For years, Bridgerton viewers have been waiting for Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) to cement their will they/won’t they romance.
Yet even the most diehard fans were no doubt left choking on their cornflakes when part two of season three was released on Netflix at 8am Thursday.
Just 15 minutes into the racy period drama, Penelope and Colin indulged in an explicit six-minute long sex scene.
It was no doubt a sight for sore (and tired) eyes after fans revealed they had missed out on sleep in excitement and even booked the day off work in order to watch the show immediately upon its release.
Episode five of Bridgerton features a six-minute long sex scene between Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton)
Fans were treated to the racy scene on Thursday morning when the final four episodes were released by Netflix
Nicola went topless in the racy scene as her co-star admired her naked figure
Viewers have been left in limbo for a month after the first part of the season ended on a cliffhanger, with Colin asking Penelope for her hand in marriage.
Fans of the fictional pair, lovingly dubbed ‘Polin’ were therefore ecstatic when the pair not only became engaged but indulged in a passionate sex scene 16 minutes into the scond half.
In the explicit scene, Penelope was being comforted by Luke after a row with her mother about her engagement, during which time they began kissing.
Luke then began to grope his fiancée before undoing her corset and admiring her naked figure.
The pair then moved to the chaise longue where Luke’s bare bottom was displayed before they touched each other intimately.
They checked in on each other constantly, with Penelope stating: ‘tell me what to do’, with Luke offering: ‘you could touch me.’
After warning his virginal bride that this ‘may hurt’ the pair then had sex, with Penelope asking at the end ‘can we do it again?’ to which Colin quipped: ‘give me 5 minutes, maybe 10.’
The racy scene lasted a total of six minutes – which was the combined length of all the steamy moments in part one.
While the most shocking, Colin and Penelope’s scene wasn’t the first steamy moment in part two.
Less than five minutes into episode five, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) was seen in bed with widow, Lady Tilley Arnold but their antics remained firmly under the covers.
Eager viewers said they only had a few hours’ sleep as they stayed up into the early hours to watch the cast attend the red carpet premiere before counting down to the 8am release.
Fans flooded X, formerly Twitter, to share their excitement and plans for the day, with some booking the day off work in advance to watch the next four episodes.
So after being promised the ‘steamiest season yet’, viewers were left somewhat disappointed by the lack of regency romps when part one of the drama was released
Nicola and Luke previously revealing that they filmed so many romps that by the end they were comfortable lounging around together naked between takes.
The Derry Girls star previously revealed: ‘I think we’ve won the sauciness for this series!’ as she detailed the sex scenes.
In the explicit scene, Penelope was being comforted by Luke after a row with her mother about her engagement, during which time they began kissing
The pair then moved to the chaise longue where Luke’s bare bottom was displayed before they touched each other intimately
They checked in on each other constantly, with Penelope stating: ‘tell me what to do’, with Luke offering: ‘you could touch me’
Nicola recently joked: ‘You know, it is hard, because I think women with my body type – women with perfect breasts – we don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough’
She teased what fans can expect to see, telling Entertainment Weekly: ‘We did break a piece of furniture while doing one scene. It’s a little bit like a stunt in which they’re like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna do this, this, and this.
‘But then they gave us freedom and we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do. That makes you feel quite empowered.
‘So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn’t think they would be. It was fun.’
She also revealed in an interview with the Radio Times: ‘There is one where I am very naked on camera and that was my idea, my choice.
‘It just felt like the biggest ‘f*** you’ to all the conversations surrounding my body. It was amazingly empowering. Having now watched those scenes, I’m so proud of them.’
When recently told she was ‘brave’ to film the sex scenes, Nicola joked in response: ‘You know, it is hard, because I think women with my body type – women with perfect breasts – we don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough, and I’m very proud as a member of the perfect breasts community.’
Despite her confidence now, the actress previously admitted she was initially terrified to film sex scenes with Luke .
She said on The One Show: ‘It’s not one to watch with the family. Take of that what you will.
‘It was terrifying. I am an Irish woman, and any Irish woman would feel like they can’t do this. And then I went and realised, it’s my job so I better.
‘I had a great partner, and it was terrifying, but really liberating. I was exhausted by the end.’
Nicola also confirmed that she and co-star Luke got ‘so comfortable’ that they would lounge together naked in between filming sex scenes.
While the most shocking, Colin and Penelope’s scene wasn’t the first steamy moment in part two
Less than five minutes into episode five, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) was seen in bed with widow, Lady Tilley Arnold but their antics remained firmly under the covers
In part one of season three, fans were treated to an update on married life for series two’s main characters Lord Anthony and Kate Sharma.
In fact, Anthony and Kate are in the first sex scene of the new series, which takes places 31 minutes into the first episode.
Fans were thrilled to see series two’s main characters Lord Anthony and Kate Sharma return in series three, after the close of the previous season saw the fan favourite couple marry.
The new episodes see the newlyweds enjoying married life after returning home from their honeymoon.
Elsewhere Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) also shared a very steamy kiss in the first four episodes.
And Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) was seen embarking on a secret affair with widow, Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New), despite an age gap.
Meanwhile, Colin has two threesomes – but to viewers disappointment, neither included Penelope.
The bachelor returned from his world travels and was keen to continue to enjoy the single life, visiting various women for steamy encounters, including two threesomes.
Colin and Penelope’s passion was instead a slow burner as the pair slowly came to realise their true feelings for one another.
Colin and Penelope’s passion was a slow burner in the first part as the pair slowly came to realise their true feelings for one another
In fact, Anthony and Kate were in the first sex scene of the new series, which took place 31 minutes into the first episode
Series three saw the newlyweds enjoying married life after returning home from their honeymoon
Colin had two threesomes in the beginning of season three – but to viewers disappointment, neither included Penelope
Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) was seen embarking on a secret affair with widow, Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New), despite an age gap
Colin was seen having a racy dream about his friend in episode three after the two share a brief but passionate kiss, leaving the bachelor very confused about his feelings.
Seeing his friend in his dreams, Colin imagines more sizzling interactions with Penelope.
He was later involved in another threesome but couldn’t help thinking about his friend.
Season three ended on a steamy cliffhanger as after being unable to think of anyone else, Colin eventually declared his love for Penelope in a carriage after she was left heartbroken by Lord Debling.
The pair finally gave into their passions, with Colin lifting up Penelope’s dress in the back of the carriage for a very steamy finale.