Get ready to become obsessed! If you’re a fan of period dramas filled with scandal, unforgettable women, and aristocratic family conflict, Outrageous is the must-watch series of the summer. Coming soon to BritBox in North America, this six-episode miniseries brings to life the incredible and tumultuous true story of the Mitford sisters—a family that redefined the word “controversy.”
Based on the bestselling book The Mitford Girls by Mary S. Lovell and adapted by Sarah Williams, Outrageous follows six sisters born into privilege but destined for wildly different paths. In an era of deep political and cultural division, the Mitfords didn’t just reflect the spirit of the time. They challenged it head-on. Nancy, the eldest, became a celebrated novelist known for her sharp wit.
What is Outrageous About?
Glamorous Diana married British fascist leader Oswald Mosley. Unity struck up a chilling friendship with Adolf Hitler. Jessica, the rebel, ran off to join the communist cause. Deborah became a duchess and preserved one of England’s most iconic estates. And Pamela chose a quieter, rural life. It’s hard to believe they all grew up under the same roof.
The cast of Outrageous is just as impressive as the women they portray. Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) plays Nancy Mitford with the charm and bite the real Nancy was known for. She’s joined by Joanna Vanderham as Diana, Shannon Watson as Unity, Zoe Brough as Jessica, Orla Hill as Deborah, and Isobel Jesper Jones as Pamela. Toby Regbo plays their brother Tom Mitford, while Anna Chancellor and James Purefoy star as their eccentric parents, affectionately known as “Muv” and “Farve.” Joshua Sasse rounds out the main cast as Oswald Mosley, a key figure in one of the family’s biggest scandals.
Visually elegant and emotionally rich, Outrageous is directed by Joss Agnew and Ellie Heydon and produced by Firebird Pictures. The series beautifully captures the contrasts of a gilded era marked by political unrest, ideological warfare, and internal family strife. From lavish drawing rooms to the dark corners of extremism, Outrageous offers a sharp, unflinching look at how history can fracture even the closest of families.
But beyond the stunning costumes and period details, Outrageous feels strikingly modern. The choices these women made were not just personal—they were deeply political, with global consequences. In a world still grappling with polarization and the power of extreme ideologies, the Mitfords’ story couldn’t be more relevant.
So if you’re a fan of The Crown, thrilled by The Pursuit of Love, or simply can’t resist stories of extraordinary women defying societal expectations, Outrageous is your next obsession. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
The Plot
The official synopsis of the show is “Outrageous kicks off in late 1931, and at the center of it all is the eldest Mitford sibling, Nancy (Bessie Carter), a burgeoning novelist and the series’ narrator who offers keen observations on her family’s questionable antics with her signature dry wit.
While Nancy toggles between independence and social compliance, the glamorous socialite Diana (Joanna Vanderham) keeps the gossip mills churning with her scandalous divorce, only to take up with British fascist leader Oswald Mosley. Not to be outdone by her older sister Diana, Unity (Shannon Watson) horrifies her family by relocating to Germany in 1934 and becoming an ardent Adolf Hitler disciple (the fangirl of her day).
Balancing out Diana and Unity’s pro-fascism leanings is their younger sister Jessica (Zoe Brough), aka “Decca.” An aspiring communist, Decca becomes infatuated with a like-minded distant cousin before creating her own equally shocking headlines in early 1937.”
The Promo
Here’s the trailer for the show:
Release Date
It’s official! Outrageous will premiere on BritBox on June 18 at 8 pm ET.
