There is no doubt that the infamous Mitford sisters were the Kardashians of their era, particularly the 1930s and ’40s, spawning a range of books and shows that delve into their polarizing lives, marked by extreme political views, questionable acquaintances, scandals, and gossip. From the Amazon miniseries, The Pursuit of Love, which recently adapted the eldest Mitford sister’s novels, to the fun fact that three of the sisters were the inspiration for the Black sisters in Harry Potter, their endeavors have stayed in the public’s imagination long after the events that defined them. Most recently, BritBox has released a six-episode series, Outrageous, that once again spotlights these notorious sisters, spanning the ’30s and exploring not only their political antics but also how they impacted the bonds within the family. Based on a biography called The Mitford Sisters by Mary S. Lovell and co-directed by Joss Agnew and Ellie Heydon, the historical drama invites us into the folds of the family with a glamorous, delicious, and often provocative atmosphere, reintroducing us to the sisters in a fresh way.
What Is ‘Outrageous’ About?

Kicking off in 1931, Outrageous introduces us to one of the last peaks of happiness the Mitford family would enjoy, helmed by the patriarch David (James Purefoy) and his wife, Sydney (Anna Chancellor). The aristocratic family has six daughters and one son, though much of the media to date focuses on four of the daughters: Nancy (Bessie Carter), a novelist who frequently writes characters inspired by her family members; Diana (Joanna Vanderham), who becomes romantically embroiled with the face of fascism in Britain; Unity (Shannon Watson), who harbors an immense adoration for Adolf Hitler and Nazism; and Jessica (Zoe Brough), who goes in the complete opposite direction and becomes an ardent disciple in communism. However, Outrageous also spotlights the other siblings, including the ever-sensible Pamela (Isobel Jesper Jones), the youngest Deborah (Orla Hill), and the lone heir, Tom (Toby Regbo). As the series continues, divisions form between the siblings, placing pressure on the entire family, especially while they try to maneuver under the unwavering public eye.
‘Outrageous’ Shines a New Light on the Mitford Sisters

Image via BritBox

Already, the fact that Outrageous moves beyond the four main sisters and highlights the brief, yet weighted roles of the other three Mitford siblings sets the show apart from the range of material exploring this infamous family. The drama expands on the existing media around the polarizing views of the Mitfords by also succinctly examining how their more public scandals and views impacted the family. Often, we get to witness the parents’ reactions to their children’s decisions, where Chancellor and Purefoy cohesively portray how these became onerous to their marriage, especially as they (as well as Nancy) often wonder: “how did these six women raised under one roof end up so different?” With a Bridgerton-style effervescence, Outrageous is most captivating when it leans into frivolity, often adopting a scandalous and gossipy tone whenever it depicts the family from an outsider’s perspective. This could very easily undermine the gravity of the sisters’ beliefs and how they impacted the world (like Unity becoming a close acquaintance of Hitler, as she did in real life), but Outrageous strikes a tonal balance as it moves into the privacy of the house and pulls on more emotional and provocative strings. We are simultaneously put in the position of reading the gossip columns at the time, fanning ourselves at the outrage of their divorces, political views, and romantic entanglements, and also of moving through the precarious and strained atmosphere of the house, where one wrong word can ignite a potential disownment.

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‘Outrageous’ Stays Relevant and Powerful With Every Beat

Outrageous isn’t only fresh in its exploration of the Mitford family through its expanded scope, but also in its timing; their lives could not be more relevant in today’s political environment. The series boasts its relevancy straight away in its premiere, as Diana attends a fascist meeting where the speaker, Oswald Mosley (Joshua Sasse), essentially conveys the sentiment of “make Britain great again” — now, where have we heard that before? It’s bold and unapologetic in its political discourse, enhanced by a script written by Sarah Williams littered with tongue-in-cheek wit that flirtatiously jabs at the entrails of political extremism. Folded in between salacious scandals, it caters to all viewers with varying capacities for overt political discourse, making it eye-opening in a sense. Where the show really excels in its political relevancy is by posing the question of: what do you do when someone you love has political views extremely different from yours? The struggle of the sisters trying to keep the peace while standing up for what they believe is right is a somewhat overlooked conflict that is very pertinent in today’s warring political climate. There’s been a surge of awareness and political literacy, especially propagated via social media, and the idea of cutting off or keeping the peace with a loved one is very much present. Performances by the cast playing the Mitford sisters drive this home, especially between Carter’s Nancy and Vanderham’s Diana. Their on-screen chemistry as sisters and best friends is immediately touching, setting up the heartache for later. Carter embodies the responsibility and ever-supportiveness of the eldest sister, where maintaining family bonds remains at the forefront, but as the series progresses, her political beliefs strengthen, or rather, just her distaste for fascism. Both cast members convey that visceral struggle of standing by their beliefs but missing their sister, making for some of the most teary-eyed scenes in the show. Whether you know about the Mitford sisters or not, Outrageous is still worth watching, as it delivers a polarizing, relevant, and lush ’30s period drama, both dazzling us and stripping off our rose-tinted glasses. The first two episodes of Outrageous premiere June 18 at 8 PM ET on BritBox, with weekly episodes released on Wednesdays.

Outrageous

Outrageous breathes new life into the Mitford sisters while staying relevant and mesmerizing.

Release Date

2025 – 2025-00-00

Network

U&Drama

Bessie Carter

Nancy Mitford

Shannon Watson

Unity Mitford

Pros & Cons

The series expands on the media we have seen of the Mitford sisters, delivering a fresh and fascinating take.
It is irresistible in its scandalous, lavish, polarizing, and sincere tone.
The performances by Bessie Carter and Joanna Vanderham are immediately striking and nuanced.