VIEWERS were left stunned as they tuned into BBC2’s new racy drama Harlots on Wednesday. The saucy tale of London’s booming sex industry of the 1700s started with a bang and fans of the show couldn’t quite believe their eyes. Starring Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton as rival brothel madames, the series draws heavily on […]
VIEWERS were left stunned as they tuned into BBC2’s new racy drama Harlots on Wednesday.
The saucy tale of London’s booming sex industry of the 1700s started with a bang and fans of the show couldn’t quite believe their eyes.
Starring Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton as rival brothel madames, the series draws heavily on Harris’s List Of Covent Garden Ladies, an annual prostitution guidebook published between 1757 to 1795.
The directory was based on the “inside knowledge” of Jack Harris, known as the “Pimp-General of All England”.
As the 50-minute episode began, it didn’t waste any time in showing an eye-popping sex scene as a man and woman romped in a carriage outside in broad daylight.
Viewers were shocked with the opening scenes, especially as it was on BBC2, and took to Twitter to comment on the antics.
#harlots ooooer mrs
— sally morris (@northern13) August 5, 2020this starterd with a bang in every sense of the word
“#harlots ooooer mrs this started with a bang in every sense of the word,” one person wrote, while another simply posted: “Boob fest #harlots.”
A third person tweeted: “#Harlots is pure FILTH!!! I’m absolutely loving it,” while a fourth added: “Love the dialogue Saucy 
#Harlots.”
#Harlots is pure FILTH!!! I'm absolutely loving it
— Keven law (@Kevenlaw) August 5, 2020#BBC2 pic.twitter.com/hG9aqniSze
Love the dialogue Saucy
— maggie cooper (@maggiecooper12) August 5, 2020
Viewers were lucky enough to get a double dose of the show on Wednesday as they watched the likes of Jessica Brown Findlay get all hot and bothered.
The Downton Abbey actress takes on the role of Charlotte Wells, the eldest daughter of Margaret Wells and a witty sex worker who is coveted by society’s elite.
Speaking about starring in the show previously, Jessica told Metro: “I’m surprised it took to 2017 to make something like this, but here it is.
“I’m really proud to be a part of it, it’s really exciting.”
Although the exact plot of Harlots is not a true story, it is kind of based on real life events.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, Harlots creators Alison Owens and Moira Buffini first began dreaming up the concept for the series when they read the 18th century “guide book” Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies.
The publication is a real-life directory of sex workers in London during the Georgian era, and it was edited and published regularly from 1757 to 1795.
The book is considered to be the ultimate resource for men looking to spend the evening with a sex worker.
