Outrageous is the new series bringing the infamous Mitford sisters back into the spotlight, charting their rise, rebellion, and reckless ambition through a rapidly changing 1930s Britain. Glamour collides with politics, privilege meets extremism, and family loyalty is tested in every direction.
We met with the cast to talk radical characters, breaking scenes over toast, on-set mischief (spoiler: it involves sheep), and why empathy might be the secret to playing even the most controversial figures in history. Oh — and everyone tried to describe Outrageous in three words. Some followed the brief. Some did not.
Behind the scenes with the cast of Outrageous:
Who's who?
Joanna Vanderham plays Diana Mitford
Isobel Jesper Jones plays Pamela Mitford
Shannon Watson plays Unity Mitford
Jamie Blackley plays Peter Rodd
Orla Hill plays Deborah Mitford
James Purefoy plays Farv Mitford
James Musgrave plays Hamish Erskine
Zoe Bough plays Jessica Mitford
Robert Daws plays Winston Churchill
If you had to describe Outrageous in three words, what would they be?
Joanna Vanderham: Well they’ve already used Outrageous, which makes it much harder! Authentic, feminist and controversial.
Isobel Jesper Jones: Unexpected, irreverent and radical
Shannon Watson: Fun, complex and intriguing
Jamie Blackley: Sexy, funny and cool
Orla Hill: Outrageous, flawed and sisterly
James Purefoy: Iron fist in a velvet glove — a lot more than three words
James Musgrave: Outlandish, whirlwind, exciting
Zoe Bough: Punky, intimidating and chaotic
Robert Daws: Huge, dangerous, fun
There are some pretty bold personalities in the show. Who would you say is the most ‘outrageous’ character — and what makes them stand out?
James Musgrave: They’re all very outrageous. Unity having an infatuation with the Nazi party is particularly extraordinary if I had to pick someone — but I think they all are in their own different ways.
Shannon Watson: I don’t disagree, to be honest. She definitely became a fanatic.
Isobel Jesper Jones: You have to pay testament to Unity’s story. She’s such a unique individual. She was always an unusual child, and her journey — how she gets swept up in everything — really comes across in the series.
Orla Hill: Unity was obviously an incredibly flawed person with horrific political views. Watching the first two episodes, I was actually taken aback. I wasn’t there for the radicalisation scenes, so seeing how young she was when it all happened really stuck with me.
James Purefoy: Diana Mitford was probably the most outrageous — utterly shameless, and totally comfortable with fascism. That’s got to be pretty outrageous.
Zoe Bough: Diana, because she set the precedent of politics in the family and went against the grain of what women were expected to do. She left Brian Guinness after establishing this admired family — that was unheard of in that era.
Robert Daws: Apart from my character, Winston Churchill — who’s not exactly tame — I think they were all outrageous in their own ways. The 1930s setting shows how modern-thinking they were for that time: courageous, direct, fearless. I hope younger audiences watching really connect with that.
Jamie Blackley: Farve is pretty outrageous, I think they all are. The girls splinter off in these mad directions.
In a show full of drama and tension, who was the first to break character during a serious scene?
Zoe Bough: [Laughs] It was me, Shannon and a bit of Bessie. I probably started the whole thing! It’s always during those very serious moments when you're meant to be composed that you end up giggling just to let the pressure out.
Shannon Watson: Probably me!
Jamie Blackley: I was trying to sing in church — hands sweating, trying not to laugh. I completely lost it.
How did your role in Outrageous challenge or surprise you compared to past roles?
Shannon Watson: Empathy was key. Unity was once described as the most hated woman in Britain. As an actor, you have to start from zero judgement. I went back to her childhood— she was shy and aloof —that helped me build her from the inside out.
Jamie Blackley: Peter Rodd is a total stranger to self-doubt, which made him fascinating to figure out.
Isobel Jesper Jones: I’ve played a lot of protagonists with solo arcs. This was my first time in a family dynamic — big ensemble dinner scenes with so much energy and chaos. I’m used to staring down a camera thinking dark thoughts! This was beautifully different.
James Musgrave: With Hamish, I realised how far you can push a character. In TV and film, there’s often a tendency to underplay — but sometimes, you can just go for it. And it’s alright!
James Purefoy: Dealing with six daughters — all very different — was a challenge in itself. Most parents don’t have to worry about their kids hanging out with Adolf Hitler.
Do you have any rituals or routines before stepping on set?
James Musgrave: As much coffee as I can possibly have.
Robert Daws: Everyone knows Churchill’s voice and presence — that was daunting. But the directors and costume designers were amazing. A bit of padding, a big lunch, and I was away.
James Purefoy: I was filming multiple projects, so it became vital to step into costume, look in the mirror and say, “That’s him — that’s who you’re playing today.”
Isobel Jesper Jones: I’d greet everyone with their Mitford nickname. They all had ridiculous childhood names for each other — it helped me slip into that sibling mindset instantly.
Shannon Watson: The wigs and garments were heavy — physically and emotionally. Putting them on helped me feel the character’s weight. Taking them off helped me come back to myself. I also listened to a lot of 1930s music to get into the mindset.
Be honest — who was the biggest troublemaker on set?
Shannon Watson: Zoe Bough. She’s a unique kind of prankster. Always gave us a good giggle.
Jamie Blackley: The sheep. Zoe had to walk 100 metres and they kept running away — total chaos.
James Purefoy: Zoe, she was very bubbly, always up to something.
Of all the sisters in the story, was there one you personally connected with most?
Shannon Watson: Nancy. She was the eldest, and I really admire her. That kind of pressure — especially back then — must’ve been intense. She didn’t get married at 18 like expected. She became an author, led the way for the others, and had this wicked sense of humour. I really respect that.
Joanna Vanderham: If I were to play another character, it would be Unity. She had this bull-headed determination: I’m going to do what I want, and no one can stop me. All the sisters had that in their own way, but Unity’s was fascinating. As a cast, we really bonded — the days when we were all on set were the best.
Outrageous premieres on U&Drama on 18th June at 9pm, but if waiting week by week isn’t your vibe, good news: every episode will be available to stream on demand on U from day one and if you want more information about the drama we've got you!
