The BBC revealed the racy period drama will be making a comeback later this month, and have warned they won’t be toning down its pornographic content, despite a backlash from critics and viewers alike.
Versailles follows French King Louis XIV as he passes time by bedding as many women as humanly possible while simultaneously struggling to hold his court together.
The upcoming string of instalments takes a four-year time jump set in 1671, with King Louis’ couriers beginning an uprising as they demand more power.
The first episode of series two has already aired in France and immediately caused a riot with an all-male five-some, with the king’s brother Philippe (played by Alexander Vlahos), Duke of Orleans and his lover.
The latest trailer teased by the BBC warns fans to expect “corruption, darkness, temptation and murder”, and according to show insiders, there’s buckets of X-rated material to come.
However, while the show’s graphic content will be lapped up by many, others have been outraged by the explicit nature of the BBC series.
When does Versailles season 2 start? BBC release date, cast, trailer, and more
Tory MP Andrew Brigden hit out, saying: “There are channels where, if you wish to view this sort of material, you would have to pay for it. BBC viewers don’t have a choice.
“They have to pay for it whether they approve or not. Is this an example of the BBC dumbing down and seeking more sensationalised programming? That’s an arms race to the bottom – quite literally in this case.”
Norman Wells, of the Family Education Trust agreed calling Versailles “Pornography dressed up under another name”.
Defending its decision to air a second series of Versailles, a spokesperson of the BBC hit back: “Versailles is an established series shown after 9pm on BBC2 and its content is nothing beyond the expectations of a post-watershed UK television audience.”
Versailles series 2 begins on BBC2 at 9.30pm on 21 April.
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