BBC viewers 'switch off' as Happy Valley creator's latest show branded 'depressing'

BBC viewers admitted they were switching off minutes in to Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright's latest offering Riot Women. The show follows five women "of a certain age" who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band. It features a star studded cast including Royle Family legend Sue Johnson, Episodes star Tamsin Greig, Doctor Who icon Peter Davison and The Crown and Bridgerton star Lorraine Ashbourne. They appear alongside The Larkins Joanna Scanlan, West End icon Rosalie Craig, and Coronation Street's Amelia Bullmore.

However despite the steallar names involved it wasn't for everybody. One viewer took to X to admit they were looking for a rerun of a popualr show to watch in it's place having given up on it. "#RiotWomen may well turn out to be brilliant & gripping, but I'm finding it hard to love right now, and I'm too old & knackered for hard work on a Sunday evening. Might go see if anyone's streaming Last Tango in Halifax instead."

A second commented: "It's quite depressing so far." A third chimed in: "#RiotWomen sorry not buying it - a load of Hebden Bridge nonsense." A fourth simply penned: "This is such a cliche."

However some viewers were enjoying it with one sharing: "@riotwomentv crying laughing and crying sad at #riotwomen bloody amazing."

Meanwhile a sixth opined: "#RiotWomen is absolutely fantastic. Another hit for Sally Wainright. Fantastically well written female characters and a cracking soundtrack including Garbage and Skunk Anansie so far."

Although the titular fictional group are formed for a talent contest and plan on singing ABBA's Waterloo they will beging to perform their own music as the show continues.

Sally is both writer and executive producer of the series which was first announced in August 2023 under the title Hot Flush.

In April 2024, it was revealed the title had been changed to Riot Women, and would contain a song about HRT called Seeing Red.

It was filmed in Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire in June and July 2024 and Sally said: "I'm having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can't wait to share it with everyone!"

Although the first episode aired on BBC One on Sunday October 12 all six episodes are available to watch on the BBC iPlayer for those who prefer to binge their shows.