In a sea of period dramas that cling to convention, OUTRAGEOUS bursts forth like a breath of fresh air: bold, stylized, emotionally layered, and unafraid to portray its protagonists for what they were—fascinating, yes, but also deeply contradictory. This new BritBox original series dives into the lives of the legendary Mitford sisters and does so with a perspective that can only be described as incendiary. Ready?
Here we go!
A True Story Too Wild for Fiction
Capturing the essence of six women who defied the expectations of their time in radically opposing ways is no small feat. The Mitfords were more than just an aristocratic family—they were symbols of a generation torn apart by war, politics, duty, and desire. Some became literary celebrities, others champions of authoritarian regimes.
They loved and hated each other, writing letters from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, and each left an indelible mark on 20th-century British history. OUTRAGEOUS doesn’t try to redeem or condemn them. It shows them in all their brilliance and darkness, as tragic and glorious figures of a time long gone—though its wounds remain.
From the very first episode, it’s clear this is a show unafraid to color outside the lines. Visually, it’s a feast: the costumes, sets, and soundtrack work together to create a world that honors the historical period but also dares to challenge it, playing with subtle anachronisms that remind us this story, though rooted in the past, is deeply relevant today. It’s not a reverent recreation; it’s a bold reinterpretation.
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The Mitfords: Six Women, Six Impossible Paths
But what truly brings OUTRAGEOUS to life are its characters. Each Mitford sister is portrayed with a literary-level attention to detail. Nancy, played masterfully by Bessie Carter, is the dry-witted narrator of the story. As the family’s novelist, she observes the chaos with a mix of irony, affection, and deep frustration. She feels torn between belonging and detachment. She’s the critical voice and, often, the broken heart of the series. Her struggle may not be as overt as her sisters’, but it’s just as poignant—Nancy wants to tell the truth, even if it hurts, even if no one else is ready to hear it.
Diana, on the other hand, is a force of nature. Played with intensity by Joanna Vanderham, she’s seductive, sophisticated, and undeniably dangerous. Marrying Oswald Mosley and becoming a vocal fascist isn’t just a plot twist—it’s the core of the series’ conflict. Diana is not an easy character, and that’s her power. OUTRAGEOUS presents her as a woman deeply committed to her beliefs, no matter how repugnant we may find them. Her arc is an uncomfortable but necessary exploration of how charisma can cloak extremism—and how women, too, have shaped history’s darkest chapters.
Unity, portrayed by Zoe Brough, is perhaps the most disturbing figure. Her obsession with Hitler and absolute devotion to Nazism are not softened or sentimentalized. The show presents her as she was: tragic, fanatical, and deeply out of touch with reality. What’s most chilling is how OUTRAGEOUS allows her story to unfold with a kind of humanity that never excuses, only reveals. In Unity, we see what happens when political fantasy becomes personal identity.
In contrast, Jessica—played by Isobel Jesper Jones—is the rebel soul of the group. Running away from her family to embrace communism, fight for civil rights, and become a writer is her way of breaking free from a system that suffocates her. Jesper Jones’ performance captures the passion, fury, and idealism of a young woman determined to change the world at any cost. Her confrontations with Diana, where they clash as ideological opposites raised under the same roof, are among the series’ most intense moments. These aren’t just political disagreements—they’re emotional ruptures forged over years of love, rivalry, and betrayal.
Pamela and Deborah, though lesser-known, are never left behind. Orla Hill gives Pamela a quiet, poetic sensibility. She’s the sister who doesn’t quite fit, watching from the sidelines, longing for love without needing to define herself through extremes. Shannon Watson, as Deborah, portrays the coming-of-age of a young woman who hasn’t chosen a side yet but is beginning to see the cracks in her world. Both serve as necessary balance in a narrative so charged with ideological fire.
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The Weight of Family
OUTRAGEOUS is also a story about family, and the burden of shared history. There’s something endlessly compelling about watching these sisters—raised under the same roof, with the same parents and privileges—take such dramatically different paths. And yet, none of them could fully escape their roots. That constant tension—between loyalty and rejection, love and disdain—runs through every episode. This is an intimate drama, where political battles are really personal ones in disguise.
The series doesn’t try to redeem or condemn its women. What it does is even more powerful: it understands them. It understands that female power doesn’t always come in the form of classic heroism. Sometimes, it shows up in writing, in rebellion, in betrayal, in sheer survival. The Mitfords were outrageous because they dared to choose for themselves. And OUTRAGEOUScelebrates that audacity—even when the consequences are devastating.
Sarah Williams’ script is brilliant in its ambiguity. It knows there are no easy answers when dealing with history—especially one so morally fraught. But what it offers is a narrative that respects the viewer’s intelligence and emotional capacity. It doesn’t sugarcoat. And it doesn’t preach. It simply tells the story.
And that’s ultimately what makes OUTRAGEOUS one of the most riveting series of the year. It’s as entertaining as it is provocative, as visually stunning as it is emotionally unsettling. It’s not just about looking back, but about understanding how the past continues to shape our present. What does it mean to be a woman with power? What are we willing to sacrifice for our beliefs? Can we love someone we no longer recognize?
OUTRAGEOUS doesn’t offer all the answers. But what it does—brilliantly—is make sure you can’t look away.
OUTRAGEOUS premieres June 18 exclusively on BritBox.
