A new six-part drama series about the notorious Mitford sisters has arrived on BBC iPlayer, charting the lives of the six aristocratic siblings in 1930s Britain. Based on Mary S Lovell's biography, the series opens in 1931, Unity Mitford's 'coming out year', and follows the sisters as they navigate societal expectations to marry well while their paths diverge dramatically.
The Mitford sisters are infamous for their extreme political affiliations: Unity was linked to Hitler, Diana to British fascist Oswald Mosley, while Nancy was a pacifist novelist, Jessica a communist journalist, Deborah a duchess, and Pamela the most private. The drama, narrated by Nancy (played by Bessie Carter), captures both the glamour and the dark political backdrop of the era.
Joanna Vanderham stars as Diana, and the actress revealed she stopped researching her character's life after 1936 to experience events as Diana did. Critics praise the series as an 'intoxicating true story full of scandal, romance and radical ideas', blending frothy period drama with the looming threat of war.
