The family behind one of the world’s best-known chocolate brands is getting its own television drama. Set in 1860s Birmingham, The Cadburys will explore the ambition, family tensions, romance and inventive spirit that helped shape the Cadbury chocolate business, bringing a fascinating chapter of British history to the screen with a touch of old-fashioned charm.

Formerly announced under the title Chocolate Wars, the six-part series is a new U&Original production written by Chloë Mi Lin Ewart, whose previous credits include Curfew, All Creatures Great and Small and Beyond Paradise.

Described as a warm and charming family drama, the series promises to combine historical storytelling with the personal struggles behind a famous confectionery empire. Executive producer Jess O’Riordan said the production would bring the Cadbury family’s true story to life with warmth, depth and imagination.

Filming has taken place in Birmingham, the city where the Cadbury story began, and U&Drama has unveiled a collection of first-look images offering a glimpse of the characters, relationships and rivalries at the heart of the series.

Here’s everything you need to know about The Cadburys, from its storyline and cast to its filming locations and expected release date.

What is The Cadburys about?

Set in 1860s Birmingham, The Cadburys follows a family business struggling to survive at a time when chocolate as we know it today has yet to be invented. The Cadbury brothers are ambitious outsiders in the cocoa trade, but they have ideas that could transform their struggling enterprise into one of the world’s most beloved confectionery businesses.

At the centre of the story are brothers Richard and George Cadbury, two very different men who suddenly find themselves responsible for their family’s failing cocoa business. Both possess the ambition and creativity needed to change its fortunes, but turning their vision into reality will require them to put aside their differences and learn to work together.

The official synopsis reads:

“In 1860s Birmingham, when chocolate as we know it doesn’t yet exist, two very different brothers find themselves in charge of their family’s failing cocoa business. Between them, Richard and George Cadbury have the radical genius and burning ambition to turn Cadbury’s into one of the world’s most beloved confectioners. But first, they must learn to trust and rely on each other.”

Their professional ambitions are only part of the story. Family disagreements threaten to complicate their plans, making cooperation essential if they are to succeed.

Their sister Maria also faces a difficult personal dilemma. As she finds her place within the family and its business, she falls in love with a man connected to Cadbury’s biggest rival. Her romance forces her to confront a difficult question: should she follow her heart or remain loyal to her family?

With its mix of family relationships, business rivalries, romantic entanglements and historical ambition, The Cadburys looks set to appeal to viewers who enjoy period dramas such as The Hardacres and The Forsytes.

How many episodes will The Cadburys have?

The series will consist of six episodes, each running for 60 minutes, giving viewers six hours to follow the Cadbury family’s journey.

U&Drama has yet to confirm whether all six episodes will be released together as a box set or broadcast weekly. Further details about the release schedule have not been announced.

When will The Cadburys be released?

The Cadburys is a new U&Original commission scheduled to arrive in 2027.

Viewers will be able to watch the series on U, the free streaming service, as well as on the free-to-air television channel U&Drama.

Although an exact premiere date has not yet been confirmed, the first-look images have already offered an early glimpse of the production’s period setting, central characters and unfolding relationships.

Who stars in The Cadburys?

The drama brings together a strong ensemble cast, with Toby Regbo, Harry Gilby and Jessica Barden leading the story as three members of the Cadbury family.

Harry Gilby, known for The Last Kingdom, plays George Cadbury, while Toby Regbo, who appeared in A Woman of Substance, takes on the role of his brother Richard. Jessica Barden, best known for The End of the F**ing World*, portrays their sister Maria.

Pearce Quigley, whose credits include Small Prophets, plays John Cadbury. Ben Hardy, formerly of EastEnders, joins the cast as Francis Fry, the man whose relationship with Maria threatens to complicate family loyalties.

The wider cast features several familiar faces from British television, including Joanna Scanlan as Dorothy Adlington and Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth Adlington. Scanlan is known for Riot Women, while Gilbert has appeared in The Other Bennett Sister.

Other established actors joining the production include:

• Felicity Montagu (Beyond Paradise) as Mary Brown.
• Mathew Baynton (Ghosts) as Joseph Rowntree.
• Adam Hashmi (Bridgerton) as William Singh.
• Oli Green (Lift) as Howard Lloyd.
• Alexander Butler (Piglet) as Frank Sheldon.

The series also introduces three newcomers to the story: Leah Swain-Heath as Mabel Froggatt, Maisie Britton as Aoife Jinkins and Emma Montrochet as Winnie Smith.

With its combination of established performers and emerging talent, the cast brings together a broad range of experience to portray the people surrounding the Cadbury family and its business.

Where was The Cadburys filmed?

Birmingham provides the historical setting for the drama, and filming for the series has recently concluded in the city.

The location is particularly fitting given the Cadbury family’s deep roots in Birmingham. John Cadbury founded the business in 1824, opening his original shop on Bull Street, where he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate.

As the business expanded, production eventually moved to a purpose-built factory at Bournville in 1879. Located south of Birmingham, Bournville developed into a model village alongside the factory and became closely associated with the Cadbury name.

The site remains a major manufacturing location for Cadbury today, making Birmingham an essential part of the company’s history.

By returning to the city where the family business began, The Cadburys brings a significant piece of the region’s industrial heritage to television. The production also highlights the creative talent, locations and filming expertise available across the West Midlands.

What have the show’s creators said about the drama?

The people behind The Cadburys have emphasised the series’ combination of historical detail, family relationships and feel-good storytelling.

Helen Perry, head of drama commissioning at UKTV, described the production as a blend of historical family drama and the kind of imaginative charm associated with classic chocolate stories.

She said: “The Cadburys is a delicious concoction of period family saga, blended with true story and a dash of Wonka-esque magic. We know audiences are in for a treat.”

Perry also praised Fable Pictures for bringing the family’s story to life and highlighted Chloë Mi Lin Ewart’s imaginative approach to the material.

Emma Tibbetts, director of scripted programming, shared her enthusiasm for introducing audiences to the family and its journey. She said she was looking forward to viewers being captivated by the story of the cocoa industry’s underdogs.

Fable Pictures also expressed its excitement about bringing the family to the screen, describing the Cadburys as a remarkable group of historical figures whose story deserves to be shared with audiences.

Executive producer Jess O’Riordan echoed that sentiment, describing the series as full of warmth and charm. She explained that the production would explore the Cadbury family’s history with depth and imagination.

These comments suggest that the drama aims to balance the challenges of building a business with the more personal experiences that shaped the family.

First-look images reveal romance, ambition and family rivalries

U&Drama has released a collection of first-look photographs from the upcoming six-part series, offering viewers an early glimpse of life in 1860s Birmingham.

The images introduce the central characters and hint at the different relationships that will drive the story.

One of the key storylines follows George Cadbury’s determination to create the first solid eating cocoa. His ambition reflects the family’s wider struggle to transform a struggling cocoa business into a successful confectionery enterprise.

Romance also features prominently. The photographs offer a glimpse of the developing relationship between Richard Cadbury and Elizabeth Adlington, played by Toby Regbo and Poppy Gilbert.

Meanwhile, Maria Cadbury’s attraction to Francis Fry, portrayed by Jessica Barden and Ben Hardy, points towards another complicated relationship. With Fry connected to the family’s biggest rival, their romance could place Maria in a difficult position between her feelings and her family’s interests.

The first-look images also introduce John Cadbury, Elizabeth’s mother Dorothy Adlington, played by Joanna Scanlan, and Joseph Rowntree, portrayed by Mathew Baynton. Rowntree’s presence brings another inventor into the world of the series.

Together, the photographs offer a preview of the drama’s blend of family ambition, romantic tension and the challenges of innovation during a period of change.

Perry welcomed the release of the images, calling the production a feel-good drama inspired by one of Birmingham’s most iconic stories.

She also highlighted the contribution of the West Midlands’ creative workforce and filming locations, noting the series’ potential to bring a story with strong regional roots to audiences across the UK and beyond.

A true family story with a taste of period drama magic

With its historical setting, interwoven family relationships and ambitious central characters, The Cadburys is shaping up to be an intriguing addition to U&Drama’s period drama offering.

The series explores the early challenges faced by the Cadbury family, focusing on the people behind a business that would become internationally recognised. Its central themes of ambition, loyalty, rivalry and romance provide plenty of scope for personal drama alongside the story of confectionery innovation.

Written by Chloë Mi Lin Ewart and brought to the screen by Fable Pictures, the production draws inspiration from the Cadbury family’s real history. The series is also inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book Chocolate Wars, which provides the historical foundation for the drama.

For viewers who enjoy character-driven historical stories, the combination of a familiar British name, a Victorian-era setting and a large ensemble cast offers plenty to look forward to.

The Cadburys will premiere on U in 2027 and will also be available on U&Drama. An exact release date and the episode release schedule have yet to be announced.