The BBC's latest six-part drama, Wild Cherry, has been met with a wave of criticism from viewers who have taken to social media to brand the show 'utter rubbish' and accuse it of being a poor imitation of popular US series.
Social Media Backlash
Unveiled earlier this month, the series from BAFTA winner Nicôle Lecky explores complex mother-daughter relationships set against the backdrop of the modern social media world. Its central premise involves two schoolgirls and their parents being torn apart by a devastating scandal. However, the show has failed to impress a significant portion of its audience.
Platform X became a sounding board for discontent. One viewer stated bluntly, 'Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And my opinion is that #WildCherry is dreadful.' Another simply fumed, 'What utter rubbish,' while a third questioned the use of public funds, asking, 'Did our license fee money pay for this load of crap?'
Criticism also extended to the show's pacing, with one viewer noting they had reached episode three and felt the narrative was 'just meandering along. Like nothing is actually happening.' They added, 'Feels like it could have been done in one episode.'
Comparisons to US Dramas
A particularly pointed critique came from a viewer who drew direct parallels between Wild Cherry and the hit American teen drama, Pretty Little Liars. They remarked, 'Here's me thinking great, a new drama series, only to find it's more copy cat USA theme crap! Rich, brain dead, spoilt young girls, with parents worse than them. Poor remake of Pretty Little Liars.'
For context, Pretty Little Liars, which aired from 2010 to 2017, followed a group of teenage girls relentlessly harassed by an anonymous figure known as 'A', who threatened to expose their deepest secrets.
The new BBC show also highlights similar themes to the Netflix thriller Adolescence, created by actor Stephen Graham. That series, which starred Owen Cooper as 13-year-old Jamie Miller, centred on a boy accused of murdering a schoolgirl. Adolescence proved a major hit for Netflix, securing 24.3 million views in its first four days, with a source suggesting its future was secure as a format that 'could run and run'.
Creative Team and Cast
Despite the negative reception, Wild Cherry boasts a credible creative team. The show was created by and stars Nicôle Lecky, who also plays the role of Gigi. Lecky previously won a BAFTA for her 2022 musical drama Mood. The cast also features prominent actors such as Carmen Ejogo and Sophie Winkleman in key roles.
Wild Cherry is currently available to stream exclusively on BBC iPlayer.
