A new historical drama telling the story of the Cadbury family has officially started production.
Filming for The Cadburys is underway in Birmingham for the U&Original series, which is inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book, Chocolate Wars.
The series will show the family as building their business from the 1800s, including the production of their iconic Dairy Milk chocolate bar we know and love.
Fans can expect to see brothers Richard and George make their way in the confectionery world despite being underdogs with an unsuccessful business in the 1860s.
Among the cast for the new drama are the likes of former EastEnders star Ben Hardy, The Last Kingdom's Harry Gilby, and Slow Horses star Joanna Scanlan.
Full cast list for The Cadburys
If you're wondering who will star in the drama series, look no further, as the Radio Times has shared the cast list:
- Harry Gilby as George
- Toby Regbo as Richard
- Jessica Barden as Maria
- Pearce Quigley as John
- Ben Hardy as Francis Fry
- Mathew Baynton as Joseph Rowntree
- Joanna Scanlan as Dorothy Adlington
- Poppy Gilbert as Elizabeth Adlington
- Felicity Montagu as Mary Brown
- Adam Hashmi as William Singh
- Oli Green as Howard Lloyd
- Alexander Butler as Frank Sheldon
What is the story of the Cadbury family?
John Cadbury opened a grocer's shop in 1824 in Birmingham, where he sold groceries as well as cocoa and drinking chocolate.
The drinking chocolate was prepared by John in a mortar and pestle and "became very popular", Cadbury explains.
Discontinued UK sweets/chocolates
Due to its success, John bought a warehouse and started manufacturing in 1831, and his sons, George and Richard, helped him.
The family team moved to a bigger factory in 1847, and John retired in 1861 due to illness, with his sons taking over the business.
Cadbury added: "Business was tough, and George was heard saying, “If the business ever makes a profit of a thousand pounds a year, I’d retire a happy man”."
But there was a "turning point" when the brothers started processing cocoa differently, and in 1879, the pair started building another factory in Bourn, which they called Bournville, as they added 'ville', the French term for 'town', to the end of it.
Sharing the company's role in the two world wars, Cadbury explained: "During the First World War, the firm's milk supply was diverted to the people of Birmingham, factories were used to make dried veg and fruit pulp, and buildings were turned into hospitals.
"When World War II broke out, the Bournville factory turned to making gun doors for Spitfires, cases for aeroplane flares, aircraft parts, gas masks and jerrycans."
You can find out more about the history of the family and the confectionery giant via the Cadbury website (linked above).
The Cadburys will be a six-part drama series and is expected to be available to watch in 2027 on free-streaming service U, more than 200 years since the Cadbury family started selling cocoa and drinking chocolate.
Will you be watching The Cadburys when it's released? Tell us in the comments below.
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