The Penguin) as Lorna Gibbons, Imogen Faires (Goldie’s Oldies, Marcella) as Grace Gibbons and newcomer Amelia May as Allegra Lonsdale. And, of course, Nicôle Lecky (Mood, Sweetpea) also stars, playing Gigi, a fellow resident of Richford Lake.)

What other themes does Wild Cherry touch on?

As to be expected, social media plays a huge part in Wild Cherry - at the heart of the drama is a secret messaging app circulating around the girls’ school, and things quickly start to spiral.

The series also digs into privilege, power and what really happens when the veneer of wealth starts to crack. Expect a quiet satisfaction in watching this perfectly-polished world begin to unravel, showing us that money might buy security, but it definitely doesn’t buy happiness.

In other words, you’ve got all the ingredients for your next big binge-watch.

All episodes of Wild Cherry are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.