Over the weekend, BBC Two premiered a new period drama called "Versailles." The show has been slammed by members of Parliament's Conservative Party and family rights activists for the show's nudity and graphic sex scenes. While the BBC calls the show a "delicious treat" for viewers, others have described it as pornography.
The mini-series is French-produced and chronicles the lavish life of King Louis XIV. The first episode of "Versailles" alone features a gay sex scene, a prince who is a cross-dresser, oral sex, nudity, torture and a queen who is sexually attracted to dwarves. While the show just premiered over the weekend, it has already been branded "pornography and violence in a cravat and tights" by Sam Burnett of Mediawatch UK.
Before "Versailles" aired the first episode in the U.K., it had already been the talk of Europe. The drama had already been broadcasted in France and caused controversy there too - but the French were more upset with the producers for "dumbing down" the story and filming it in English. While the French seemed to care less about the graphic nature of the series, British conservatives are mad about the explicit nature of the story and the fact that the BBC takes funding out of the taxpayers' pockets to pay for the show.
"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," Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said. "They have to pay for it whether they approve or not."
"Versailles will be a delicious treat for BBC Two viewers - the historical setting is magnificent, the costumes are stunning and the series tells a fascinating story with intelligence, wit and stylish Gallic flair," said Sue Deeks, BBC head of programming acquisitions.
"Versailles" wasn't the only show that got Brits hot and bothered over the weekend. Tom Hiddleston's new drama "The Night Manager" also aired over the weekend on BBC and featured a particularly hot sex scene between Hiddleston and his co-star Elizabeth Debicki. While "The Night Manager" will debut in United States in April, it is hard to say if "Versailles" will ever be deemed appropriate for American audiences, but "Game of Thrones" may want to watch out.
"The Night Manager" premieres on Tuesday, April 19 on AMC.
