RIDLEY ROAD
The 1960s story of revoluton that’s timelier — and more needed — than ever
When writer Sarah Solemani first read Jo Bloom’s 1960s-set novel Ridley Road seven years ago, she immediately knew that she wanted to adapt it. “It’s a love letter to London,” Solemani tells Empire. “The thrill of it, what Soho meant back in the day as a space of freedom, of being who you are — a safe haven for people of colour, for Jewish people, for the queer community.”
What she didn’t expect was how much more relevant it would become. It’s based on the real-life 62 Group — a coalition of Jewish individuals who stood up to rising fascism in ’60s London. Now, says Solemani, it is “frighteningly relevant to the modern-day landscape”. The BBC adaptation sees Vivien Epstein (Aggi O’casey) infiltrate NSM — a neo-nazi movement led by Colin Jordan (Rory Kinnear). Working alongside the 62 Group headed by Soly Malinovsky (Eddie Marsan), Epstein plots to bring the group down. Solemani says Vivien is above suspicion because of her gender. “I wanted viewers to see the challenges of being a young woman at that time. She’s seen solely in domestic terms, like she’s just a hairdresser. I wanted her femininity to be part of her secret weaponry. She’s underestimated.” Despite the challenging subject matter, Solemani says there is optimism to be found across the four episodes. “We have this dark history of fascism, but we also have this history of fighting it successfully too. It was important for me to have hope in unexpected areas.” Taking place in a vibrant, forward-looking time, Ridley Road uncovers a true resistance story that could be just what we need.
RIDLEY ROAD AIRS ON BBC ONE LATER THIS YEAR