Deborah Ayorinde and Hugh Quarshie have been set as leads in the cast of Amazon Studio and ITV’s six-part drama series Riches.
Abby Ajayi created and wrote the series that follows the exploits of the brash, super-successful, and wealthy Richards family led by the highly intelligent with an undeniably ruthless streak, Stephen Richards (Quarshie). He is one of the UK’s most successful Black businessmen: Powerful, driven, impassioned, and with a glamourous second wife, Claudia (Sarah Niles), his life is never dull. Along with their adult children, Alesha (Adeyinka Akinrinade), Gus (Ola Orebiyi), and Wanda (Nneka Okoye), they love spending their hard-earned cash and enjoying the good life.
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In New York, Stephen’s estranged children from his first marriage, Nina (Ayorinde) and Simon (Imani), have established themselves as entrepreneurs in their own right, each successful in their own field.
When Stephen suffers a sudden medical emergency, the family’s world comes crashing down. As his life hangs in the balance, his different sets of children are about to collide. With secrets and lies rising to the surface and the Richards empire at stake, it’s going to be a complicated family reunion.
The series also stars Brendan Coyle as Stephen’s trusted advisor and confidante, Gideon. Hermione Norris, as Stephen’s faithful assistant, Maureen Dawson, and C.J. Beckford as Andre.
Ajayi called the drama a “love letter to Black London,” adding that it has been “thrilling to create the Richards family and celebrate their opulence, ambition and immigrant grit.”
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Nadine Marsh-Edwards, Amanda Jenks, Alison Owen and Alison Carpenter are executive producing. Ajayi is also directing alongside Darcia Martin and Sebastian Thiel.
The series is currently in production in London. It will premiere on ITV in the UK, and will be available on Prime Video in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nordics, and Sub-Saharan Africa.