Harlots, the forgotten ITV period drama starring Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton, has climbed Netflix’s streaming chart.
The series, based on Hallie Rubenhold’s 2005 novel The Covent Garden Ladies, follows rival brothel owners Lydia Quigley (Manville) and Margaret Wells (Morton) as they each seek a better life in 18th-century London.
Co-starring Jessica Brown Findlay and Liv Tyler in supporting roles, the period drama aired three seasons on ITV Encore and StarzPlay before its cancellation in 2019, but has found a new lease of life after being added to Netflix on Tuesday (1 July).
As per FlixPatrol, Harlots climbed to #8 on the streamer’s UK charts on Wednesday (2 July), with the period drama improving upon this position on Thursday (3 July) as it moved up another two places to #6.
The series also proved to be a hit with critics, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting respective approval ratings of 92%, 100% and 100% for its three seasons. Referring to the show’s final season, the site’s critical consensus noted the series’ “deliciously campy” tone.
ITV
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“The show teems with actors having the time of their lives roaring out one another’s full names, city streets with a triple-cross around every corner, a gleefully anachronistic score and poisonously vibrant costumes,” wrote AV Club.
The Hollywood Reporter was similarly positive, writing: “[Harlots is] a thrilling, brainy bodice-ripper that combines the epic wordplay of Shakespeare, the ruthless political survivalism of Machiavelli and the gutting sentimentality of Mario Puzo.”
“In a world of arson, hangings, incest, bare-knuckle boxing, molly houses and murderous cults, the fact that Harlots still manages to keep its viewers on their toes is a true testament to its greatness,” noted The Guardian.
ITV
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With Harlots back in the charts, Manville shared with Digital Spy that she relished the chance to portray the “nasty” Lydia, saying: “I do love the fact that she was described as the Lady Macbeth of brothel keepers – it’s a pretty enticing character brief to be given!
“It’s such a deliciously horrible character to play and I did really enjoy it, I hate to say… I really enjoyed being nasty! I loved it. I loved the cheek, the verve, the gusto, the in-yer-face-ness of Lydia very much!”
Harlots is streaming now on Netflix.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.