New images have been released for the upcoming six-part period drama The Cadburys, set in 1860s Birmingham and focusing on the family behind the world-famous confectionery brand. The series, commissioned by UKTV and set to air on U&Original in 2027, features a star-studded cast including former EastEnders actor Ben Hardy.
Ben Hardy Takes on Role of Francis Fry
Ben Hardy, who played Peter Beale in EastEnders in 2013, portrays Francis Fry, the rival to the Cadbury business. In the released images, Hardy is seen wearing a black coat and bowler hat, his hand in his pocket, looking suspicious. Another image shows him outside a shop, exchanging something with another man, both wearing serious expressions.
Cast and Characters
The cast also includes Harry Gilby (The Last Kingdom) as George Cadbury, Toby Regbo (A Woman of Substance) as Richard Cadbury, and Jessica Barden (Dune: Prophecy) as Maria Cadbury. Other notable actors are Pearce Quigley (The Gentlemen), Joanna Scanlan (Missed Call), and Poppy Gilbert (The Other Bennett Sisters). Further cast members include Felicity Montagu (Beyond Paradise), Adam Hashmi (Bridgerton), and Mathew Baynton (Ghosts).
Plot Synopsis
The official synopsis describes the series as a "warm-hearted family drama following the visionary Cadbury family, the underdogs of the cocoa world, on their journey towards creating the world-famous Cadbury's chocolate bar." Set in the 1860s when chocolate as we know it didn't exist, two very different brothers, Richard and George Cadbury, find themselves in charge of their family's failing cocoa business. Together, they have the radical genius and burning ambition to turn Cadbury into one of the world's most beloved confectioners—if they can learn to trust and rely on each other. Their sister Maria navigates her own role within the family and business, but things become complicated when she falls in love with Cadbury's biggest rival, Francis Fry, forcing her to question where her true loyalties lie.
Production and Inspiration
The series is a UKTV commission with BritBox and Sony Pictures Television, produced by Fable Pictures. It is inspired by Deborah Cadbury's book Chocolate Wars. The six-part series will stream on U in 2027.
