Eleanor Tomlinson opens up on filming ‘debaucherously fun’ sex scenes with Sam Heughan in ‘very sexy’ new drama

Eleanor Tomlinson has revealed details of what it was like filming intimacy scenes with Sam Heughan for Channel 4’s new drama The Couple Next Door.

The Poldark actress, 31, is used to wearing a Regency dress, but viewers will see her in a different light in her role as primary school teacher Evie.

The dark psychological drama explores the claustrophobia of suburbia and the consequences of chasing your deepest desires and airs Monday.

In the six-part drama, Evie and her husband Pete (Alfred Enoch) move to a posh neighborhood, where they meet police officer Danny (Sam) next door and his wife, the glamorous yoga instructor Becka (Jessica De Gouw).

As time passes, these two couples grow closer and one fateful night become sexually entangled in a way that will change their lives forever.

Eleanor’s character Evie will harbor a deep and irresistible attraction for her neighbor Danny.

During filming, Eleanor and Sam, 43, worked with intimacy coordinator Vanessa Coffey to ensure the sexy scenes were perfect and sizzling hot.

Speaking in the latest edition of Radio timesshe said, “Everyone felt comfortable.

‘The way the sex scenes are shot is not necessarily what you would expect. I felt like crossing [the idea] that you can make something just as sexy by implying it.’

She added that working with Sam on set was “loose fun.”

Sam, who worked with Vanessa on Outlander, added: “I think we both have a lot of experience with that perspective.

‘Periodramas are different worlds. I knew Vanessa was great and had a really nice attitude towards her on set.

“I think maybe we’ve both struggled with it in the past [sex] scenes, and how to portray them without giving too much away or feeling awkward.

“It was great to push these scenes and make them feel intimate for the viewer, without making them really difficult to film.”

He joked that one of the reasons for signing up was “not having to wear a corset!”

The six-part series, directed by Dries Vos (Suspect, Professor T) and written by David Allison (Bedlam, Marcella), is an addictive, emotional rollercoaster and shows how we never know what happens behind closed doors.

Prior to filming, Eleanor and Sam knew each other through their mutual friend Caitríona Balfe, who plays Jamie’s wife Claire in Outlander.

Eleanor married rugby player Will Owen last summer, while Sam is currently single.

Ahead of the new show’s release, Eleanor spoke further about the intimacy scenes and working with Vanessa.

She said: ‘She was amazing. We spent a lot of time talking about each individual sex scene and making sure there was progress with each scene.

“You don’t just do those scenes for the sake of the scenes, and I certainly don’t do them for the sake of the scenes; they have to add something to the story.’

Eleanor added: “Sam is now one of my best friends. Every day was a joy and creating the complicated and dangerous relationship between Danny and Evie was a lot of fun.

“It’s a real treat to work with such a supportive co-star, but leaving a job with a best friend is quite rare.”

Speaking about his character’s relationship with Evie, Sam said: ‘There’s an attraction there. And it’s like, do you act on it? Are you not acting on it?

‘But also: who is to blame and where does it come from? Who makes the moves? And who does this? I think the show is constantly being turned on its head.

“That’s what I loved about it, right from the start is this kind of weirdness.”

The Couple Next Door starts on Monday November 27 at 9pm on Channel 4.