First look at The Cadburys, filmed in Birmingham

The first pictures have been released from The Cadburys, a new six-part drama about the family behind one of Birmingham's most famous names, which has just finished filming in the city.

Set in 1860s Birmingham, the series follows two very different brothers, Richard and George Cadbury, who find themselves in charge of their family's failing cocoa business.

The cast

Toby Regbo plays Richard Cadbury and Harry Gilby plays George. Pearce Quigley plays their father, John, and Jessica Barden plays Maria Cadbury. Poppy Gilbert plays Elizabeth Adlington, and Joanna Scanlan plays Dorothy Adlington.

The images give a glimpse of George's obsession with creating the first solid eating chocolate, and of a romance between Richard and Elizabeth.

"A brilliant new feel-good drama"

The series was commissioned by Helen Perry, head of drama commissioning at UKTV, and will be released on the free streaming service U in 2027.

"We're excited to reveal the first-look images from The Cadburys, a brilliant new feel-good drama inspired by one of Birmingham's most iconic stories," she said.

"The series showcases the exceptional creative talent, locations and production expertise found across the region, while bringing a story with deep roots here to audiences across the UK and beyond."

The mayor, Richard Parker, unveiled the images at a growth summit and had visited the set during filming. The production has been held up as a sign of the region's ambition to grow its film and television industry.

The real story

John Cadbury opened a shop on Bull Street in 1824, selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate, and later began making cocoa products. His sons Richard and George took over the business in 1861, when it was struggling.

The brothers turned it around. In 1879 they moved production out of the crowded town centre to a greenfield site south of the city, which became Bournville. There, George Cadbury built a model village for workers, with good-quality homes, gardens, parks and sports grounds, reflecting the family's Quaker beliefs.

Bournville is still home to the Cadbury factory, now owned by Mondelez, and to Cadbury World, one of the region's most popular visitor attractions. The Bournville Village Trust, set up by George Cadbury in 1900, still manages much of the estate.

Birmingham on screen

Birmingham has become an increasingly popular location for film and television. Steven Knight's Peaky Blinders put the city's history on screens around the world, and his Digbeth Loc Studios are now a base for productions. Several major dramas have filmed in the city in recent years, drawn by its Victorian streets, canals and industrial buildings.

The Cadburys will add another chapter to that story when it reaches viewers next year.