Riches review: Glam telenovela-style tonic shines rare spotlight on black British wealth-Sophie Laughton-Entertainment – Metro

(L-R) Cast members Adeyinka Akinrinade, Nneka Okoye, Ola Orebiyi, Sarah Niles, Deborah Ayorinde, and Emmanuel Imani (Picture: ITV)

Succession, Empire, Dynasty… while we might have run out of ways to say ‘family fights over a fat inheritance’, the genre certainly isn’t running out of steam – as proved by the latest feuding clan gracing our screens in ITVX’s Riches.

Shining a rare spotlight on black British wealth, How To Get Away With Murder writer Abby Ajayi’s lavish drama begins with the death of wealthy Nigerian business mogul Stephen Richards (Hugh Quarshie), the head of the Flair & Glory haircare empire.

His vast fortune is expected to be divided between his glamourous wife, Claudia (Emmy-nominated Sarah Niles), and his three spoilt children, Gus, Alesha and Wanda.

Cue filthy looks when his two children from his first marriage, hot-shot lawyer Nina (Deborah Ayorinde) and charismatic celebrity stylist Simon, show up at the will reading only to land the deeds to the entire company. Drama alert!

An impressive array of black talent (including model Jourdan Dunn) make up the ensemble cast, while Brendan Coyle and Hermione Norris star as the late boss’ potentially shifty white employees.

Much of the characterisation is as OTT as the plethora of shoulders pads and embellished suits, but the drama takes hold in the more fleshed-out lives of the Richards children.

In Ayorinde’s capable hands, Nina is a fabulous protagonist – smart, self-made and sexually empowered, she’s gracefully poised to take over from her squabbling half-siblings.

The moment of truth – the family gather for the will reading (Picture: David Hindley/Prime Video)

But she’s got a ruthless side, and her wicked stepmother is looking to be the first to meet the pointy end of her stiletto.

There’s a lot of froth and foam to wade through, and some fairly cringey dialogue makes it clear that Riches isn’t trying to mimic Succession’s whip-smart repartee – gag-worthy cape swooshes and telenovela-esque slaps are the weapons of choice here.

Drama ensues when Nina and Simon inherit their father’s firm (Picture: David Hindley/Prime Video)

It’s a breath of fresh air from all the grit that usually get the 9pm slot, but that’s not to say it’s without substance. Race and identity is key – Gus misses the death of his father when his supercar is pulled over by an overzealous cop.

But the best thing about it is how the entire series just looks rich; London gets the glam treatment as we flit between action in swanky corporate board rooms, swish hotel suites and bougie nightclubs, the Shard glittering in the centre of every skyline shot.

Airing over the Christmas period, it’s the perfect petty tonic to any familial in-fighting. Why watch your own relatives quarrel over the dinner table when you can watch Riches?

Riches airs on ITVX tonight at 9pm

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