Watch Love in a Cold Climate

Love in a Cold Climate is a British television series from 2001, based on Nancy Mitford’s novel of the same name. The six-part drama miniseries was produced by BBC Wales and aired on ITV in the UK. It featured an all-star cast, including Rosamund Pike, Alan Bates, and Sheila Hancock.

Set in the glamorous 1930s, Love in a Cold Climate follows the upper-class family of the Montdores, who reside in their sprawling estate of Hampton. The drama is told from the point of view of Fanny Logan, a young and free-spirited woman who is the daughter of the Montdores’ closest friend. Fanny spends a lot of her time in their company and serves as a confidante to the members of the family.

The Montdores are led by Lady Montdore, who is a manipulative, snobbish matriarch who is obsessed with securing marriages for her children. Her husband, Uncle Matthew, is boisterous and outspoken, with a fondness for shooting, hunting, and drinking. Their children are Cedric, a bookish and shy fellow, Polly, a beautiful and vain young woman, and Linda, who is the brightest and most intriguing of the siblings.

Alan Bates plays Lord Montdore, the deaf husband of Lady Montdore. Bates' character is the picture of an indulgent, elderly aristocrat, happy to let his wife run the show, yet always aware of his own station. Bates plays the role with great warmth and nuance, bringing a real humanity to the character, and his scenes with Lady Montdore are a real highlight of the series.

Rosamund Pike, who would later go on to star in films like Gone Girl and Hostiles, plays Fanny Logan. Pike depicts the character as a charming, smart, and resourceful young woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. Her performance is a masterclass in understatement, with Pike imbuing the character with a natural grace and poise that makes her the heart and soul of the series.

Sheila Hancock plays the role of Lady Montdore with great gusto, creating a villainess that is both deeply amusing and thoroughly reprehensible. Lady Montdore's absurdity is also the source of much of the comedy in the series and is an interesting contrast to the more serious themes of the story.

At its heart, Love in a Cold Climate is a story about class, love, and the price that must be paid for societal acceptance. It explores the romantic entanglements of the Montdores, their most loyal friends, and the young and beautiful people who surround them. The series paints a vivid picture of the 1930s British upper class, its flaws, and its rituals, from the dreaded "coming out" season to grand country estates with their staff of servants.

Throughout the series, the characters struggle with the expectations placed on them by their respective social classes and the rules and conventions that dictate their lives. The overarching themes of the story, such as love, happiness, and the search for meaning, are all explored with great sensitivity and nuance. The series is beautifully shot, with detailed and evocative production and costume design that transports the viewer back in time to the world of the Montdores.

Overall, Love in a Cold Climate is a fantastic British drama, featuring compelling characters, remarkable performances, and an engaging story that will appeal to anyone who loves period dramas. While it may not be a well-known or widely talked about series, it is a true gem that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed by more viewers today.

Love in a Cold Climate is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (8 episodes). The series first aired on October 29, 1980.