The Pursuit of Love, BBC One: everything we know

From Downton Abbey to War and Peace to Darkest Hour to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Lily James is never far from a good ol’ period drama. Now, the BBC have announced another one during this precarious pandemic period: Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love.

Set in the years between the World Wars, the story saunters among well-to-do English aristocrats and their desire for love and marriage. Here’s everything we know so far.

Photo: BBC

What’s the story of The Pursuit of Love?

The first in a trilogy, Nancy Mitford’s 1945 novel focuses on the adventures of two upper-class women: best friends Linda Radlett and her cousin Fanny Logan. They’re both enraptured by the idea of love, sex and marriage, though their education on the subject is slight. (Most of their knowledge of sex is learned from a guide on duck breeding.) Nevertheless, they’re determined to find the ideal husband while social and political divisions fracture the nation.

Linda (Lily James) and her best friend/cousin Fanny (Emily Beecham). Photo: BBC

Linda bounces between contrary love interests: beginning with a Tory MP, changing to a devoted communist, then finding something more substantial in war-torn Paris. While Linda follows her heart, Fanny settles for a steady life – putting their friendship to the test.

The three-part series is being adapted and directed by Emily Mortimer (Doll and Em), who also stars as Fanny's mother, known as 'the Bolter'.

Assaad Bouab stars as Fabrice de Sauveterre, a mutual suitor to Linda and Fanny. Photo: BBC

Who’s in The Pursuit of Love cast?

Starring alongside Lily James, who plays Linda, Little Joe’s Emily Beecham plays her cousin Fanny. Dominic West (Les Misérables, The Affair, Colette) and Dolly Wells (Dracula, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) star as Linda’s parents, and the Hot Priest himself, Andrew Scott, is playing Lord Merlin, an eccentric neighbour to the Radletts.

Beattie Edmondson (Josh), Assaad Bouab (Messiah), Shazad Latif (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), and Freddie Fox (White House Farm) are also starring.

Andrew Scott stars as Lord Merlin, the wealthy and eccentric neighbour. Photo: BBC

What’s the Pursuit of Love release date?

The series has only just started filming, in accordance with governmental guidelines for Covid-19 – so don’t expect anything until 2021.