Ladies in Black, the period drama taking place in 1960s Australia, is now streaming in the UK.

Set in Sydney, the series follows a group of talented saleswomen who work in a classy department store. When teenager Lisa Miles (Clare Hughes) gets a summer job at the store, she is taken behind the curtain of the challenging world of retail.

Wide-eyed Lisa soon discovers more about the enigmatic ‘ladies in black’, ranging from their professional pursuits to their tumultuous relationships. As they spend more time together, a bond is formed.

The first season of the period drama, which consists of six episodes, debuted on Australian network ABC in June 2024, but UK audiences are now finally able to watch the series after it became available streaming service U (formerly known as UKTV Play).

Ladies in Black is fronted by a host female characters, including posh Brit Mrs Virginia Ambrose (Miranda Otto), happily married Fay Janosi (Jessica De Gouw) and aspiring businesswoman Magda Szombathelyi (Debi Mazar).

kate box, ladies in black

Bunya Entertainment/U

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Meanwhile, Azizi Donnelly plays the role of Angela Mansour, the daughter of the head of a rival fashion house, with the sneaky sales assistant potentially harbouring a hidden agenda.

Based on Madeleine St John’s 1993 novel The Women in Black, which itself was adapted into a film in 2018, the series has been praised for its “entertaining” but thought-provoking narrative.

“It’s interesting to be reminded of a the restrictions of a woman’s lot and the burden on men to provide in those times. This is handled well and not rammed down the audiences throat,” read one IMDB review of the series.

jessica de gouw, clare hughes, ladies in black

Bunya Entertainment/U

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“This is a delightfully light & entertaining yet accurate & dark portrayal of Australia’s behaviour to post war immigrants & women seeking financial independence through work,” added another.

A third read: “Loved this show, it was entertaining and light but still left me with food for thought in terms of culture and how it changes.”

Ladies in Black is available to stream on U.

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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a “telly addict” since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.