The rise of the Far-Right is the topic of a new BBC four-part series Ridley Road, an adaptation of Jo Bloom’s novel of the same name.
A topical choice for BBC given the tumultuous politics of our time, the series will be penned by Sarah Solemani, of Barry and Aphrodite Fry ilk.
Set in London during the colourful Swinging Sixties, the thriller will delve into the east end, where far right fascism is on the up and up.
It will follow Vivien Epstein, a Jewish hairdresser from Manchester who arrives in the capital following the death of her father.
Delving into London’s dark underbelly, she searches for her lost love Jack Fox, and in a dangerous turn of events ends up going undercover with the fascists.
Red Production Company are producing the series.
Ridley Road was published as a debut novel by author Jo Bloom in 2014, and at the time it got mixed reviews, with The Independent calling it an ‘ambitious but not wholly successful debut.’
In a statement Solemani said the relationship with Britain has with fascism is ‘more alive than we like to think.’
She said: ‘Britain’s relationship with fascism is closer and more alive than we like to think. Luckily, so is our rich heritage of fighting it.
‘Jo Bloom’s gripping book revealed a darker side of sixties London and the staggering contribution the Jewish community made in the battle against racism. I am thrilled to be working with Red and the BBC to bring this little-known slice of British history to the screen.’
‘Sarah’s brilliant scripts tell a unique story of doomed love and undercover espionage against a backdrop of a fascist uprising in 1960s London,’ added BBC’s Controller of Drama Piers Wenger, who commissioned the adaptation with BBC’s Director of Content Charlotte Moore.
‘This story couldn’t feel more timely [sic] and we are hugely indebted Sarah for bringing this story to life in her own style.’
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