The Pursuit of Love
As Linda faces problems, Lord Merlin takes her under his wing...
SUNDAY 16 May, 9pm BBC1 Drama
The friendship between close-knit cousins Linda (Lily James) and Fanny (Emily Beecham) hits a stumbling block this week, due to Linda’s quest for romance. As a new suitor, communist Christian Talbot, comes Linda’s way, she makes a big decision. Fearful that Linda is following a dangerous path – like Fanny’s mother, ‘The Bolter’ – Fanny confronts Linda, but can they reconcile?
Best friends Linda and Fanny are moving in different directions as The Pursuit of Love continues.
While sensible Fanny (Emily Beecham) settles down with Oxford don Alfred (Shazad Latif), impulsive Linda (Lily James) is unhappy in her marriage to pompous Tony Kroesig (Freddie
Fox) and disappointed by motherhood. But she’s soon drawn back into the path of her decadent former neighbour Lord Merlin and embraces a life of partying.
‘We all have people in our lives that we meet at an impressionable age and it’s a portal to a whole new world,’ says Sherlock star Andrew Scott, who plays the flamboyant aristocrat. ‘Merlin provides that for Linda. He notices a romantic nature and that she needs an education in the arts. He sort of loves her.’
Linda then meets handsome communist Christian Talbot (James Frecheville) and embarks on a liaison. Merlin believes she is throwing herself away on another unsuitable man.
As Linda becomes more involved with Christian’s fight against fascism and as the Spanish Civil War looms, will she find happiness or will her fun-loving nature be tamed by more serious political matters?