The Deception Crumbles on “Ridley Road”

• Christina Zeiders
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Christina Zeiders is the Communications Specialist at WITF. She helps get the word out about all of WITF's programs, events and community conversations.

Vivien’s deception begins to crumble as she races to secure incriminating evidence against neo-Nazi leader Colin. Meanwhile, Jack faces mortal danger in the final installment of MASTERPIECE’s riveting four-part drama, Ridley Road.

Watch it all unfold Sunday, May 22 at 9pm on WITF TV, through the PBS Video app, or online. Episodes are available to stream on-demand for free for 2 weeks following their air date.

Inspired by true events, Ridley Road stars Agnes O’Casey as Vivien Epstein, a young Jewish hairdresser who fits right into London’s mod scene and secretly infiltrates the British neo-Nazi hierarchy on behalf of the Jewish anti-fascist 62 Group, which fought the resurgence of fascism in 1960s London.

MASTERPIECE | Read: The Cast & Characters of Ridley Road

O’Casey is joined by Rory Kinnear (No Time to Die) as Colin Jordan, the leader of Britain’s neo-Nazi movement; Tom Varey (Game of Thrones) as Jack, Vivien’s true love who mysteriously went missing at the start of the series; Eddie Marsan (Little Dorrit) as Vivien’s cagey uncle Soly, an operative for the 62 Group; and Tracey-Ann Oberman (After Life) as Soly’s wife, Nancy.

“Britain’s relationship with fascism is closer and more alive than we like to think. Luckily, so is our history of fighting it. Honoured to bring this urgent, relevant story to the screen for MASTERPIECE PBS,” says the drama’s Creator, Executive Producer, and Screenwriter Sarah Solemani.

As the series unfolded, Vivien found herself swept up in the anti-fascist movement as she tried to track down Jack in London. She changed her look, her name, and her personality to become an apparent Nazi and admirer of the movement’s charismatic leader, Colin.

MASTERPIECE | Read: History and Images: Episode 3

She ends up being more successful than anyone thought possible, which pulls her deeper and deeper into the dark undercurrent of neo-Nazism.

Though London is famous for launching a worldwide, youth-centered cultural revolution, the concurrent rise of extreme nationalist politics is largely forgotten.

Watch Ridley Road on WITF TV Sunday, May 22 at 9pm, or stream it through the PBS Video app and at video.witf.org. Episodes are available for free, on-demand streaming for 2 weeks after their television premiere.