If there’s one thing we can always rely on Lesley Manville for, it’s playing fascinating characters who aren’t always the most clear-cut. From an austere upper-class widow in Manchester during the offset of World War II in World On Fire to Princess Margaret in the Crown – she brings a magnetic complexity to her roles. And her 10-star series Harlots is no different – it’s a masterclass in period dramas – and she takes on a morally dubious role.
The series transports us to the long overlooked world of sex workers in Georgian London, and Lesley plays the merciless Lydia Quigley – the high-class pimp of a swanky Soho bawdy house. But then her rival, the madam Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) arrives on her turf – and so begins a war.
With the drama available to watch now on U, here’s everything you need to know about Harlots, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Harlots about?
The three series of Harlots, which first aired in 2017, transports us to London in 1763. Contrary to the usual projection of Georgian decadence, the series transports us to a side of the city we don’t usually see – inside the opulent bordellos, dingy brothels and dark circumstances of sex workers of the time.
We are introduced to brothel owner and mother-of-two, Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton), who is struggling to go up in the world. She decides to move her business to Greek Street, Soho, and comes up against her long-standing nemesis, the powerful and ruthless Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville), whose brothel in Golden Square serves men within the highest echelons.
On top of this, Margaret struggles to navigate being both a mother and employer to Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) and Lucy (Eloise Smyth), who also work in her trade. In the first series, Margaret attempts to sell Lucy’s virginity after moving to a more upmarket abode leaves them financially vulnerable.
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In series 2, the war rages, with the drama picking up after Charlotte, one of the city’s most sought-after courtesans, commits the ultimate betrayal by moving to Golden Square – but she’s working a secret scheme. Meanwhile, new character, Justice Josiah Hunt (Sebastian Armesto) is working to bring Lydia down – but will he succeed? In series 3, Elizabeth Harvey (Angela Griffin) arrives in town with her son Fredo (Aidan Cheng) to establish a molly house – a brothel serving gay men.
Lesley Manville previously opened up about the duality of playing Lydia. ‘Lydia has a strange, dual personality. Alongside all of the horrendous things she does, she is a great wit and entertainer,’ she told the BBC. ‘Very quick and also evil. It’s been a delight to play her – there’s a theatricality about Lydia.’
Who’s in the cast of Harlots?
The cast of Harlots includes:
- Samantha Morton (The Serpent Queen) as Margaret Wells
- Lesley Manville (World On Fire, Disclaimer) as Lydia Quigley
- Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) as Charlotte Wells
- Eloise Smyth (The Frankenstein Chronicles) as Lucy Wells
- Dorothy Atkinson (Without Sin) as Florence Scanwell
- Pippa Bennett-Warner (Gangs Of London) as Harriet Lennox
- Kate Fleetwood (Victoria) as Nancy Birch
- Holli Dempsey (Derek) as Emily Lacey
- Douggie McMeekin (The Decameron) as Charles Quigley
- Edward Hogg (Scarborough) as Thomas Haxby
- Danny Sapani (Hymn) as William North
- Hugh Skinner (Two Weeks In August) as Sir George Howard
- Sebastian Armesto (Copenhagen) as Josiah Hunt
Is Harlots any good?
Yes – while it’s no Downton Abbey (due to its subject matter), Harlots is a fascinating glimpse into taboo history we rarely see televised. While it broaches harrowing themes such as exploitation and abuse, the script is witty and the period costumes are magnificent. Lesley Manville’s take on the villainous Lydia Quigley is magnetic and finding out more about her chequered history with her rival Margaret Wells kept us hooked!
Is there a trailer for Harlots?
Yes – you can watch the trailer for Harlots below.
How can I watch Harlots?
You can watch Harlots now on U.
What other Lesley Manville dramas can I watch now?
If you’re on the look out for another period drama, we’d recommend World On Fire, which tells the stories of several characters spread across Europe, including Lesley’s Robina Chase, as the outbreak of World War II upends their lives. You can watch all episodes of World On Fire now on Prime Video. If you’re in the mood for something more modern, Lesley gives an equally fantastic performance in Sherwood. Inspired by real-life events, two grisly murders take place in a Nottinghamshire mining village, sparking the biggest manhunt in Nottinghamshire Police history. Sherwood is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
