The BBC and Firebird Pictures (Wilderness, The Jetty, Outrageous) have announced lead casting for Wild Cherry, Nicôle Lecky’s highly anticipated second drama for the BBC, following the success of the BAFTA-winning Mood.

The original new drama will be led by Eve Best (House of the Dragon, The King’s Speech), Carmen Ejogo (True Detective, The Penguin), Imogen Faires (Goldie’s Oldies, Marcella) and newcomer Amelia May. Also joining the cast are Sophie Winkleman (Peep Show, Sanditon) and Nicôle Lecky (Mood, Sweetpea), who also serves as an executive producer.

Meet Lorna (Carmen Ejogo), a self-made, successful black businesswoman from South London who has worked hard to be where she is – and best friend Juliet (Eve Best), a woman born into the privileged gated community they both call home. Daughters Grace (Imogen Faires) and Allegra (Amelia May) are BFFs and live a life other teenagers can only dream of. A safe haven for the super-rich and their little darlings, Richford Estate is a place where bad things never happen…

BBC

After nearly two months of digging for official information about this (thanks to Andrea and Meg for the October tip off), we have our first photo of Eve as Carole Middleton in the Crown Season 6, Part B.

The Crown returns to Netflix for its final 6 episodes on December 14th.

Maryland has been moved up to a 22 May release date on ITV1, it will air over 3 nights, and will release on ITVX in its entirety on 22 May.

You can find the HQ promotional stills and episode stills for the series by clicking on the photo links below:

It’s been announced that the upcoming ITVx original Maryland, starring Eve Best, Suranne Jones and Stockard Channing is set to debut this May.

Update: As of May 2, the date for Maryland’s premiere was moved to 22nd May on ITVX and ITV.

Mark Doyle/Splash News

Kicking off filming in Wicklow, Ireland, the three-part family drama is both created by and stars Suranne – and will follow two sisters (Jones and Best) who have grown apart over the years, but through tragic events learn to love and respect one another all over again. Maryland focuses upon the relationship between the sisters, who have been driven apart by complex family dynamics, becoming estranged and wrapped up in their own lives.

From ITV:

In Maryland, Anne-Marie introduces us to the characters of Becca and her sister, Rosaline, who have forged ahead with family lives and careers, growing distant through time and circumstance. But when the body of an older woman is discovered at sunrise on Laxey Beach in the Isle of Man, it brings devastating news for the sisters.

Each sister flies out to the Isle of Man to discover and repatriate the body of their mother, Mary, who they learn has been living a double life, leaving their father Richard at home in Manchester, whilst creating another world for herself….. Maryland.

Confined on the island with each other, the sisters can’t escape the ripple effect of their mother’s secrets and lies.

ITV Studios will be responsible for the international distribution of the drama.

ITV