Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley looks regal in a figure-hugging red dress at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival – a day after the period drama dropped its raciest episodes yet

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By William

By Chikamso Chukwuenyem for Ny Breaking

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Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley looked regal at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Friday – a day after the period drama dropped its raciest episodes yet.

Simone, 29, who found fame on Sex Education and also on Netflix, looked flawless in a figure-hugging dark red dress, intricately designed with leaves that looked underwater.

She then shared a sweet greeting kiss with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, on the opening ceremony stage.

The monarch was on hand to present Ashley with the International Golden Nymph Award for Most Promising Talent at the 63rd annual festival.

Albert, 66, the eldest son of the late Grace Kelly, wore a black suit with a white shirt and a blue patterned tie.

Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley, 29, looked regal at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Friday – a day after the period drama dropped its raciest episodes yet

Simone, who rose to fame on Sex Education, including on Netflix, looked flawless in a dark red dress intricately designed with leaves that appeared underwater

Simone, who rose to fame on Sex Education, including on Netflix, looked flawless in a dark red dress intricately designed with leaves that appeared underwater

She then shared a sweet greeting kiss with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, 66, on the stage of the opening ceremony

She then shared a sweet greeting kiss with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, 66, on the stage of the opening ceremony

Bridgerton series three part 2 dropped on Netflix on Thursday, picking up where fans left Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Kate Bridgerton (Simone) and her husband Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who led series two, made regular appearances.

Even though Part 2 featured a six-minute sex scene, some fans were still unimpressed.

Fans returned to the very first series as Nicola, 37, stripped completely naked in front of her husband-to-be.

But they will be left disappointed as they watch and discover there isn’t much more to come.

And while VarietyAramide Timudu called the scene the “sexiest thing seen on television since Bridgerton series one,” the Evening standard Vicky Jessop thought the long-awaited regency party left a little to be desired.

The monarch was on hand to present Ashley with the International Golden Nymph Award for Most Promising Talent at the 63rd annual festival

The monarch was on hand to present Ashley with the International Golden Nymph Award for Most Promising Talent at the 63rd annual festival

Albert, the eldest son of the late Grace Kelly, wore a black suit with a white shirt and a blue patterned tie

Albert, the eldest son of the late Grace Kelly, wore a black suit with a white shirt and a blue patterned tie

Despite the fact that part 2 of Simone's series Bridgerton featured a six-minute sex scene between Nicola Coughlan (pictured) and Luke Newton, some fans and critics were unimpressed.

Despite the fact that part 2 of Simone’s series Bridgerton featured a six-minute sex scene between Nicola Coughlan (pictured) and Luke Newton, some fans and critics were unimpressed.

“This isn’t steamy,” she said. “Watching it feels like watching two teenagers struggle through an awkward clinch.”

Critics’ opinions on part two were largely limited to episodes five and six, with Netflix guarding the final two ahead of its main release on Thursday.

Vicky gave part two a scathing two-star review, asking: “Is Bridgerton losing its touch?”

The critics’ thoughts on Bridgerton series three, part two

Evening standard

Judgement:

Vicky Jessop: ‘This is not steamy. Watching it feels like watching two teenagers navigate their way through an awkward clinch. Is Bridgerton losing its touch? Francesca’s love affair with Lord John Stirling is worth a nap – all those awkward silences! Yeah, we get it, they’re shy!’

The Telegraph

Judgement:

Anita Singh: ‘Apart from Penelope’s heaving bosom, however, this third series remains a dud. Her extended sex scene with Colin has a cringe-inducing quality – think EL James’ Fifty Shades with all the terrible dialogue but no nipple clamps. Without the main couple, the plot barely exists.”

The independent

Judgement:

Kate Rosseinsky: ‘The wheels are starting to come off the Bridgerton carriage – and the final two episodes will have to be quite dramatic to get things back on track.’

The daily email

Judgement:

Christopher Stevens: ‘Stars Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton have been promising for weeks that Bridgerton will go all out this time, in two newly released episodes. And they weren’t lying…although for such an explicit sex scene, it was also strangely chaste.”

The times

Judgement:

Carol Midgley: ‘I call Bridgerton the ‘toffs, t**s and titles’ show, but another t-word comes into play here: tenderness. Coughlan’s aforementioned boobs should get some kind of award for all the work they do. Good lord, they move up and down in those dresses like a pair of airbags.”

Variety

Aramide Timudu: ‘The primary sex scene between Polin, with a full-length mirror and a chaise lounge, is one of the sexiest things we’ve seen on television since Bridgerton season 1. Fans may still complain about the lack of sensual activity on screen, but this mirror section is absolutely intoxicating and beautifully done.”

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