Genevieve Nnaji returns to acting in BBC thriller ‘Wahala’

Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Genevieve Nnaji is set to return to the screen in Wahala, a new six-part thriller produced by BBC Studios.

The drama, adapted from Wahala and written by BAFTA-nominated writer Theresa Ikoko, will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

BBC announced the casting on Tuesday, unveiling a star-studded female-led lineup featuring Adelayo Adedayo, Deborah Ayorinde, Cush Jumbo and Susan Wokoma alongside Nnaji.

Set in present-day London, the series follows four Nigerian-British women navigating friendship, love, careers and family while confronting buried secrets from their past. The story revolves around Simi, Boo and Ronke, whose close friendship is disrupted by the arrival of Isobel, triggering betrayal, tension and long-hidden truths.

Reacting to the role, Nnaji expressed excitement about joining the project.

“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,” she said.

The project marks one of Nnaji’s most significant acting returns in recent years after the international success of Lionheart, her directorial debut, which premiered in 2018 before streaming globally on Netflix in 2019.

Widely regarded as one of Nollywood’s most influential stars, Nnaji has maintained a relatively low public profile in recent years, making her return highly anticipated among fans.

Wahala — a Nigerian Pidgin word meaning “trouble” — is being produced by Firebird Pictures under BBC Studios.