Riches "a glossy, high-stakes family drama", written and directed by Abby Ajayi will be coming to ITV1 this summer.
The six-part series — which some have already compared to HBO's hit series Succession — originally premiered on ITVX and Prime Video in December 2022, but will now be coming to prime time TV.
Focusing on the exploits of the brash, super-successful, and wealthy Richards clan, the series follows the struggle for control of the family's business empire in the wake of their father's death.
"Brash, glamorous, American series like Dynasty and Dallas have always held a special place in my heart," says Abby Ajayi. "I’ve long been fascinated by shows about family businesses and how the tensions, flowing from boardroom to sitting room, fray and jeopardise relationships.
"Burt Reynolds once said, 'You can be poor and unhappy or you can be rich and unhappy, I’d rather be rich and unhappy.' Rich, unhappy people make for great television and in creating Riches, I set out to tell a story about a successful, black, British family who prove that money can buy all sorts of things but happiness isn’t always on the table."
Here's everything we know about Riches.
Riches release date — when's it on TV?
Riches will premiere on ITV1 at 9pm on Friday 30 June, with a new episode of the six-part series broadcast every Friday.
The show originally premiered on streaming services, ITVX and Prime Video, in December 2022, and is available as a box set online.
Riches plot — what happens?
An ITV synopsis reads...
"A smart businessman, with an undeniably ruthless streak, Stephen Richards is one of the UK’s most successful Black businessmen.
He’s built his renowned business empire, Flair & Glory, through hard work and his entrepreneurial skills, making it the market leader in black hair and beauty. But, his rise to the top hasn’t been easy.
After 20 years of success, he’s at the helm of a multi-million pound cosmetics empire and is reaping the rewards of his ambitions. He's a great advocate for black-owned business; powerful, driven and impassioned, and with a glamourous, second wife, Claudia (Sarah Niles), life is never dull. Along with their adult children, Alesha (Adeyinka Akinrinade), Gus (Ola Orebiyi) and Wanda (Nneka Okoye) they love spending their hard-earned cash and enjoying the good life.
Whilst in New York, Nina (Deborah Ayorinde), and Simon (Emmanuel Imani), his estranged children from his first marriage, have established themselves as business people in their own right, each successful in their own field.
When Stephen suffers a stroke, the family’s world comes crashing down. As his life hangs in the balance, his different sets of children are about to collide. With secrets and lies rising to the surface and the Richards empire at stake, it's going to be a complicated family reunion."
Riches cast — who's in it?
Deborah Ayorinde (Them, Truth Be Told) stars as Nina, the estranged daughter of self-made millionaire Stephen Richards played by Hugh Quarshie (Stephen, The Murder of Stephen Lawrence).
Sarah Niles (Ted Lasso, I May Destroy You) plays Stephen’s second wife, Claudia, and Brendan Coyle who famously played Bates in Downton Abbey is Stephen’s trusted advisor and confidante, Gideon.
"Gideon is the family lawyer, he’s the executor of Stephen’s will," explains Brendan. "He's a high-flying financial wiz. It is implied that he was Stephen’s right-hand man. He was a very loyal general for the financial building up of this empire. He appears ostensibly to be loyal, to be supporting Stephen and Simon and the inheritance of the company. He is seemingly carrying out Stephen’s wishes but there’s something murky going on."
Meanwhile, Hermione Norris (Cold Feet, Luther) will play Stephen’s long-standing and faithful PA, Maureen Dawson.
"Maureen is quite the enigmatic, incredibly discreet," says Hermione. "She is the all-seeing eye. She is the height of discretion. She is the ever-present person of Flair & Glory. She knows everything that has gone on in the company since its beginning. She just knows everything that is going on everywhere.
The cast is completed by Adeyinka Akinrinade (Top Boy, Temple), Ola Orebiyi (Cherry, A Brixton Tale), CJ Beckford (Sitting in Limbo, The Trial of Christine Keeler), Nneka Okoye (Grantchester, The A List) and Emmanuel Imani (Cobra, Black Earth Rising).
Meanwhile, supermodel Jourdan Dunn will appear in her first acting role as Diva. "Diva is fun-loving and harmless," says Jourdan. "However when her integrity is being questioned she will let everyone know what time it is!"
Who is Riches writer Abby Ajayi?
The Riches creator started her screenwriting career by penning episodes for shows like EastEnders, Casualty, and Hollyoaks, but in recent years has written for acclaimed US legal show How To Get Away With Murder and Hulu series Four Weddings and a Funeral. Here's what she has to say about her new project...
"Riches is a love letter to Black London and it has been thrilling to create the Richards' family and celebrate their opulence, their ambition, and their immigrant grit. Our talented ensemble of actors are a joy and I’m excited to be partnering with Amazon and ITV, working alongside the powerhouses of Greenacre Films and Monumental Television to bring this show to the screen.”
Head of Drama at ITV, Polly Hill, adds...
“Abby’s scripts are brilliant, full of family feuds in a world of privilege and power that surprise and entertain. We are delighted with the brilliant cast we have, and can’t wait to see them bring Abby’s characters to life. It promises to be a real treat for the ITV audience next year.”
Is there a trailer for Riches?
There sure is, check it out below...
