BBC’s ‘Wahala’ Introduces Its Talented Cast Featuring Cush Jumbo
Cush Jumbo, Adelayo Adedayo, Deborah Ayorinde, and Susan Wokoma headline the cast of Wahala, a BBC adaptation of Nikki May’s novel, directed by Theresa Ikoko, known for her work on the film Rocks.
The series follows the lives of four Nigerian-British women in their thirties as they navigate careers, love, and family dynamics in contemporary London. Adedayo, Jumbo, and Wokoma portray Simi, Boo, and Ronke, lifelong friends whose stable lives are upended by the arrival of Isobel, a charismatic and wealthy newcomer played by Ayorinde.
Joining the main cast is esteemed Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji. Ikoko, who co-wrote Rocks, received a BAFTA nomination for her work. She also contributed to the HBO and Channel 4 series Get Millie Black, which was nominated for a BAFTA.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, praised the scripts, stating, “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.”
Wahala is executive produced by Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC, alongside Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Craig Holleworth for Firebird Pictures, with Ikoko also serving in this capacity. The series will be directed by Leonora Lonsdale, Ikoko, and Remi Weekes, with Ado Yoshizaki Cassuto as producer. BBC Studios will manage global sales for the series.
