Bridgerton has been branded "Downton with d**ks" according to Strictly's Will Mellor, who's admitted that his wife is "addicted" to the saucy show. In an unearthed episode of the Two Pints with Will and Ralf podcast, he reunited with Kathryn Drysdale for the same time in years, after the sitcom they and Ralf Little were in together ended in 2011.
He told her: "I got told [Bridgerton] is like Downton with d**ks. Not meaning the people, but everyone shagging!" Kathryn awkwardly smiled, as he added: "My wife Michelle watched it and just said, 'I'm addicted to this Bridgerton' and every time I walked in the room, someone was sh***ing!"
Will then exclaimed: "I was like, 'That's nothing like Downton!'" Kathryn's co-star Nicola Coughlan, who plays husband-seeking Penelope Featherington, spoke out earlier this week about how she feels the show prioritises women's pleasure and makes episodes that please the female gaze.
She revealed that she was "proud" of that emphasis, despite the drama being set in the notoriously repressive era of the 1800s, when real-life women had very different roles than they do today. Back on the podcast, Will praised Kathryn for the show's "humongous success", after reminiscing on the days that they played Gaz and Louise in Two Pints.
"I think the reason for its success is most of the world was in lockdown [when the show started] and we were just craving a bit of colour, a bit of joy," she suggested. As she and Ralf praised her for looking every inch the retro "fashionista", she proudly added: "Every costume was made from scratch, which you don't normally get with period dramas!"
READ MORE: Nicola Coughlan opens up on 'love' for Bridgerton co-star Luke Newton [LATEST]
However, as she also revealed in a previous interview with Glamour Magazine, the wardrobe choices weren't free from stress and strain.
"The sighs of relief when the corsets came off, that was funny!" She chuckled.
"Mine was ok as it was only a half corset but for the cast who had to wear a full one, which meant they had to sit upright all day, you’d hear the joy in their voices when they were allowed to step out of them!"
Thankfully, the costumes for Bridgerton don't seem to have been as restrictive as the corset Kim Kardashian wore at the New York Met Gala, reducing her waist to a minuscule 19 inches.
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It was recently revealed that she had to take lessons in how to breathe in the lung-squeezing outfit before heading out to the red carpet on the big day - and had to practise walking while wearing it.
She shuffled uncomfortably up the steps at the event, while those around her reportedly had fears that she could faint.
Naturally, the Bridgerton looks were less dramatic, but the metal boning in the corsets still proved uncomfortable.
To get a glimpse of Penelope as she searches for a husband, supported by Genevieve and the rest of the characters, head to Netflix as Part one of Season three is available for streaming from today (May 16).
Fans can also catch Two Pints with Will and Ralf, featuring Kathryn Drysdale and Susan Nickson, here.