Everything you need to know about the 'coming of rage' drama, Sweetpea
In this deviously twisted and darkly comic ‘coming-of-rage’ thriller based on the 2017 novel by C.J. Skuse, Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets, Fallout) stars as Rhiannon: a quiet wallflower who develops a vengeful and liberating taste for murder…
When we first meet Rhiannon Lewis, she doesn’t make much of an impression - people walk past her in the street without a second glance. She’s continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won’t commit, her sister is off living her life abroad with her husband and her dad is really, really sick. So far, so s**t.
But when the death of her dad turns her life upside down, Rhiannon gets pushed over the edge – and suddenly the wallflower is gone, with a young woman with a violent streak emerging in her place. And no one is safe.
At the time of writing (August 2025), Sweetpea season two is currently in production – though what lies ahead for Rhiannon is yet to be revealed.
There are five books in C.J Skuse’s Sweetpea series, but the book and series story is vastly different in its nature, with several characters being expanded on, and Rhiannon’s back story being changed.
It is expected to come to our screens in 2026.
Watch the trailer
Who stars in Sweetpea?
The main stars of Sweetpea are:
Ella Purnell (Fallout, Yellowjackets) as Rhiannon
Nicole Lecky (Mood, Sense8) as Julia
Calam Lynch (Bridgerton, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power) as AJ
Jon Pointing (Big Boys, Smothered) as Craig
Leah Harvey (Foundation, A Gentleman in Moscow) as Marina
Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso, Downton Abbey) as Norman
Dustin Demri-Burns (Slow Horses, Am I Being Unreasonable?) as Jeff
Dino Kelly (Trigger Point, Alexander: The Making of a God) as Marcus
Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who, The Watch) as D.I. Diana St. John
There are new additions to the cast for season two as well:
Tamsin Greig (Riot Women, Friday Night Dinner) as AJ’s mother, Liv
Rish Shah (Overcompensating, Joy) as Rhiannon's romantic interest Gabriel
Taj Atwal (Riot Women, Line of Duty) as Freya, Rhiannon’s new boss at the Carnsham Gazette
Jenny Walser (Heartstopper, Star City) as new friend Daisy
Sweetpea was directed by Ella Jones (Back To Life, The Baby) in season one, and she returns for season two alongside Coky Giedroyc (How to Build a Girl, Save Me).
The series is written by Selina Lim, Emme Hoy, Anna Jordan and Laura Jayne Tunbridge, and also marks Ella Purnell’s first executive producer role.
What is the age rating of Sweetpea?
The official rating of Sweetpea in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is 18 for the overall series.
This means the series is considered suitable for adults only.
Reasons for this rating include:
Graphic depictions of murder – including blood and gore
Profane language including frequent use of the words c**t and f**k
Depictions of sex (though nudity is notably kept to a minimum)
Scenes of violence and perilous scenarios
Depictions of domestic violence including physical and emotional abuse
Scenes of death including one instance of a domestic pet
Violent scenes
Discussions and depictions of mental health
Which books are in the Sweetpea series?
The Sweetpea book series consists of five novels in total, with the final book released in October 2024.
The stories follow Rhiannon Lewis throughout her life.
The order of the main series is:
Sweetpea (2017)
In Bloom (2018)
Dead Head (2021)
Thorn in My Side (2023)
The Bad Seeds (2024)
How to watch Sweetpea on Sky
Sky is the exclusive home of Sweetpea and is available now on Sky Atlantic and NOW. It will not be available on rival streaming services such as Netflix or Disney+.
