I, like a lot of people, thought I was familiar with the Mitford sisters‘ story. I knew the basics – the one with fascist leanings, the communist, the sister rumored to be gay, the duchess, the tragic one who died by suicide, and the novelist who wrote about their lives.
Weren’t they simply wealthy socialites from the 1930s with questionable views? Even Nancy, the oldest sister, wrote amusing novels – like The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate – but ultimately, they seemed to reinforce my feeling that these glamorous aristocrats don’t really resonate with me now.
Then a friend recommended Mary Lovell’s biography, The Mitford Girls, and I was immediately captivated. It revealed a surprisingly troubled and complicated reality beneath the family’s seemingly perfect image—much darker than I had imagined. What struck me most powerfully, though, was how relevant their story is to current events. It vividly illustrates how the growth of extreme political ideologies can fracture relationships and destroy families.
I was completely captivated by the book, and it ultimately inspired my six-part drama series, Outrageous, which tells the story of these women’s lives.
In 1930s England, Lord and Lady Redesdale had six daughters – Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, and Deborah – who became famous for their beauty, controversial political views, and dramatic personal lives. Their stories frequently made international news.
Diana left her husband after falling for the leader of a far-right British group. Jessica joined the fight against fascism in Spain before moving to America and becoming involved in communist politics. Unity became obsessed with Adolf Hitler, moved to Germany, and surprisingly developed a close relationship with him. When World War II began, devastated by the conflict, she shot herself with a pistol he’d gifted her.
Only the youngest sister, Deborah, followed the traditional path by marrying into the aristocracy. However, she also left a lasting legacy by revitalizing her husband’s declining Chatsworth estate, transforming it into one of the nation’s most famous country houses.
Growing up as one of six children myself, I was really intrigued by the different lives these siblings led. It was clear they were often competitive, each wanting to find their own place within the family, which sometimes led to jealousy, hurt feelings, and even periods of estrangement. However, the more I learned about them, the more I realized how deeply loyal they were to each other, a bond strengthened by a shared, playful sense of humor – something anyone who’s read their letters or stories would recognize.
I could really relate to this idea because of my own family. Siblings can be incredibly hurtful when you’re at your lowest point, but they’re also often the people you can always count on during tough times.
As the sisters grew up, they entered a turbulent world marked by widespread job losses, increasing poverty, and a major economic downturn. Political divisions were deepening, dangerous leaders were gaining power, and extremist ideologies were spreading – a situation that feels eerily similar to today.
These young women were determined to contribute to the changes they witnessed around them. Though they disagreed on what those changes should look like, they firmly believed in their ideas and weren’t afraid to fight for them. They actively campaigned for what they believed in, refusing to stay silent at a time when women were expected to be quiet and unseen. This often led to tense and challenging discussions with their families.
When I started writing the scripts for ‘Outrageous,’ the Brexit vote was still fresh in everyone’s minds. Many families were dealing with the awkwardness of loved ones holding completely opposite political beliefs, and this situation heavily influenced my main character, Nancy. She wasn’t very interested in politics herself, but she was shocked to see her younger sisters become increasingly radicalized, eventually embracing views she found deeply harmful. Sadly, this kind of division has only become more common since then, with the rise of extremist ideologies around the world and more people moving towards extreme political positions.
As Jessica asks on the show, “How do you cope when a person you deeply care about does something terrible?”
Outrageous is on BBC One at 10:30pm Sunday 14 June – all episodes are available now on BBC iPlayer.
Don’t miss “Outrageous”! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive content, and more.
Authors
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Green Game Jam returns with 70 games teaming up to tackle the climate crisis
- PI PREDICTION. PI cryptocurrency
- USD BRL PREDICTION
- Black Clover Confirms Special Chapter After Manga Finale
- USD HKD PREDICTION
- Brent Oil Forecast
- EUR HKD PREDICTION
- Seven Snipers Review: A Sharpshooter Action Movie That Misses More Than It Hits
- DOGE PREDICTION. DOGE cryptocurrency
2026-06-14 11:40