[Ruth Gemmell] It started with the costumes as well. You know, they… they…

[Daniel Francis] Or with getting them off.

[Ruth] Well, yeah.

[laughter]

[clip]

[lively classical music playing] This is new. 

It is. 

[chuckles] Am I to understand that this means… 

I am the tea that you are having. 

[Alison Hammond] Oh, it is heating up in Bridgerton with your beautiful relationship, which I have followed and I've absolutely loved. It is really heating up. How exciting was it for both of you when you actually found out how your relationship was moving forward?

[Francis] Mmm. 

[Ruth] I found out in a …in a costume fitting. 

[Alison] So what happened? You're getting changed. Then does a producer come over and say —

[Ruth] No, they… they start fitting you up for the… for the outfit. And I was a bit like, what's this for?

[Daniel laughing] 

[Ruth] Yeah, exactly. So yeah, that was a bit scary. And that's how I kind of found out. Then we got the scripts. [laughs] So it…

[Daniel] Yeah. I think mine was that way as well, where they go…

[Ruth] Was it?

[Alison] "Get naked."

[Daniel] Well…

[laughter] 

[Daniel] Strip you off and then give you a little, you know, modesty thing. I'm like, “What is this for?” "Where does that go?" You know?

[laughter]

[Alison] Really? Is that how you found out?

[Daniel] Yeah. 

[Alison] So then did you phone each other, like, what's going on?

[laughter] 

[Ruth] I think we did after we actually got the script. 

[Daniel] Yeah, just to kind of talk through it and stuff like that, but yeah. Very respectful and, you know, intimacy coordinators and everything. So it's —

[Ruth] And only what we were willing to do. 

[Daniel] Exactly. 

[Ruth] My ass wasn't getting out for anyone, so, you know. 

[Alison] You look good. Did you do a few squats beforehand? 

[Daniel singing]♪ I woke up like this ♪

[laughter]

[Daniel] No, squats.

Just woke up like…

[Alison] Just beforehand. Did you ask for a little monitor just to see what the shot was? 

[Daniel] Look, you've gotta… you've gotta make sure that it's moisturized in a certain way.

[Alison] Oh, you were moisturized, babes.

[Daniel laughs] 

[Alison] You were moisturized to the heavens. It looked great.

[Daniel] Thank you. 

[Alison] Well done. Congratulations. But honestly, that moment, "I am the tea you're having." Iconic. I know I keep going on about it, but it is just a moment, isn't it? 

[Daniel] It's epic. 

[Alison] Have you got a T-shirt yet for it? A hat? 

[Daniel] Actually, that's a great point. Should get T-shirts made.

[Alison] Mugs. "I am the tea you're having." It's got to be a mug.

[Ruth] It has.

[Daniel] Come on.

[Alison] I love that.

[Daniel] Come on.

[laughter] 

[Alison] How much fun did you have making that?

[Ruth] It started with the costumes as well.

[Daniel] Mmm. 

[Ruth] You know, they…

[Daniel] Or with getting them off.

[Ruth] Well, yeah.

[laughter] 

[Daniel] You know, people talk about, you know, putting them on and how it is, you know… It must be uncomfortable, whatever. Try getting them off at speed, you know, when you've got intention. 

[Ruth] You got stuck in the shirt at one point, I seem to remember. 

[Daniel] I think buttons went flying at some point. 

[Alison] You did it so cool. It looked so cool. The edit's very, very good.

[Daniel] Pop 'em off.

[Alison] The edit's great. I love the moment where you're looking in the mirror before you see him. You take your clothes off. You're having a look. What is Violet going through in that moment?

[Ruth] Well, I think it's been about… I had a debate with this. I can't remember how old Hyacinth is, but I think she's about… 

[Daniel] What, 14?

[Ruth] Something like that. Yeah, something like that. God, I should know.

[Daniel laughs]

[Ruth] Anyway, uh, that's how long it's been. After 14 years, you have the idea of unveiling yourself to yourself, let alone to anybody else, must be absolutely petrifying. I think that's something that people can identify with. 

[Alison] And I love the fact that Lord Anderson kind of allows Violet to lead.

[Ruth] Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

[Alison] What does that say about the man he is, what type of man he is? 

[Daniel] I think he's very, very comfortable and confident in his skin, you know. I think it's almost about just kind of creating space, you know, holding space and just having this container where she is able to, you know, I guess, to reveal herself in her own… in her own time. He's not in a rush.

[Alison] Oh, he knows who he is, doesn't he?

[Daniel] Yeah.

[Ruth] Yeah.

[Alison] He knows. I love it. It's just the stillness between you both is so, so good. 

[Ruth] I think, for me, for Violet, I think it's a really lovely thing for her to start to embrace herself again. You know, she's been… She's thrown herself into being a mother to these children, understandably and kind of rightly since the death of Edmund. But she's just witnessed four children marry and be happy, and I think it's like having a mirror put up in front of you and seeing all the things that you've missed — and that you've missed for so long.

[Alison] Yeah. 

[Ruth] So she quite clearly had the urge before you turned up. So, you know, now you're there and flirting with me.

[laughter]

[Ruth] It's just, that's it, really, isn't it?

[Alison] But she needed it.

[Ruth] She's a cheap date now.

[Alison] She's a cheap date, but she needed this.

[Ruth] She certainly did.

[Alison] She needed this joy.

[Daniel] Yeah. 

[Alison] Do you think we're in a space of love at the moment between these two characters, or maybe not? Or is it just more of a maturity that they held? 

[Daniel] I think that as the season goes on, especially what we see this season, is… is far more emotionally, um, intimate moments between them. And as Violet reveals herself and her vulnerability, uh, he's definitely drawn to that. It's a privilege when you have another human being who is willing, uh, to reveal themselves to you. It's actually a privilege, and so when he sees that, it's very hard not to be touched and moved, you know? 

[Alison] So true. It's also, like, an honor when someone wants to share their life with you.

[Daniel] Exactly. Exactly.

[Alison] Oh, I love this. I love it.

[laughter]

[Alison] I love talking about love. It's the best.