Bridgerton's PG Version Exists, but You Don't Get to Watch It

Summary

• A very select few get access to an entirely different version of Bridgerton
• Under contractual obligation, the show has made a version that eliminates the sex scenes.
• The reason for this is actually rather sweet.

Within the first few minutes of its first season, this elegant Regency-era series showed us what it was all about, as viewers were unceremoniously surprised by Jonathan Bailey 's buttocks as he engaged in a sexual act against a tree.

Watching Bridgerton with your parents can be awkward, the sex scenes seem to pop up at the most unexpected times, and things get hot, fast. Being in the same room as your parents during the infamous spoon scene, or when a dress is hastily lifted, is extremely uncomfortable. Now imagine your parents watching one of those scenes, but you are the one on the screen.

That was the dilemma for the star of Bridgerton's latest love story, which led to a rather unusual stipulation in the actress' contract.

Season 3 will be a steamy affair

The first part of Bridgerton Season 3 will grace Netflix with its presence on May 16 this year, with the second part to follow on June 13. The focus is on the love story of the next Bridgerton sibling, with Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington expected to passionately discover their feelings for each other.

The teaser trailer recently dropped, revealing an awkward but endearing encounter between the pair, and while fans will certainly be ready to watch the first episode next month, not everyone will be watching the same version.

Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope, has teased one scene in particular between the two leads where a piece of furniture is broken, and that is part of the reason for the PG version of the show.

Not for children (and parents)

Within the first five minutes of the show's first episode, it becomes clear how it earned its 18+ rating, and why a PG version was created: not for the sake of young children, or even the general audience, but for the parents of one of the actresses.

Coughlan, who plays Penelope, revealed that her contract stipulates that the PG version of the show must be available for her parents to watch, and she's not kidding.

Having been raised an Irish Catholic, the last thing Coughlan wants is for her beloved parents to see her get 'down to business' on screen with co-star Luke Newton. Out of respect for her parents and a desire to share her Bridgerton story with them, Coughlan's negotiations with Netflix and Shondaland included a request for an alternate cut of the season that excluded all explicit scenes.

With Penelope having her most prominent role in Season 3 and knowing Bridgerton, fans are more than certain that there will be several passionate scenes between her and Colin as their story unfolds. Understandably, this is not something she wants to share with her parents.

Penelope and Colin take the lead, and turn up the heat

Speaking of those scenes, Coughlan and Newton were given a fair amount of freedom to take the lead and have a say in how the scenes played out, which gave them a sense of empowerment. After filming was completed, Coughlan explained:

'We felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn't think they would be. They were great. It was fun.'

We can't wait to see what the upcoming season has in store for Colin and Penelope, but we expect it to be regal, raunchy and well worth the wait.

Would you like to see a sex-free version? Frankly, whatever your answer, you don't have that option. (Unless, of course, you're Nicola Coughlan's parents.)

Bridgerton Season 3 will be available to stream on Netflix on May 16.