Netflix snaps up sex-filled period drama with impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score - and it makes Bridgerton look tame
- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com
Netflix has snapped up a sex-filled period drama with an impressive 97 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score - and it makes Bridgerton look tame.
Harlots, originally released in 2017 and previously broadcast by now-defunct channel ITV Encore and BBC Two, details the booming sex industry of 18th century London.
The bawdy show follows feuding madams Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) and Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville) and the prostitutes who live in their brothels.
All three series of the highly-rated programme, set in Georgian England in the 1760s, are now available to stream on Netflix, as of July 1.
The first episode of Harlots, for instance, sees Margaret sell her daughter's virginity to pay a fine after a night-watchmen's raid - and opens with a compilation of the 'Harlots' having sex with customers.
Harlots (pictured), originally released in 2017 and previously broadcast by BBC Two, details the booming sex industry of 18th century London
The bawdy show (pictured) follows feuding madams Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) and Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville ) and the prostitutes who live in their brothels
All three series of the highly-rated programme (pictured) are now available to stream on Netflix, as of July 1
Harlots boasts a star-studded cast, with Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) as a prostitute, Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) as an aspiring MP who uses her services and Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings) as an aristocrat.
The programme was originally released on the ITV Encore channel, which was created in 2014 to show the channel's original drama, before its closure in 2018.
Meanwhile, the series - influenced by 1700s prostitution guidebook Harris's List Of Covent Garden Ladies - was broadcast to American viewers via Hulu.
The BBC acquired its UK broadcasting rights in 2020, which saw the show receive renewed attention.
Actress Lesley said at the time, Radio Times reports: 'Yes! I hadn't thought of that, I hadn't thought of that at all.
'We finished season three and I think we all thought that was it. You know, there might be [a series renewal]! Let's start writing the letters now.
'I'd always be interested - obviously I'd be interested, I had nothing but a pleasurable time doing all three series, and it was one of those blissful jobs, so I'd definitely [give] that a lot of consideration but it's certainly not something that's been talked about.
'Maybe you could start a campaign.'
The programme starts with Margaret's daughter Lucy (Eloise Smyth, pictured) reading out reviews of the brothel's residents
Margaret (pictured) makes clear her ambitions to move to the more upmarket Greek Street in Soho
But her plans are foiled when Lydia (pictured) orchestrates a raid of the area with the help of Florence Scanwell (Dorothy Atkinson) - a religious zealot who opposes sex work and becomes her pawn
She said she felt it had been 'hidden away' in programming schedules upon its original release - so she was 'delighted' it was coming to the BBC at the time.
Viewers were quick to take to X to comment on the risque show in 2020, when it was shown on BBC Two.
One wrote: 'This started off with a bang in every sense of the word.'
A second added: 'Spanking, nipples and bare bottoms so far on #harlots.'
The programme starts with Margaret's daughter Lucy (Eloise Smyth) reading out reviews of the brothel's residents.
Viewers are soon introduced to Nancy Birch (Kate Fleetwood) - a longtime friend and neighbour of Margaret who specialises in domination.
They also meet sex workers Betsey Fletcher (Alexa Davies), Fanny Lambert (Bronwyn James) and Emily Lacey (Holli Dempsey).
The latter deserted Margaret to work for rival Lydia - but soon found her stay in the elite brothel nowhere near as luxurious as she once imagined.
Meanwhile, Margaret's oldest daughter Charlotte (Downton's Jessica) has a reputation as the city's most coveted courtesan. She is expected by Sir George Howard (Mamma Mia's Hugh, pictured) to sign a contract so he would formally become her 'keeper'
Prostitute Emily Lacey (Holli Dempsey, pictured) deserted Margaret to work for rival Lydia - but soon found her stay in the elite brothel nowhere near as luxurious as she once imagined
Margaret makes clear her ambitions to move to the more upmarket Greek Street in Soho.
But her plans are foiled when Lydia orchestrates a raid of the area with the help of Florence Scanwell (Dorothy Atkinson) - a religious zealot who opposes sex work and becomes her pawn.
The raid leaves Margaret with a £100 court fine - which she pays off by selling her youngest daughter's virginity.
She sets up a plan to sell to the highest bidder, after previously refusing one of the brothel's client's offers of £50 to have sex with her daughter.
Meanwhile, Margaret's oldest daughter Charlotte (Downton's Jessica) has a reputation as the city's most coveted courtesan.
She is expected by Sir George Howard (Mamma Mia's Hugh) to sign a contract so he would formally become her 'keeper'.
Viewers were quick to take to X to comment on the risque show in 2020, when it was shown on BBC Two
By becoming her keeper, George would pay for her lavish lifestyle in return for Charlotte having sex with nobody else and legally becoming his property.
In one amusing scene, he gifts her a pineapple, which he believes to be the finest luxury available - and later dons her clothes as he waits for her to return home.
But in a fit of jealousy, after discovering she had not been 'living like a nun' as promised, he successfully bids for Lucy's virginity.
While the pair then do not have sex, he forces Lucy to say otherwise.
Viewers were captivated by Hugh's character when the programme was aired on BBC Two in 2020 and laughed at the funny gesture of gifting a pineapple.
'No one wants a man who thinks she's a pineapple', wrote one, while a second joked: '"You are the pineapple of Great Britain." Imagine interrupting sex to say that.'
A third commented: 'Just what every woman wants, a pineapple.'
Some made comments on perceived inaccuracies in the show, saying it is not historically correct for the sex workers to have 'perfect hair and teeth'.
It comes hot on the heels of the success of Bridgerton (pictured) for Netflix, with series five and six of the period drama now reportedly confirmed
The fourth instalment of the much-loved Netflix series (pictured) will return to screens in 2026 and as of May, 'Netflix has shared a huge update on the show's future'
It comes hot on the heels of the success of Bridgerton for Netflix, with series five and six of the period drama now reportedly confirmed.
The fourth instalment of the much-loved Netflix series will return to screens in 2026 and as of May, 'Netflix has shared a huge update on the show's future'.
According to The Sun, Netflix has bagged a multi-million pound investment to make series five and six.
A TV insider told the publication: 'After introducing the controversial gender swap at the end of series three which saw Michael Stirling switched to Michaela, there is a chance execs could skip ahead to Francesca's story.
'They certainly weren't afraid to dabble with Julia Quinn's timeline by swapping the order of Colin and Benedict's tales.'
The comment was in reference to the introduction of Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), the cousin of Francesca Bridgerton's new husband John Stirling (Victor Alli), at the end of the last series.
Michaela, based on a character in the original Bridgerton books called Michael, leaves Francesca speechless - opening up a new romantic prospect for her, despite her recent marriage.
MailOnline contacted Netflix for comment about this at the time.
Series four, meanwhile, will centre on the love story of Luke Thompson's character Benedict Bridgerton and a new leading lady Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha.
Harlots is available to stream on Netflix.
