Nollywood actress and filmmaker Genevieve Nnaji is making her return to on-screen acting in a new BBC Studios drama titled Wahala.
The six-part thriller is based on Wahala, a novel by BAFTA-nominated writer Theresa Ikoko, and will be shown on BBC One while also streaming on BBC iPlayer. The series features a female-led cast including Adelayo Adedayo, Deborah Ayorinde, Cush Jumbo, and Susan Wokoma alongside Nnaji.
Adapted from Nikki May’s debut novel, the story follows four Nigerian-British women living in London as they deal with friendship, relationships, careers, and family life. Their world begins to shift when a new character, Isobel, played by Ayorinde, enters their circle, bringing hidden tensions and long-buried secrets to the surface.
The plot centres on Simi, Boo, and Ronke—played by Adedayo, Jumbo, and Wokoma—whose close friendship becomes strained after Isobel’s arrival. The drama explores themes of betrayal, secrecy, and the consequences of past actions.
Speaking about her involvement, Nnaji said, “I’m very happy to be joining Wahala and to be working with such a brilliant team. It’s an intriguing story and I’m excited to be a part of it,”.
This project marks one of her notable returns to acting in recent years after her 2018 directorial debut Lionheart, which later premiered on Netflix in 2019.
Nnaji, one of Nollywood’s most respected figures, has kept a low public profile recently, which has increased excitement around her comeback role.
Produced by Firebird Pictures under BBC Studios, Wahala translates to “trouble” in Nigerian Pidgin and focuses on drama built around hidden truths and strained relationships.