Margaret Wells Runs the Brothel That Keeps Her Family Alive

Harlots is a period drama about brothel owners in 18th-century London, and it earns its place as one of the smarter shows on the subject. Created by Moira Buffini, the series stars Samantha Morton as Margaret Wells, a woman running a house full of daughters while trying to move her business to a richer neighborhood in Georgian society. The show premiered on ITV Encore in the UK and Hulu in the US in 2017, ran for three seasons, and was canceled by Hulu in 2020.

Trailer, via Hulu.

Margaret Wells and the Family Business

Margaret Wells is the engine of the show. She is a businesswoman first, a mother second, and the series tracks her efforts to improve her family’s fortunes by moving her brothel to Greek Street in Soho. The move puts her directly against Lydia Quigley, a rival madame who runs an elite house in Golden Square and serves wealthy, influential clients.

The Women Running the Houses

The show treats its female leads as actual operators. Wells and Quigley are both canny businesswomen navigating a world where women’s economic options are limited to marriage or prostitution. The series draws on Hallie Rubenhold’s The Covent Garden Ladies as inspiration, and that historical grounding gives the characters weight.

The New Morality

Religious evangelists want the brothels shut down, and the police are willing to launch brutal raids to do it. That tension is the show’s central conflict. Wells is fighting not just for money but for survival, and the series captures that struggle with a sense of urgency.

The Cast

The ensemble is strong. Alfie Allen plays Isaac Pincher, Bronwyn James plays Fanny Lambert, Ben Lambert plays Lord Fallon, Holli Dempsey plays Emily Lacey, Rosalind Eleazar plays Violet Cross, Danny Sapani plays William North, Ash Hunter plays Hal Pincher, Pippa Bennett-Warner plays Harriet Lennox, and Angela Griffin plays Elizabeth Harvey. The show also brought in Liv Tyler for series two.

Season Premiere Dates

Renewals and Cancellations

The show was renewed for a third season on 24 September 2018. Hulu canceled it after three seasons on 10 June 2020. The BBC then acquired the UK rights, and the first two episodes aired on BBC Two on 5 August 2020.

Verdict

Harlots is a confident, well-made period drama that respects its characters and its historical context. It is not a perfect show — the pacing can drag in middle episodes, and some subplots feel like filler — but the core performances and the central conflict between Wells and Quigley keep it compelling.

Key Facts
– Creator: Moira Buffini
– Networks: ITV Encore, Hulu
– Seasons: 3, 24 episodes
– First aired: 27 March 2017 (UK), 29 March 2017 (US)
– Last aired: 28 August 2019
– Final episode: unconfirmed

The show ends on a note that leaves the audience wanting more, which is rare for a canceled series. It deserves a wider audience than it got.

18th century · Harlots · period drama · Samantha Morton · TV Review