Newly released photos offer a sneak peek at the upcoming period drama 'The Cadburys', a six-part series set to premiere on U in 2027. The show unfolds in 1860s Birmingham and focuses on the family behind the renowned confectionery brand.
Cast and Characters
One of the snapshots features actor Ben Hardy, known for his role as Peter Beale in EastEnders in 2013, portraying Francis Fry. Francis, a competitor to the Cadbury enterprise, is depicted donning a black coat and a bowler hat, hand tucked into his pocket, exuding an air of mystery. Another photo captures him outside a shop, engaged in a serious exchange with another man who appears to be handing him something.
Ben is among a host of well-known names announced for the new programme's cast, which also includes Harry Gilby from The Last Kingdom, Toby Regbo from A Woman of Substance, and Jessica Barden from Dune: Prophecy. Audiences can also look forward to appearances from Pearce Quigley of The Gentlemen, Joanna Scanlan from Missed Call, and Poppy Gilbert from The Other Bennett Sisters. Joining the cast are other notable actors including Felicity Montagu from Beyond Paradise, Adam Hashmi from Bridgerton, and Mathew Baynton from Ghosts.
Plot and Setting
The show's synopsis reads: 'The Cadburys is a warm-hearted family drama following the visionary Cadbury family, the underdogs of the cocoa world, on their journey towards creating the world-famous Cadbury's chocolate bar.'
'In the 1860s, Birmingham, when chocolate as we know it didn't yet exist, two very different brothers, Richard (Regbo) and George Cadbury (Gilby), find themselves in charge of their family's failing cocoa business. Together, they have the radical genius and burning ambition to turn Cadbury into one of the world's most beloved confectioners – if they can only learn to trust and rely on each other.'
'Their sister Maria (Barden) is navigating her own role within the family and the business, but things become even more complicated when she falls in love with Cadbury's biggest rival, Francis Fry (Hardy) and is forced to question where her true loyalties really lie.'
Production and Inspiration
The series is a UKTV commission in collaboration with BritBox and Sony Pictures Television and is produced by Fable Pictures. It draws inspiration from Deborah Cadbury's book, Chocolate Wars. The Cadburys has started production in Birmingham and will stream on U in 2027.
