Wildly short seasons of hour-long British dramas set in the Second World War are returning to television, it appears that nature is healing. Amazon and BBC One have joined forces to produce a TV adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s “The Pursuit of Love,” starring Lily James, Emily Beecham, Dominic West, and Andrew Scott. The series is being adapted by Emily Mortimer, who will also direct and star on the show.
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Following a delay due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the show is looking to film in Bristol and Bath in the U.K. with new safety measures involved. Should it go ahead, the series will be among the first to start shooting in the U.K. since the pandemic forced a months-long shutdown of production.
“I’ve always loved Nancy Mitford so when I was asked to adapt ‘The Pursuit of Love’ it was impossible to say no,” Mortimer said. “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 Studios, and the BBC.”
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Set in Europe between the two World Wars, the story follows Linda Radlett, played by Lily James and her best friend and cousin Fanny Logan, played by Emily Beecham, their friendship is put to the test as Fanny settles for a steady life and Linda opts for a more free-spirited approach. The teaser reads “as social and political divisions split the nation, their diverging choices raise personal questions about freedom, about love and sex, and the mystery of the human heart”, which sounds appropriately twee for a BBC drama.
Per Amazon, “‘The Pursuit of Love’ will be filmed primarily around the Bristol and Bath area in the UK. 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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“The Pursuit of Love” will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and be available on Amazon Prime Video in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.