The BBC has provided an update on an upcoming "gripping and surprising" thriller based on a bestselling novel. Filming is now underway on Wahala, adapted from Nikki May's debut novel of the same name. The series stars Adelayo Adedayo, Deborah Ayorinde, Cush Jumbo, Susan Wokoma, and Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji.
Plot and Comparisons
The thriller follows a group of friends and has drawn comparisons to shows like Big Little Lies and Sex and the City. The six-part series interweaves the lives of four Nigerian-British women in their thirties as they navigate love and careers in London, while also confronting danger and mystery in their childhood homes.
"When dark secrets and even darker pasts threaten to shatter the lives of the women, they and their friendships are pushed to their limit," the synopsis teases. Wahala centers on best friends Simi, Boo, and Ronke, whose world is disrupted by Isobel (Deborah Ayorinde), a charismatic and super-wealthy new acquaintance. "Trouble follows closely behind," the synopsis continues. "Tensions rise, loyalties fracture, and long-buried truths surface, triggering a chain of events with shocking and tragic consequences."
Cast Reactions
Cush Jumbo, known for The Good Wife and The Good Fight, expressed her excitement: "I am very excited to be part of this show and to bring this fantastic story to the screen." Adelayo Adedayo, whose credits include Some Girls, Timewasters, and The Responder, predicted it would be "a thrilling ride." Genevieve Nnaji added: "I'm very happy to be joining Wahala and to be working with such a brilliant team. It's an intriguing story, and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Production Details
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, praised the adaptation: "Theresa's scripts for Wahala are an absolute joy - riveting, full of rich and complex characters, and everything you'd want from Nikki May's exquisite book brought vividly to life on screen. It's no surprise that it's attracted a cast of this magnificent calibre." The drama has been adapted by BAFTA-nominated writer Theresa Ikoko and produced by Firebird Pictures, part of BBC Studios, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Wahala is set to air on the BBC.
