Slow Horses and EastEnders favourites star in first-look images for new "feel-good" chocolate empire drama

A set of first-look images have been released for The Cadburys, the six-part drama which is coming to U in 2027, and stars Ben Hardy (EastEnders) and Joanna Scanlan (Slow Horses), amongst others.

The series, which will tell the story of the Cadbury family in 1860s Birmingham, also stars Toby Regbo, Harry Gilby, Jessica Barden, Pearce Quigley, Poppy Gilbert and Mathew Baynton, who are seen in the images.

The synopsis for the series, which was announced until the working title of Chocolate Wars, says: "In 1860s Birmingham, when chocolate as we know it doesn’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."

The synopsis continues: "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.

"Infused with historical delights and magical invention, The Cadburys is about how we build, break and rebuild the bonds of family - and how the sweetest things in life are rarely simple."

Filming on the series recently concluded in Birmingham, and the images will also be unveiled by Mayor Richard Parker on 8 October, as part of the West Midlands Growth Summit.

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Helen Perry, head of drama commissioning at UKTV, said in a statement: "We're excited to reveal the first-look images from The Cadburys, a brilliant new feel-good drama inspired by one of Birmingham's most iconic stories.

"The series showcases the exceptional creative talent, locations and production expertise found across the West Midlands, while bringing a story with deep roots in the region to audiences across the UK and beyond. We're proud to be working with our partners to bring this major new drama to screen and champion the West Midlands as a centre for world-class television production."

The Cadburys will air next year on U.

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.