Bridgerton series 3 trailer teases Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton's steamy friends to passionate lovers storyline ahead of highly-anticipated next instalment

The trailer for Bridgerton series three was released on Thursday - ahead of the highly-anticipated next instalment of the popular Netflix show.  

The clip teases the steamy, friends-to-lovers romantic beginnings of Nicola Coughlan's Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton's Colin Bridgerton. 

Bridgerton returns for its third season in two parts with part one premiering on May 16 and part two premiering on June 13.

The trailer begins with glamorous shots of the ton with Lady Whistledown stating: 'Dearest gentle reader, we have been apart for far too long. At last London's fashionable set has made it's return. 

'And it seems that out bon ton is moving with the changing tide. So, too, is this author.'

The trailer for Bridgerton series three was released on Thursday - ahead of the highly-anticipated next instalment of the popular Netflix show

The clip teases the steamy, friends-to-lovers romantic beginnings of Nicola Coughlan 's Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton's Colin Bridgerton (seen)

Nicola's character Penelope is then seen in a frenzy as she states: 'I cannot live at home any longer. I must take a husband!'

In perfect timing, the object of her affection Colin is then seen stripping off in a car showcasing his muscles as his brother jokingly asks him when he got so 'sturdy'. 

Penelope is then left upset at her struggle to find a husband as Colin offers to help her, saying: 'If a husband is what you seek, let me help you. Are we not friends?'

The next scenes show Penelope struggling to attract a suitor with a fair few awkward encounters, as she says to Colin while gazing at him adoringly: 'I would not be angry if you found me to be a lost cause...'

The tension between them then continues to build as Colin's sister Eloise voices her concern over whether Penelope might actually be seeking a husband in him.

The next scene shows Penelope transform into a series of stunning dresses in the hopes of attracting attention as Colin begins to notice her beauty.

Colin is then asks his mother: 'Mother do you believe the best foundation for love is friendship?', before she advises him: 'It is rare but you must follow your heart!'

Penelope and Colin then meet in a garden at night, breathless, before the trailer cuts out - leaving fans wanting to know more of what happens between the pair. 

Bridgerton returns for its third season in two parts with Part one premiering on May 16 and Part two premiering on June 13

The trailer begins with glamorous shots of the ton with Lady Whistledown stating: 'Dearest gentle reader, we have been apart for far too long. At last London's fashionable set has made it's return'

Penelope and Colin are then seen meeting in a garden at night, breathless, before the trailer cuts out - leaving fans wanting to know more of what happens between the pair

Nicola's character Penelope is then seen in a frenzy as she states: 'I cannot live at home any longer. I must take a husband!'

Penelope is then left upset at her struggle to find a husband as Colin offers to help her, saying: 'If a husband is what you seek, let me help you. Are we not friends?'

The next scene shows Penelope transform into a series of stunning dresses in the hopes of attracting attention as Colin begins to notice her beauty

It comes after Nicola, 37, admitted she is 'terrified of the scrutiny' as she steps into the role as leading lady for the first time, but wants to prove that 'sometimes the oddball in the corner can take centre-stage'. 

Nicola candidly admitted: 'Yes, I'm terrified of the scrutiny, the opinions, the number of eyes on me; but, ultimately, the thing that's making me step out of the shadows, even though it terrifies me, is that I'm so proud of the work I've done, the people I've worked with and these beautiful shows we've made.

'I hope I can show the world, along with myself, that sometimes the oddball in the corner can take centre-stage.'

Discussing her role as the much loved Penelope, she explained how this series of filming for the hit Netflix show has been completely different to the first two, and Nicola has had to take herself out her comfort zone to step into the limelight. 

'The major difference is that in the first two seasons, Pen was a supporting character, the oddball in the corner, but this time she’s very much centre-stage. 

'The only issue with this is that “oddball in the corner” is actually a niche I do very well. I’m comfortable there! "Strange girl no one pays attention to? Where do I sign up?".'

This week Nicola also detailed her character Penelope's upcoming steamy scenes in the show's third season. 

The star spoke to Entertainment Weekly about shooting the sex scenes, as she revealed they went as far as breaking furniture while getting hot and heavy. 

Contrary to some actors' aversions to shooting sex scenes, Nicola revealed she found filming 'enjoyable and empowering' alongside Luke.

She said: 'We did break a piece of furniture while doing one of those scenes. I didn't know what it was gonna be like, but it's a little bit like a stunt in which they're like, 'Okay, we're gonna do this, this, and this'...

'But then they gave us freedom to like, we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do...

'And that makes you feel quite empowered and you're like, 'Oh yeah, we're gonna do this, this, and this.' So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn't think they would be. They were great. It was fun.'

Prior to discussing the raunchy moments, Nicola appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen to discuss life as Lady Penelope.  

She hilariously gave her character's alias Lady Whistledown a Real Housewives tagline, saying: 'I may be behind the quill but I'm always ahead of the gossip.' 

Bridgerton is known for its saucy scenes and Nicola has asked the producers for a 'PG' version so she could enjoy the show with her mother.

It came after Nicola revealed that series three of Bridgerton will be even raunchier than the previous two.

The actress previously admitted she was initially terrified to film sex scenes with Luke Newton, who plays her love interest Colin Bridgerton.

Nicola shared: 'I think we've won the sauciness for this series! I am so excited, I can't wait. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Luke Newton who plays my love interest is so wonderful.

The first instalment of the third series of Bridgerton, with Nicola in the lead role, will be released on Netflix in mid-May.

Nicola added: 'This season is really funny and romantic, they've incorporated a lot of rom com. And it's not one to watch with the family. Take of that what you will.

Colin is then asks his mother: 'Mother do you believe the best foundation for love is friendship?', before she advises him: 'It is rare but you must follow your heart!'

Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte) is also returning for series three of the Netflix show 

The trailer omitted any very sexual scenes, leaving the fans wanting more

Colin and Penelope will be at the centre of the next series 

'It was terrifying. I am an Irish woman, and any Irish woman would feel like they can't do this. And then I went and realised, it's my job so I better. I had a great partner, and it was terrifying, but really liberating. I was exhausted by the end.'

The third series of the hit regency romance, which follows the eight Bridgerton siblings attempting to find love, will pick up with Penelope and Colin's love story.

Phoebe Dynevor, 28, starred in the period drama in series one – which saw her take part in multiple sex scenes with actor Rege-Jean Page, 35.

In the final episode of series two, with followed the eldest Bridgerton son, Penelope heard long-time friend Colin's snide comments to the other gentlemen about her and decided to finally give up on her unrequited feelings for him.