David Farnor | On 28, Jul 2020

Update: The Pursuit of Love will premiere at 9pm on Sunday 9th May 2021.

Lily James, Dominic West, Emily Beecham and Andrew Scott have all joined BBC One’s star-studded drama The Pursuit of Love.

The adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s celebrated novel is written and directed by Emily Mortimer, with executive producers including Charles Collier, Matthew Read and Frith Tiplady for Open Book and Moonage Pictures.

The Pursuit Of Love is a romantic comedy-drama about love and friendship. Set in Europe between the two World Wars, the story follows the adventures and misadventures of the charismatic and fearless Linda Radlett, played by Lily James (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) and her best friend and cousin Fanny Logan, played by Emily Beecham (Little Joe).

Consumed by a desire for love and marriage, the two women are on the hunt for the ideal husband. Their friendship is put to the test as Fanny settles for a steady life and Linda decides to follow her heart, to increasingly wild and outrageous places. As social and political divisions split the nation, their diverging choices raise personal questions that remain intensely relevant today – questions about freedom, about love and sex, and the mystery of the human heart.

Further cast includes Dolly Wells (Dracula, Doll & Em) alongside West as Linda’s parents, Uncle Matthew and Aunt Sadie Radlett, plus Scott as Lord Merlin, the Radlett’s wealthy and eccentric neighbour, Mortimer as Fanny’s mother, The Bolter and Beattie Edmondson (Josh, Patrick) as Louisa Radlett.

Linda and Fanny’s suitors include Assaad Bouab (Messiah, Call My Agent) as Fabrice de Sauveterre, Shazad Latif (Penny Dreadful, Star Trek: Discovery) as Alfred Wincham and Freddie Fox (White House Farm, The Crown) as Tony Kroesig.

Mortimer says: “I’ve always loved Nancy Mitford so when I was asked to adapt The Pursuit Of Love it was impossible to say no. It’s an outrageously funny and honest story, whose central character – the wild, love-addicted Linda Radlett – still reads as a radical. I feel privileged to be directing this show and working with the brilliant teams at Open Book, Moonage Pictures, Amazon and the BBC.”

James adds; “It’s great to be working with Emily. Her brilliant scripts bring new life to this story – full of love, full of friendship, very moving and sad in places, but also funny and true to life.”

Charles Collier for Open Book, comments: “From the start, we built this show around the talents of three brilliant women: Emily Mortimer, Lily James and Nancy Mitford. Our plan is to deliver sharp and innovative female-driven drama, full of warmth, wit and wisdom, which audiences everywhere will take to their hearts.”

Filming has begun on the drama, with production taking place primarily around the Bristol and Bath area. Together with independent health and safety consultants, in full consultation with industry partners, and in accordance with all current government guidelines, The Pursuit Of Love production team have developed comprehensive production protocols to ensure that the series is produced in a safe and responsible manner during this time of global pandemic.

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