Chris Van Dusen says the show’s fans should not be put off by the lack of sex in the new series.
The writer, who previously had characters getting steamy on staircases and against trees, defended his decision to have less passion this time around, insisting that the love scenes were always integral to the plot.
Ahead of the second season arriving on Netflix on Friday, Van Dusen said: "It was never about quantity for us. Our approach to intimacy on the show is the same as in season one - we use these scenes to push a story forward.
"We’ve never done a sex scene for the sake of doing a sex scene and I don’t think we ever will."
The new series focuses on a love triangle between eldest Bridgerton brother Anthony, played by Jonathan Bailey, and the newly-arrived Sharma sisters, Edwina and Kate - but there are no sex scenes between any main characters until the final two episodes.
Original heroine Daphne, played by Phoebe Dynevor, still features but there is no sign of her dashing husband the Duke of Hastings, played by Rege-Jean Page.
Chris said the chemistry between Kate and Anthony, who start off full of hostility, was “off the chart”.
“It’s a different story this season, we’re with Anthony and Kate and that’s very different from Daphne and Simon,” he insisted.
"There is so much sexiness in the looks across the room and the hands grazing and the fingers almost touching. You can really feel that build from episode to episode and you know that when we get there, the climax - if you will - is going to be well worth it.”
Simone Ashley, who plays Kate, agreed: “It makes sense for these characters because they’re so protective over their families and so truthful to their duty and their responsibility.
"For them to break that wouldn’t have made sense. The sex scenes have a meaning behind them - they’re very earned when the fireworks happen.”
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In the opening episode, Lord Bridgerton has been rejected by his long-term mistress, opera singer Siena Rosso, played by Sabrina Bartlett, and is happily paying for sex with other women.
But realising he has a duty to find a wife, he embarks on selecting a suitable candidate, announcing she must have “wit, intellect and child-bearing hips”.
Bailey, whose character enjoyed endless romps with Siena last time around, said: “It bodes well for the following seasons that it’s not just about the sex - that is a huge part of it but there are so many other amazing things that are explored.”
Van Dusen, who is leaving the show ahead of the expected third series to work on other projects, added: “Fans should expect a wild ride. We worked hard to bring everything that fans fell in love with about season one, into season two. And I think we did it. It’s emotional and romantic and sexy and scandalous.”
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