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BritBox announces cast for six-part drama “The Cadburys,” set in 1860s Birmingham
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jul 7, 11:19 AM EDT

BritBox announces cast for six-part drama “The Cadburys,” set in 1860s Birmingham

Harry Gilby, Toby Regbo, Jessica Barden and other performers will star in the Birmingham-shot series, previously titled “Chocolate Wars,” inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book about the family behind the confectioner’s rise.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

BritBox has confirmed the lead cast for its upcoming six-part drama “The Cadburys,” a period series set in 1860s Birmingham that follows the Cadbury family’s efforts to build what would become a world-famous chocolate business. The program, which was previously announced under the working title “Chocolate Wars,” is inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book “Chocolate Wars.”

The series will star Harry Gilby (“Boarders”) as George Cadbury and Toby Regbo (“Outrageous”) as Richard Cadbury. Jessica Barden (“Dune: Prophecy”) will play Maria Cadbury, while Pearce Quigley (“The Gentlemen”) is cast as John Cadbury and Ben Hardy (“The Conjuring: Last Rites”) will portray Francis Fry.

BritBox’s announcement also includes Joanna Scanlan (“Riot Women”) as Elizabeth Adlington and Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth Adlington’s role counterpart. Freddie Highmore, known for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” is listed as an executive producer, and production is underway in Birmingham.

According to the release, the story is framed as a warm-hearted family drama that depicts the Cadburys as “underdogs” in the cocoa world, when chocolate as modern audiences recognize it did not yet exist. In the series, two brothers, George and Richard, face a failing cocoa business while trying to transform Cadbury’s into a top confectionery brand through innovation and cooperation.

The cast selections place a focus on family and succession, with the synopsis describing how their sister Maria must navigate her place in both the family and the business. The program’s relationship arc also centers on her decision-making as she falls in love with Cadbury’s biggest rival, Francis Fry, which in turn forces a reckoning with loyalties inside the family enterprise.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that the production has moved into Birmingham, aligning with the show’s historical setting. Earlier reporting from Deadline said the scripted series “Chocolate Wars” is backed by BritBox together with UKTV and Sony Pictures Television, placing the project within the larger UK streaming and scripted-drama slate of the involved companies.

BritBox has not, in the coverage reviewed here, announced a premiere date for “The Cadburys.”

As filming proceeds, the confirmed lineup suggests the series will assemble a mix of UK-based period-drama talent and internationally recognized performers, with Birmingham serving as a primary production location for the 19th-century business story.

Why It Matters

  • The cast confirmation and reported start of production in Birmingham point to an early timeline for development of a UK-set period drama centered on a major British confectionery business.
  • A story tied to Deborah Cadbury’s book may draw audience attention to how family-run enterprises and business rivalry are depicted in mainstream streaming dramas.
  • The involvement of multiple UK and international production partners, including BritBox, UKTV, and Sony Pictures Television, indicates the project’s investment level and its place in the broader scripted streaming pipeline.
  • With filming now underway, local production in Birmingham could affect jobs and resources for UK film and television crews during a specific phase of the project.

Sources

Key Facts

  • BritBox has announced the lead cast for its six-part drama “The Cadburys,” previously announced under the working title “Chocolate Wars.”
  • The series is inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book “Chocolate Wars” and is set in 1860s Birmingham.
  • Harry Gilby will play George Cadbury, Toby Regbo will play Richard Cadbury, and Jessica Barden will play Maria Cadbury.
  • Additional cast includes Pearce Quigley as John Cadbury, Ben Hardy as Francis Fry, Joanna Scanlan as Elizabeth Adlington, and Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth Adlington.
  • Production is underway in Birmingham, and Freddie Highmore is listed as an executive producer.
  • Deadline previously reported that BritBox, UKTV, and Sony Pictures Television are behind the project under the working title “Chocolate Wars.”