“While Nancy’s Radlett sisters were based on her own family, the true story is undoubtedly more sensational than the fictionalised account.
”
Now a new six-part series is coming which goes straight to the source material: The Mitford sisters themselves. Nancy the novelist, Pamela the horsewoman, Diana the Fascist, Unity the Hitler worshipper, Jessica the Communist, and Deborah the duchess scarcely need introduction, so long have they captivated the public imagination with their beauty, wit, and scandalous escapades. Slated for release in the summer of 2025 on UKTV, get set for a new instalment in the Mitford mythology – there is, as yet, no trailer, but the pictures look perfect.
Images: UKTV / BritBox / BBC Studios
A Glimpse into the Mitford World
Set against the backdrop of the 1930s, Outrageous delves into the complexities of the Mitford family, exploring themes of love, politics, and an often-thorny sisterhood, punctuated with the famous Mitford ‘teases’ – think biting, ferocious wit, such as the time Nancy gleefully pointed out to her younger three sisters that the middle parts of their names were ‘nit’, ‘sick’ and ‘bore’. The series is adapted from Mary S. Lovell's acclaimed biography, The Mitford Girls, which lends it a gravitas from the off, with Sarah Williams penning the screenplay.
A Stellar Ensemble Cast
Leading the cast is Bessie Carter, known for her role in Bridgerton, who portrays the eldest sister, Nancy. Joining her are Isobel Jesper Jones as Pamela, Joanna Vanderham as Diana, Shannon Watson as Unity, Zoe Brough as Jessica, and Orla Hill as Deborah. The always-excellent Anna Chancellor and James Purefoy take on the roles of their parents, Sydney and David Mitford – or as the Mitfords knew them, ‘Muv’ and ‘Farv’.
Behind the Scenes
The series is brought to life by Firebird Pictures, with Joss Agnew and Ellie Heydon directing. Filming kicked off in June 2024 and by August, there were first-look images, offering a tantalising glimpse into the show’s period aesthetic. Now we’re on tenterhooks for the trailer.
What Can We Expect?
While Nancy’s Radlett sisters were based on her own family, the true story is undoubtedly more sensational than the fictionalised account. For, as one sister (Jessica) ran off with her communist husband (Esmond Romilly) to fight the forces of Fascism, another (Diana) married Oswald Mosley, the founder and leader of the British Union of Fascists. And if that sounds extreme, try Unity, whose previously lost diaries were uncovered by The Daily Mail this year, and which detail her groupie-like infatuation with Adolf Hitler, their many meetings and their mutual admiration (or, on her side, adoration).
Whether you watch it for another instalment of the wild eccentricity of their childhoods (child hunts were a regular feature of life chez Mitfords), their father, the irascible Lord Redesdale’s bellows of ‘hog’ and ‘sewer’ to all who displeased him, for Hons’ cupboard gossip or for the more scandalous stuff of their later lives, this promises to be catnip for Mitford addicts and an eye-opener for anyone coming anew to this most scandalous cocktail of sisters.
Going On Mitford Pilgrammage? Book These Places To Stay
The Swan At Swinbrook
A pub with rooms, the charming Swan At Swinbrook is literally in the shadow of the Mitford’s former home, Swinbrook House, where Nancy, Diana and Unity are buried. The perfect spot for a post ramble fireside lunch or to bed down in a delightful room. Book it.
The Bull
This Grade II-listed 16th-century inn in Burford has 18 bedrooms – each one more characterful, stylish and cosy than the last. The perfect woodsmoke-scented pitstop for a Mitford tour (their homes, Swinbrook House and Asthall Manor are both nearby). Book it.
The Double Red Duke
With its signature red striped parasols, The Double Red Duke is all warmth and welcome – and everything unfolds from there in sublime style, from the British tapas style menu to the deeply stylish yet comfortable interiors. Book it.
