Latest corset-comedy is a witty and

Lily James and Emily Beecham head a terrific cast in a tale filled with memorable scenes, unforgettable characters and delicious dialogue, writes James Croot.

Those desperate to fill a Bridgerton-sized hole in their viewing schedule, or looking for the next Great corseted comedy, fear not, I’ve found your new favourite watch. The Pursuit of Love (which begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video on Friday) is, like Shonda Rhimes’ rule-breaking corset drama and Tony McNamara’s anarchic, anti-historical take on the rise to power of Catherine the Great, filled with memorable scenes, unforgettable characters and delicious dialogue.

Based on author Nancy Mitford’s best-selling novel of the same name (you might be more familiar with its 1949 sequel Love in a Cold Climate), The Pursuit of Love is the story of cousins Fanny Logan (Emily Beecham) and Linda Radley (Lily James).

Growing up, the disparate pair spent every Christmas together at the latter’s country home.

It was there that the traditionally schooled Fanny, raised by her aunt because of her mother’s propensity for short-lived affairs, was given a very different education by her more high-spirited, adventurous relation.

A ‘‘wild and nervous creature full of passion and longing’’ as Fanny colourfully describes her, like her sisters, Linda’s freedoms were curtailed by her domineering father ‘‘Uncle’’ Matthew

(Dominic West).

Hating foreigners and children in equal measure, he regularly beat and refused to educate his progeny, and was deeply suspicious of the influence Fanny might have on Linda.

‘‘Awful words like mantelpiece and notebook keep coming out of her mouth,’’ he grumbles during an evening meal, equally bridling at suggestions his own kids might benefit from time spent in more polite society.

‘‘They have everything they need here – church, stables and a tennis court.’’

However, with her older sister preparing to marry her ‘‘ancient’’ 45-year-old suitor (‘‘If he was a dog, you’d have to put him down,’’ she jokes to her unimpressed sibling), Linda has decided that – at 17 – her life has to begin, especially now that the hedonistic Bohemian Lord Merlin (Fleabag’s Andrew Scott) has taken a shine to her. Best known for her performances in The Newsroom, Match Point and Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Mortimer’s first stint in the director’s chair is a well-paced, witty and sumptuous-looking triumph.

From the visually arresting opening flashforward set in war-ravaged London, through to its use of freeze-frames, introductory captioning and Sofia Coppola-esque infusion of 1970s and 80s British groups like New Order, Bryan Ferry, T Rex and Marianne Faithfull into the soundtrack, The Pursuit of Love is full of delights from start to finish.

In fact, the only disappointment is that there are only three episodes.