At their very best, period dramas pull off an emotional magic trick. They simultaneously provide us with an immediate, all-encompassing escape from modern life, while also illuminating how nothing really, truly, ever changes. After all, despite all of our societal and technological advances, we’re still repeating the same petty arguments, falling into the same toxic patterns, and savoring the same small, pure joys that everyone else in history has already experienced. BritBox‘s glossy new drama Outrageous captures this to an effervescently entertaining and terribly haunting degree.
This new series, which premieres on June 19, tackles the wild true story of the Mitford sisters, a family of British aristocrats who found themselves very publicly on opposite ends of the political spectrum in the lead up to World War II. A few became ferocious fascists, another devoted herself to communism, and the rest fell somewhere between the poles of worshipping Hitler or idolizing Lenin. By dramatizing this real life family’s incredible experiences, Outrageous not only introduces these fascinating figures to modern audiences, but also delves into the emotional heartache of seeing a family torn asunder by politics. What’s even better is that Outrageous does this with dazzling glamour and a bunch of stellar breakthrough performances.
Drawing from author Mary S. Lovell’s 2003 biography The Sisters, BritBox’s Outrageous opens in 1931, one of the last truly happy times for the Mitfords. Eldest sister Nancy (Bessie Carter), a writer known for satirizing the foibles of her fellow “Bright Young Things,” narrates the action with her trademark wit, noting the first sign of fissure she sees in her otherwise normal aristocratic family. Her gorgeous sister Diana (Joanna Vanderham) seems perfectly settled with a rich and dashing husband, Bryan Guinness (Calam Lynch), but still hints at wanting more. Soon, Diana is wrapped up in a passionate affair with married politician Oswald Moseley (Joshua Sasse), who, uh, just so happens to be the leader of the British Fascist Party.
Diana’s decision to blow up her society marriage would have massive repercussions for her family in any era. However, because this is the 1930s and Moseley is about to become the face of fascism in Britain, the ripple effect of her romance has far more sinister implications.
As Nancy shows us, Diana isn’t the only Mitford sister developing an interest in politics. Quirky sister Unity (Shannon Watson) also finds herself in fascism’s thrall, although she becomes particularly obsessed with Adolf Hitler. We watch as Unity evolves from an awkward teen talking to her pet rat to a chilling cheerleader for Nazism. While Nancy initially laughs this off, younger sister Jessica (Zoe Brough) watches on with apprehension. Unlike her older sisters, Jessica — known as “Decca” to the family — sees the plight of the working class and believes communism is the only answer.
Now, if you know anything about the Mitfords, it’s probably thanks to Nancy’s books, which were recently adapted by Amazon in their three-part miniseries The Pursuit of Love, or the fun fact that Diana, Unity, and Jessica are the inspiration behind the Black sisters in Harry Potter. (Diana is Narcissa Malfoy, Unity is Bellatrix Lestrange, and Jessica is Andromeda Tonks.) Most Mitford-centered projects focus on just these four siblings. Outrageous, on the other hand, also makes time for the lesser known Mitfords. Steady, sensible Pamela (Isobel Jesper Jones), lone brother Tom (Toby Regbo), and baby sister Deborah (Orla Hill) all factor into the story, further grounding the story into something far more familiar in 2025 than you might expect.
In the last ten years, politics both here and abroad have become increasingly polarized, pushing folks who align themselves on the left or right further and further apart. I can’t think of a single family that hasn’t felt its fair share of friction at the holiday table or a single time more primed for a Mitford sisters drama. Outrageous beautifully delves into the unbearable state of loving someone whose politics you absolutely hate.
What makes Outrageous such a great watch, though, is it balances these serious issues with pulpy personal drama. Nancy’s love life is a relatable hoot, full of awkward missed signals and cocktail-infused gossip sessions. Diana is a fashion queen, sauntering through scenes like a Hollywood siren. A cutesy love triangle emerges between two sisters later in the series and Decca spends as much time swooning over a handsome Communist she’s never met as she does arguing the party’s platform. The story of Outrageous is deathly serious, but the vibe is still somehow effervescently fun. This balance makes it intoxicating.
Outrageous also feels like a potentially pivotal moment in period drama land. BritBox has been producing originals since its 2018 Bletchley Circle reboot, but Outrageous has a style, a swagger, and a cast that stands out. Bessie Carter, Zoe Brough, and Calam Lynch are just a few of the Outrageous stars who feel like the British TV icons of tomorrow, while recent drama school grad Shannon Watson throws down a hell of a debut performance as the unhinged Unity. Outrageous isn’t just a show I’d recommend only to the Anglophiles in my life, but the pop culture obsessives, too.
Outrageous conjures up an impressive feat by balancing multiple acts. It’s a historic drama that speaks to the here and now, a serious exploration of politics that’s also full of fluff, and a classic British drama that feels young and cool. Outrageous is the platonic ideal of what the period drama can be.
The first two episodes of Outrageous premiere on Wednesday, June 18 on BritBox.