55. Illicit Affairs

Everyone is back in London, and what happened at the cottage has to stay at the cottage. Sophie takes a position below stairs at Bridgerton House, placing her firmly within the family orbit but very much outside its privileges. Benedict struggles with the distance that uniform creates, and when he makes what he believes is a generous offer, it lands as something else entirely. Meanwhile, Lady Danbury nudges Alice into a public role she never asked for, Francesca says the quiet part out loud, and Violet redefines ‘the tea’. Featuring: - Capital-p Plot - Snack wars - The rules of society - Visual metaphors - The importance of good sex education - Lack of Stakes - Buttons…and buttons - Alternative History - The importance of good communication - Sapphic panic - Tea as a sex drink - The Bridgerton Brother (Finger) Bang Here are is the media we talk about in this episode: - Bridgerton, a television series - An Offer from a Gentleman, a book by Julia Quinn - Cinderella, a fairytale - Downton Abbey, a television series - Queen Charlotte, a mini-series - It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn - RuPaul’s Drag Race, a television series - To Sir Phillip, With Love, a book by Julia Quinn - Lady Chatterley’s Lover, a book by DH Lawrence - Pretty Little Liars, a television series - Younger, a television series - North and South, a television mini-series - Les Misérables, a film by Tom Hooper - Notting Hill, a film by Roger Michell - Romancing Mr Bridgerton, a book by Julia Quinn - ‘bad idea right?’, a song by Olivia Rodrigo - Heartbreak High, a television show - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a television show Some extra notes: - Benedict’s lover in season 3 is named Tilly - Sutton Foster’s character in Younger is named Liza Our guest host this episode is friend of the podcast Patrick Lenton. You can hear more from Patrick on instagram, his fantastic newsletter Nonsense or read his fabulous debut novel, In Spite of You. For your TBR, Patrick brought Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. Don’t forget you can find us on facebook @bridgertonpod and instagram and bluesky @wwddpod and join the conversation using the hashtag #WWDDpod. Please follow us on your favourite podcast provider! Leaving a 5-star rating and a review will not only help us find more listeners, but also help you achieve real pinnacles. This episode was recorded on the traditional and unceded land of the Kaurna, Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people. Our editor is Ben McKenzie of Splendid Chaps Productions. If you need production work completed, you can find them here: splendidchaps.com