27 March 2017 (2017-03-27)– 28 August 2019 (2019-08-28)
Harlots is a period drama television series created by Alison Newman and Moira Buffini and inspired by The Covent Garden Ladies by British historian Hallie Rubenhold. The series focuses on Margaret Wells, who runs a brothel in 18th-century London and struggles to secure a better future for her daughters in an unpredictable environment.
The series premiered on 27 March 2017 on ITV Encore in the United Kingdom, and on 29 March 2017 on Hulu in the United States. It was subsequently renewed for a second series that premiered on 11 July 2018 in the United States, and on 14 February 2019 in the UK via on-demand service StarzPlay, to which it moved after ITV Encore closed. On September 24, 2018, Harlots was renewed for a third season, which premiered in the United States on July 10, 2019, and in the UK the following day.[1][2][3] On June 10, 2020, it was reported that Hulu had cancelled the series after three seasons.[4] After this, the BBC acquired the UK rights to broadcast all three series, with the first two episodes of the first season aired on BBC Two on 5 August 2020.[5]
Plot
In 1760s London, women's opportunities for economic advancement are either through marriage or prostitution. The city's brothels are run by canny and determined businesswomen, such as Margaret Wells and Lydia Quigley, but there is a new morality on the rise. Religious evangelists demand the closure of brothels and the police are happy to launch brutal raids.[6]
The show revolves around Wells' determination to improve her life and the lives of those in her "family" by moving her brothel to Greek Street in Soho to serve a wealthier clientele in Georgian society. Her move to Greek Street puts her into direct conflict with a rival madame, Lydia Quigley, for whom she had previously worked. Quigley operates an elite brothel in Golden Square that serves rich, influential people.
Samantha Morton as Margaret Wells, the intelligent and strategic madam of an up-and-coming brothel who is determined to improve her fortune; a former sex worker of Lydia Quigley's
Lesley Manville as Lydia Quigley, the ruthless madam of a posh brothel with clients from the judiciary, nobility, and upper echelons of Georgian society
Jessica Brown Findlay as Charlotte Wells, the elder daughter of Margaret Wells and a witty courtesan who is coveted by society's elite
Eloise Smyth as Lucy Wells, the younger and favoured daughter of Margaret Wells, and a reluctant sex worker who earns an arrangement with Lord Fallon
Dorothy Atkinson as Florence Scanwell, a religious zealot who opposes sex work and becomes a pawn for Lydia Quigley
Pippa Bennett-Warner as Harriet Lennox, a slave of Nathaniel Lennox (a former lover of Margaret Wells) who is brought to England as his "wife" and mother of two children, and becomes a sex worker for Margaret Wells
Kate Fleetwood as Nancy Birch, a longtime friend and neighbour of Margaret Wells, whose sex work specialty is bondage and domination
Holli Dempsey as Emily Lacey, a fiery, opinionated and impulsive sex worker who deserts Margaret Wells for what she believes are better prospects at Lydia Quigley's brothel. Emily is the love interest of Charles Quigley
Douggie McMeekin as Charles Quigley, the inept son and aide of Lydia Quigley who takes a liking to Emily Lacey (season 1–2)
Edward Hogg as Thomas Haxby, the estate manager of the house where Sir George Howard has Charlotte Wells live (season 1)
Richard McCabe as Justice Cunliffe, a judge in the employ of the Spartans, a shady society of elite gentlemen pursuing pleasure, rape and murder (season 1)
Danny Sapani as William North, the loving partner and common law husband of Margaret Wells, and a father figure to Charlotte and Lucy, who was born a free Black man in England to a woman who was a slave
Hugh Skinner as Sir George Howard, an aspiring Member of Parliament who has an arrangement with Charlotte Wells to receive her exclusive services (season 1)
Liv Tyler as Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam (season 2–3)
Julian Rhind-Tutt as Harcourt Fitzwilliam, Marquess of Blayne, the Archon of the Spartans (season 2-3)
Anna Calder-Marshall as Mrs. May, a retired bawd, once the mistress of Lydia Quigley's late father, who acts alternatively as a mother-like figure to Lydia, as well as being her casually cruel corruptor and tormentor (season 2-3).
Daisy Head as Kate Bottomley (season 3), a young woman sent to an insane asylum by her conservative family when they catch her in the climax of sexual passion with a boyfriend. In the asylum, Kate develops an unlikely mother-daughter bond with Lydia Quigley.
Recurring
Francesca Mills as Cherry Dorrington, a sex worker with dwarfism (series 2-3)
Roy Beck as Mr. Abbadon
Rosalind Eleazar as Violet Cross, a Black sex worker and adept thief who works for Nancy Birch
Brothel owner Margaret Wells plans to move up in the world by taking over a house in London's Greek Street. Her daughter Lucy, harlots Kitty, Fannie and disgruntled Emily Lacy live with Margaret's lover Will and their young son Jacob. Her childhood best friend, fiercely loyal Nancy Birch, specializes in flagellation at her house. Well-connected rival brothel owner Lydia Quigley, mother of a spoiled man-baby Charles, enlists religious crusaders and constables to raid Margaret's house. Quigley is the cruel bawd who exploited Margaret and Nancy as children. After paying a huge £100 fine, Margaret cannot make the final payment on her new house. She plans to auction off Lucy's virginity to the highest bidder, just as she did with her older daughter Charlotte, now the most glamourous harlot in London. Buffoonish Sir George Howard expects Charlotte to sign a contract to formally become her "keeper", but she refuses. In a fit of jealousy, he successfully bids for Lucy's virginity. Charlotte makes the acquaintance of an aspiring male harlot, attractive Irishman Daniel Marney. Emily Lacey deserts Margaret to work for Lydia but instantly regrets it.
2
2
"Episode 2"
Coky Giedroyc
Moira Buffini
3April2017(2017-04-03)
5 April 2017
Margaret discovers one of Lydia's former girls, Mary Cooper, on the streets dying of French pox and plans to use her to get revenge against Lydia. On the behest of Justice Cunliffe, Lydia tricks and procures a virgin girl for a secret group of wealthy men referred to as "The Spartans" so they can rape her. Margaret's former lover, plantation and slave owner Nathaniel Lennox, returns from America with his enslaved mistress, Harriet, their two little children and his disdainful adult son by his late wife, Benjamin. Nathaniel agrees to invest in her new house. Sir George leaves his pompous servant, Haxby, to watch over his property, including Charlotte. Lucy's virginity is given once and sold twice. Lydia fears the girl she kidnapped may have been murdered.
3
3
"Episode 3"
Coky Giedroyc
Cat Jones
10April2017(2017-04-10)
12 April 2017
Margaret's move to the Greek Street house is initially thwarted by a group of thugs hired by Lydia. Nathaniel Lennox suddenly dies, revealing that he never signed Harriet's freedom papers and she is ejected from the house by Benjamin, who spitefully keeps her children as his slaves to be sold in America. Lucy is hired to spend a few days with the sadistic Lord and Lady Repton at their country estate and finds herself out of her depth. Sir George Howard's wife tries to curb Charlotte's wasteful spending but is unsuccessful. Lydia has left the dead body of Mary Cooper as a surprise in Margaret's new house for her to find. Emily Lacey, locked into her room and unable to escape, is starved and required to service Lydia's most feared and abusive client, Mr. Osborne, but Charles tries feebly to protect her. Justice Cunliffe is looking for a new, virgin girl for his aristocratic clients, but Lydia is reluctant to provide one without some assurances.
4
4
"Episode 4"
China Moo-Young
Debbie O'Malley
17April2017(2017-04-17)
19 April 2017
Margaret's business suffers from blind zealot Florence Scanwell's endless religious tirades, ordered under duress by Lydia, who eyes Scanwell's innocent daughter Amelia with sinister intent. Charlotte suggests a masquerade party to save her mother's business and goes seeking potential guests, especially arrogant Lord Fallon. Lucy is failing to thrive in her new role, can't attract a keeper and her confidence plummets. Emily tries to run away and rejoin Margaret's brothel but Margaret refuses to forgive her. The masquerade brings together many unexpected guests and girls and Lucy scores her first public success. Amelia Scanwell, befriended by pickpocket Violet, joins the party for a glimpse of Margaret's brothel. Desperate to make money to buy her children from Benjamin, Harriet uses her charms on Lord Repton to promote herself to harlot. The rift between Charlotte and Sir George widens due to jealous spite, and he has sex with Lucy. Charlotte retaliates by impulsively having sex with Haxby. Charles foolishly brings some of Lydia's girls to the masquerade and one of them deserts to work for Margaret. Despite this failure, Charles stands up to his mother and bans Osborne from Lydia's brothel. Lydia finds and imprisons another virgin for The Spartans in exchange for one of their names, Lord Fallon.
5
5
"Episode 5"
China Moo-Young
Jane English
24April2017(2017-04-24)
26 April 2017
The wildly successful masquerade party leaves Margaret's coffers flush, and she visits Lydia to offer a truce and settle the debts of the girl who deserted Lydia at the masquerade. Beaten and bloodied by Lydia, Emily manages to escape the brothel by drugging Charles with laudanum, nearly killing him, but can find nowhere to go. Charlotte is desperate to attract a new keeper, while Sir George's outrageous behavior escalates to violence and social scandal when Charlotte tries to leave him. Harriet excels in her new position, but Benjamin puts an impossible price on her children and plans to leave soon for America. Lydia is now certain that the Spartans are murdering their victims. Lord Fallon wishes to be Lucy's keeper, to the delight of Margaret, but his strange aggression alarms Lucy and she refuses. Violet and Amelia continue to meet secretly as their mutual attraction must be hidden from Mrs. Scanwell. Emily, sought by vengeful Lydia, is taken in by tough but kindhearted Nancy Birch. Lydia refuses to procure more girls when she realizes Justice Cunliffe is just a lackey.
6
6
"Episode 6"
China Moo-Young
Moira Buffini
1May2017(2017-05-01)
3 May 2017
Benjamin Lennox demands immediate repayment on the loan his father gave the brothel and plans to leave for Virginia, taking Harriet's children with him. The money from the masquerade would be enough, but Harriet's share is insufficient to buy her children. Charlotte has left Sir George, penniless, and wishes for the freedom of America with Daniel Marney. Lydia is spying on Margaret's house night and day for signs of Emily Lacey. Fanny is pregnant and too far gone to have an abortion. To spite Charlotte, Sir George appears and demands to be Lucy's keeper, paying Margaret handsomely for the privilege, seemingly solving all of their problems. Unwilling Lucy defends herself from George's attack and Margaret finishes him off to keep her daughter safe, putting all of the house occupants in danger. Will, Nancy and innocent Jacob dispose of Sir George. Lydia recaptures Emily after Margaret betrays her whereabouts to gain time to save Lucy. Mrs. Scanwell confesses her past as a sex worker to Amelia in an effort to break free from Lydia, to no avail, as Lydia threatens Amelia instead. Charlotte and Daniel try to recover her money from Sir George's house but Haxby fights them off and is knocked down. Lydia is back on board with providing girls as High Priestess to the Spartans, who have grown more bloodthirsty.
7
7
"Episode 7"
Jill Robertson
Cat Jones
8May2017(2017-05-08)
10 May 2017
Sir George is found murdered and Charlotte and Daniel Marney are arrested in place of the true culprits, slandered by Haxby. Margaret's world starts to crumble as William and Jacob have disappeared, and the harlots in her house rebel. Lydia has imprisoned Emily Lacey in a warehouse with foul intentions but Charles has forgiven Emily and frees her before she becomes the Spartans' next victim. Daniel fears Charlotte might betray him to escape jail but she refuses to abandon him. Mrs. Scanwell seeks an alliance with Margaret to save Amelia from Lydia's threats. Justice Cunliffe seeks membership in The Spartans behind Lydia's back. Will promises to help Harriet get her children back but Harriet blackmails Margaret for the money anyway. Lydia suspects Sir George was murdered at Margaret's brothel and forces Amelia to make a false statement against Margaret to Justice Cunliffe. Fanny is about to give birth.
8
8
"Episode 8"
Jill Robertson
Moira Buffini and Jane English
15May2017(2017-05-15)
17 May 2017
Lydia wants Charlotte to abandon her mother and come to Golden Square instead. Lady Howard, now free as a widow, sides with Charlotte over Haxby and arranges Daniel's freedom. Justice Cunliffe betrays Lydia for acceptance by The Spartans, who demand a fresh victim. William and Harriet team up to recover her children, and Benjamin returns to America without his extortion money. Emily Lacey conspires with Charles against his mother and they find a new independence together. Margaret is blackmailed by Cunliffe to kidnap Amelia for the Spartans, but Amelia voluntarily helps to set a trap for him. Lydia pulls off a double cross for Justice Cunliffe, who is murdered by Lord Fallon, witnessed by a terrified molly boy. Charlotte appears to disown Margaret and Daniel to remain with Lydia, but she reveals to Daniel that she aims to take down Lydia's house from the inside. Fanny gives birth to a daughter. Lucy remains at her mother's brothel, newly wiser.
Charlotte settles into life at Lydia Quigley's house, while secretly plotting against her. Lydia Quigley is put in jail. Margaret kicks Harriet and her children out of her house, as she suspects that Harriet wants to be with William. Margaret and William's marriage continues to crumble in the wake of the murder of George Howard. Kitty is murdered.
The women all react to Kitty's murder. Charlotte bails Lydia Quigley out of jail. Nancy is arrested and flogged.
11
3
"Episode 3"
Coky Giedroyc
Jane English
18July2018(2018-07-18)
Lydia Quigley is no longer allowed to conduct her business at Golden Square. Emily Lacey tries to organize with Charles a competing house where she is the head bawd. At a party at Pleasure Gardens, Margaret punches and knocks down Lydia. Lucy walks into the house of Lord Fallon to become his kept woman.
Quigley is no longer about to run her business but gains a powerful protector in the head justice, whom she has sex with in order to have him approve of her boarding house.
13
5
"Episode 5"
Philippa Langdale
Jane English
1August2018(2018-08-01)
Charlotte goes along with Quigley, who entraps a poor virgin girl and forces her into a life of sex work, where her first sexual encounter will be sold to the highest bidder. Charlotte tries to save the virgin, and devises a plan whereby Noah Webster will disguise himself as a wealthy businessman, and they will give him enough money to buy her. Then instead of taking her virginity, they will free her. However, Quigley figures out the ruse, throws Noah out, and awards the Marquess of Blayne the "honour" of taking the girl's virginity.
14
6
"Episode 6"
Philippa Langdale
Moira Buffini
8August2018(2018-08-08)
Rasselas tells Charlotte that Lord Fallon was responsible for the murder of Justice Cunliffe. This is overheard by one of Quigley's girls, who tells both Quigley and Lord Fallon what Rasselas has said. Lord Fallon runs after Rasselas to murder him, but as he is about to stab him, Amelia Scanwell accidentally steps in front of Rasselas, and she is stabbed instead. Isabella reveals to Charlotte that she has a secret, illegitimate child who she sends to a boarding school away from them. Meanwhile, Margaret Wells, in order to protect Lucy from being blackmailed by Lord Fallon, confesses that she is the one who murdered Sir George.
15
7
"Episode 7"
Jill Robertson
Cat Jones
15August2018(2018-08-15)
In a court hearing, Lucy provides an alibi for Lord Fallon, who walks free and has the charges of stabbing Amelia Scanwell dropped. Margaret Wells is scheduled to hang, but in the middle of the execution, Josiah Hunt changes his mind and stops the hanging. Hunt sends Margaret away to America.
16
8
"Episode 8"
Jill Robertson
Moira Buffini
22August2018(2018-08-22)
William North and Harriet Lennox attempt to search for Margaret Wells' body, but turn up empty handed. They confront Josiah Hunt, who admits that Margaret was not executed, but was instead shipped to America. Quigley is committed to Bedlam by her son. Lord Fallon attempts to finish off a recovering Amelia Scanwell, but is instead captured by Nancy, Charlotte, and Violet. Lord Fallon is later found and rescued by the Marquess of Blayne, but is persuaded to kill himself, leaving a signed confession to murder and the attack on Amelia, so that their secret gentlemen's club can continue.
A year after the end of Series Two. New pimps come to town in the form of the Pincher brothers, Isaac (Alfie Allen) and Hal (Ash Hunter), the new owners of the Scaracen's Head tavern. While Charlotte fights back against the Pincher's attempts to take over London's bawdy houses, Emily Lacy becomes Hal's mistress, which Isaac resents. Lucy tries to branch out on her own by joining forces with Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey (Angela Griffin) and her son, Fredo (Aidan Cheng), to establish a gentleman's tailoring business that will provide cover for a molly-house. Dissolute Charles Quigley has lost his mother's house at Golden Square and Lucy and her new partners buy it, incurring a heavy debt. In Bedlam, Lydia Quigley continues to suffer Charles' abandonment and the experimental "treatments" of her doctors.
18
2
"Episode 2"
Robin Sheppard
Jessica Ruston
July17,2019(2019-07-17)
After Isaac Pincher sets fire to Charlotte's house on Greek Street, she and the girls are determined to fight back. Lucy suggests a diversion to Mrs. Harvey that allows them to put their business on display while allowing Nance to steal the Pincher's money. With the Pincher's defeated, the warring forces call a truce and Isaac begins a passionate secret affair with Charlotte. Lydia makes a friend in Bedlam with the arrival of a lovely young woman, Kate Bottomley, betrayed by her family over her first love affair. The two make a daring escape from Bedlam and take refuge with Mrs. May, Lydia's former bawd.
19
3
"Episode 3"
Robin Sheppard
Jane English
July24,2019(2019-07-24)
Will North arranges an upcoming boxing match for Jack, which is the talk of the town, as Lady Isabella has agreed to host it at her house. Margaret returns to London, now married to small landowner Jonas Young from America. She meets with her family, with Jonas' uncomfortable blessing, and encourages them to go back to America with her. Lydia and Kate are tested by Mrs. May's heartless and stingy nature. The boxing match is a crowded spectacle which even Mrs. Quigley and Kate attend. Away from the crowd, the Pincher brothers fight over Charlotte, who is accidentally pushed off a staircase by Hal. She is discovered dying by Mrs. Quigley and Kate but no one witnesses the accident.
The magistrate is called in to investigate and the family must shield Margaret from him as she is nearly insensible with grief. Isaac is deeply distraught and begins to unravel. In her first outing as a harlot, Kate is steered by the Marquis of Blayne toward the crown Prince, an almost unbelievable opportunity, but the meeting is a failure. Lydia sends Kate to Cherry to learn "vulgarity". Lydia finally responds to Mrs. May's harshness with hate and finds herself an unexpected fortune. At the wake for Charlotte at Lady Isabella's house, many come to pay their respects, but not all are welcome. Lydia Quigley sees Margaret through a window and realizes she is still alive.
21
5
"Episode 5"
Chloë Thomas
Vivienne Harvey
August7,2019(2019-08-07)
Lydia realizes that she has leverage over Margaret and plots how to use it. Discovering the truth through Emily Lacy, the Pincher brothers blackmail Jonas into selling them his land at a ruinous price. Isaac convinces Hal to flip that land to another buyer and they make a small fortune. Quigley convinces the Marquess of Blayne to give Kate another chance with the Prince, which is successful. Isaac agrees to give money to Emily Lacey for her to leave London, but Emily fears that she might be killed instead, and brings Margaret and Nance along to the meeting, who suspect Isaac of Charlotte's murder. Isaac wildly threatens the women with a pistol, shooting at Emily but he is immediately shot dead by Nance instead. Rosamund, a rival of Emily, witnesses the women running from the scene.
22
6
"Episode 6"
Chloë Thomas
Jessica Ruston
August14,2019(2019-08-14)
Emily, Margaret and Nance all struggle with Isaac's death. Hal is raging with grief over Isaac's death and Emily is being blackmailed by Rosamund. Jack is kidnapped and is being held by slavers bound for America and soon Harriet joins him and other kidnap victims. Margaret leaves London with Jonas to return to America and wants to take Lucy with her, who declines. Hal confides to Emily that he was the one who killed Charlotte, albeit accidentally.
23
7
"Episode 7"
Debs Paterson
Moira Buffini
August21,2019(2019-08-21)
Kate becomes the mistress of the Prince and tries to warn him that Blayne is not who he seems. Ann Pettifer has been forced to give birth to the Marquess' child, a son whom he adores. Lucy is thrown into debtor's jail in place of Mrs. Harvey, who reneges on her debts and tries to flee. Lady Isabella kidnaps Blayne's son and hides him with Ann in order to get some leverage over her brother.
24
8
"Episode 8"
Debs Paterson
Moira Buffini and Jane English
August28,2019(2019-08-28)
Ann Pettifer is bullied into giving up her baby to Blayne for money but later she is robbed and brutally slashed across the face by one of his men. North rescues Jack and Harriet from being shipped overseas into slavery, which Hal had been secretly orchestrating. Emily Lacy turns over Hal to a navy press gang and takes over the tavern for herself, ejecting Rosamond. Lady Isabella, Ann and Kate confide in the Prince about Blayne's many crimes and the Prince terminates Blayne's governorship. Will makes Mrs. Harvey and Fredo take their place in jail and Lucy is released from debtor's prison. In a final confrontation with Blayne and Lydia Quigley at Golden Square, Lucy becomes Lydia's unlikely partner.
Production
Development
On 26 May 2016, it was announced that Hulu and ITV had given the co-production a programme order for a first series consisting of eight episodes. The series was set to be written by Moira Buffini and based upon an original idea by Buffini and Alison Newman. Directors were expected to include Coky Giedroyc and China Moo-Young. Lawrence Till was set as producer, with Alison Owen and Debra Hayward also on board to executive produce alongside Alison Carpenter, Buffini, and Newman. Production companies involved with the series include Monumental Pictures.[9][10][11]
On 27 July 2017, it was announced at the annual Television Critics Association summer press tour that the programme had been renewed for a second series.[12] On 23 April 2018, it was announced that the second season would premiere in the United States on 11 July 2018.[7]
On April 12, 2019, it was announced that the third series was set to premiere in the United States on July 10, 2019.[2]
Casting
Alongside the initial series order announcement, it was confirmed that the series would star Samantha Morton, Lesley Manville, and Jessica Brown Findlay.[9] On 7 July 2016, it was announced that Eloise Smyth had been cast in a series regular role.[13]
On 16 October 2017, it was announced that Liv Tyler was joining the main cast in series two.[14]
All three seasons have been received positively by critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 94% with an average rating of 7.08/10 based on 48 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Harlots uses its titillating subject matter to draw the viewer into a deeper drama about the intersection of survival, business, and family."[16]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the season a score of 74 out of 100 based on 17 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[17]
The second series holds an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.83/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "Harlots maintains its lavish grit and holds an 18th-century mirror up to our contemporary world of troubling gender-based suffering."[18]
The third series holds an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.31/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "Delightfully uncomfortable, Harlots continues to push boundaries, but never at the expense of its deliciously campy fun."[19] Metacritic reports a score of 77 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[20]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
