Play all audios:
Jenna Coleman’s historical epic Victoria will be exploring the next phase of the matriarch’s life on ITV this Spring, and in particular her relationship with her husband Prince Albert
(played by Tom Hughes). But in the background, there will reportedly be an even steamier storyline with the introduction of a new footman called Joseph. Actor David Burnett will be playing
the brooding new character according to The Sun, and will have a romance with a member of the royal household. The publication report the reason for the fresh blood is in a bid to “improve”
the programme’s declining ratings. At its peak, Victoria pulled in an impressive six million viewers for its first series, but this dropped to much less for season two. The programme’s
second season premiere drew in 3.7 million viewers instead. An ITV source reportedly said: “Bosses hope making the show racier will turn its fortunes around.” Also in the third series, the
now-ageing Queen and mother-of-five will give birth to her sixth child. But instead of feeling overwhelming joy, the birth will frustrate Victoria to the point she may end up attempting to
withhold intimate relations from her husband. Victoria has made no secret of her resentment at continuing to have more children, but things will finally come to a head in series three.
Writer Daisy Goodwin shared: “She has six children in eight years – which is a lot – and there are some gaps, so I wonder whether there may have been some withholding [of sex] on both sides.
“That’s certainly something I’m going to explore in series three,” the producer revealed at the season two DVD launch. Daisy went on to say they will take suggestions from a letter Albert
writes to his wife. She said: “Basically they thought that every time she was pregnant she went a bit mad, so there will be a bit of that. “There’s a suggestion that she’s not in her right
mind, hereditary insanity and all of that.” “She’s in this terrible double bind,” the writer continued. “She loves Albert and she loves going to bed with Albert. But every time he goes near
her she gets pregnant. “Obviously that suits him more than it suits her.” What’s more, Victoria will struggle with the amount her husband will take over her royal duties. “He’s the best
maternity cover you can have – he’s rather too good at it,” Daisy carried on. “She feels rather displaced, [wondering] ‘who am I?’ She doesn’t like the discomfort about being pregnant.”
_VICTORIA SEASON THREE RETURNS THIS SPRING ON ITV._