THE PURSUIT OF LOVE | TV PREVIEW
A three-part drama miniseries, adapted from a novel by Nancy Mitford first published in 1945 at the end of World War II, Emily Mortimer’s radical interpretation of The Pursuit Of Love is exactly what we need right now. Its central character Linda Radlett, played here by Lily James, is a fierce feminist and profound seeker of the perfect idea of love – while Fanny Logan, her cousin, settles for a life she deems merely acceptable.
We perhaps take for granted the freedoms and liberties we as modern women have, where relationships can be exclusively for love without the societal expectation for marriage. This important development is highlighted in these two characters. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the story follows the aristocratic family life, love and losses of Radlett, narrated by the sensible if fun-loving Logan. First planned in 2019 before the pandemic disrupted filming, this ongoing era of testing and COVID safety ought to render this series even more explosive in its portrayal of indulgence and outrageous fun.
The two previous adaptations of The Pursuit Of Love, by ITV in 1980 and the BBC in 2001, had names such as Judi Dench, Celia Imrie and Rosamund Pike as part of their cast. Here, writer Emily Mortimer serves a triple threat: she’s written, directed and performed within the series, as our protagonist’s mother. Much like Bridgerton in its decadent escapism, it takes a humorous view of Radlett’s romantic motivations with her line of suitors, and tracking the friendship between her and Logan as they divert in approach to their main purpose: respectively, love and having fun by any means necessary.
With James at the helm of a star-studded cast also including names such as Andrew Scott (Fleabag, Sherlock), Dominic West (Prince Charles in The Crown’s two most recent series), Dolly Wells (Dracula), Freddie Fox (Year Of The Rabbit), Shazad Latif (Toast Of London) and Beattie Edmondson (Upstart Crow and Josh), we are set for a couple of hours away from any mention of coronavirus. Sumptuous locations should allow us all to dream of travel from Bristol, Bath and Oxfordshire to the magnificence of Paris (imagining myself dancing to La Vie En Rose on the banks of the Seine); the costumes are to die for and I expect showstealing wit and humour from Andrew Scott who plays Lord Merlin.
As TPOL’s trailer demonstrates, there is a rebellious, naughty streak to this series – driven by an exploration of freedom, development of self, bildungsroman and the confusing journey of understanding love in its many forms. I look forward to a new obsession and I’m sure you will too.
On BBC iPlayer and BBC One from Sun 9 May
words BILLIE INGRAM SOFOKLEOUS photos ROBERT VIGLASKY
