Locations

In the BBC’s new drama Riot Women, a local community becomes the centrepiece of a musical revolution, thanks to five women who form a punk rock band.

Tired of living as “women of a certain age,” and driven by a bubbling mix of rage and disdain born from their simultaneously manic and mundane lives, the band becomes a life raft for everyone involved — giving them a renewed sense of self they haven’t felt in years.

But not everyone is on board. Loved ones and fellow locals are divided, with some baffled and others firmly opposed to their new hobby — and their unexpected lifeline.

“It’s very personal for me this,” creator, writer and lead director Sally Wainwright told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. “It’s a lot about what I was going through at what [actress] Tamsin [Greig] very eloquently called \the middle squeeze.”

She added: “It’s just about midlife – menopause is just an aspect of that – and I wanted to find a way of writing about this part of your life in a way that was uplifting and engaging and interesting.

“It’s about women who find something very creative and very engaging to do together and how it changes their lives.”

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Wainwright echoed those thoughts in a first-person piece for Vogue.

“The show celebrates women who deal with life’s slings and arrows, and who’ve found a way to get through by writing and performing songs that leave you in no doubt about how they feel,” she wrote.

“Punk is rebellion. Anger. Taking the p*ss. That’s what these women realise they can do, having started the band for a laugh to enter a local talent contest to raise money for charity – and through rehearsing an ABBA song badly, they start to find a voice.”

As is often the case with many of Wainwright’s dramas, the setting plays a key role in establishing the feel and tone of the piece.

Here’s everything you need to know about where Riot Women was filmed.

Where was Riot Women filmed? All the major locations

Hebden Bridge

Riot Women is set and filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire — the same town that inspired Sally Wainwright’s acclaimed series Happy Valley.

The area has also served as the backdrop for Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack and Last Tango in Halifax. Speaking on her decision to return, Wainwright said:

“It’s a story that could really be set anywhere, to be honest, but I like writing in my own vernacular because I think it brings more comedy. You can’t beat the landscape in Hebden Bridge.

“Riot Women is even more Hebden-centric than Happy Valley was, as we filmed extensively around the town. It looks gorgeous on camera, and you get a strong sense of place — which is vital in making a TV show feel authentic.

“It has a very particular atmosphere, and that comes from being rooted in a specific part of the world.”

Lorraine Ashbourne, who plays pub landlady Jess, said that she “fell in love with Hebden Bridge.”

“It’s idyllic and Sally choosing to set her story in this beautiful, thriving little corner of the world where all this drama plays out, is very clever,” she added.

“Riot Women looks at the importance of companionship and the joy of friendship. It’s about being given a second chance and fulfilling dreams. It’s a unique angle on female empowerment. It’s a celebration!”

Duke of Wellington Pub

The Duke of Wellington plays a key role throughout the series. Home to Jess, it hosts many important scenes and becomes the band’s rehearsal space.

In reality, the pub is The Albert — or “The Famous Albert” — located in the heart of Hebden Bridge. Known for its triangular shape, it has become a local landmark.

Calderdale Royal Hospital

In episode five, more than one of the Riot Women finds themselves in need of A&E, with much of the episode filmed inside Calderdale Royal Hospital.

Talent Show Hall

The band’s journey begins with a local talent show, and a simple ABBA cover becomes their rallying point. The competition is a big moment for the group.

Filming took place at St Michael’s Church Hall in Mytholmroyd.

Riot Women airs Sunday 12th October at 9pm on BBC One, with all episodes available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am.

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