If you’ve had an Olivia Colman-shaped hole in your life since Broadchurch and The Crown, Channel 4 has answered all of our prayers by bringing us her best performance yet in Wicked Little Letters. It's a superb drama in which she stars alongside Jessie Buckley as they go head to head in a full-blown neighbour war – and you don’t have to wait to join in on the action, because you can watch it tonight.
What did hateful people do before they could write nasty comments on the internet? Well, they wrote letters instead. The film takes us to the 1920s and follows the well-to-do Edith Swan (Olivia) who butts heads with the rambunctious Irish immigrant Rose Gooding (Jessie) who lives next door. Their small seaside town falls victim to an anonymous troll when the residents all receive shocking and damning letters. Rose is accused of the crime and charged – but is she really to blame?
With the drama available to stream now, here’s everything you need to know about Wicked Little Letters, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What’s Wicked Little Letters about?
Based on an outrageously true story, Wicked Little Letters, which premiered in 2023, introduces us to a 1920s English seaside town, Littlehampton, where two neighbours are at war: deeply conservative Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy and unapologetic single mother Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). Scandal breaks out when residents start to receive absurd ‘wicked little letters’ filled with profanities, and potty-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime.
The neighbourhood conflict escalates into national uproar and a trial follows. However, the police, led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan), have a hunch that the case isn’t straightforward as it seems and Rose might not be the culprit after all… And so unfolds an utterly hilarious and gripping mystery as Gladys works out who’s the true mastermind behind the abuse.
‘My character Edith really sort of, we think, wanted to be Rose. Rose, back then, was absolutely shocking, but now, modern day, that’s the woman we all want to be,’ Olivia Colman previously told Channel 4 in an interview. ‘We want to be totally open, totally ourselves. I think they were destined to be really good friends, but society got in the way.’
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Who’s in the cast of Wicked Little Letters?
The cast of Wicked Little Letters includes:
- Olivia Colman (The Thirteenth Tale, Rev) as Edith Swan
- Jessie Buckley (Taboo) as Rose Gooding
- Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as Gladys Moss
- Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner) as Edward Swan
- Joanna Scanlan (After Love) as Ann
- Hugh Skinner (Fleabag) as Constable Papperwick
- Malachi Kirby (Small Axe) as Bill
- Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones trilogy) as Victoria Swan
- Lolly Adefope (Ghosts) as Kate
- Eileen Atkins (The Crown) as Mabel
- Alisha Weir (Matilda!) as Nancy Gooding
Is Wicked Little Letters any good?
Yes – the electricity between Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley is truly magnetic; their performances blew us away. It’s rare such an amusing and scandalous storyline is based on true events – and it’s so much fun to watch! One viewer described it as ‘an incredibly funny, cheeky and punchy film’ and we couldn’t agree more!
Is there a trailer for Wicked Little Letters ?
Yes – you can watch the trailer for Wicked Little Letters below.
How can I watch Wicked Little Letters?
You can watch Wicked Little Letters now on Channel 4.
What other Olivia Colman dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after another hilarious (but also poignant) performance from Olivia Colman, we’d recommend Flowers. Olivia Colman stars as Deborah, a music teacher and matriarch of an eccentric family who, as well as living in a ramshackle home, is struggling to keep it all together. Flowers is available to watch now on Prime Video. If you’re in the mood for something darker, we loved The Thirteenth Tale, in which Margaret (Olivia) interviews dying author Vida Winter (Vanessa Redgrave) to write her emotional biography, which involves a troubling childhood. The Thirteenth Tale is available to watch now on Prime Video.
