Bridgerton fans have been left divided as Francesca Bridgerton falls for a woman in a new lesbian storyline.

The second part of the highly-anticipated Netflix series dropped on Thursday, delighting viewers, with Francesca played by Hannah Dodd finding affections with the opposite sex.

But this is a huge change from the novel’s storyline which has led to plenty of reaction from fans.

In series three John Stirling is seen introducing new wife Francesca to his cousin Michaela Stirling, played by Masali Baduza.

She then looks at her and warns: ‘I caution you, every sordid detail John has spoken about me is a lie, the truth is far worse!’

But in Julia Quinn’s books Francesca falls for Michael Stirling after husband John dies.

One fan wrote in reaction: ‘Happy Pride Month to Francesca Bridgerton!’

But another wasn’t so happy and wrote on Twitter: ‘It’s disrespectful to the couple’s fans. They shouldn’t have done it.’

It comes after lead actress Nicola Coughlan revealed a behind the scenes secret from season three of the hit show.

Fans have been impatiently waiting to see Penelope Featherington (Nicola) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) love story unfold and they weren’t disappointed as the new episodes feature the characters’ first, very explicit, sex scene.

Nicola shared an Instagram post on Thursday, thanking fans for watching and revealing a hilarious detail about the six minute scene.

She shared a snap of the chaise lounge where the pair filmed before revealing that she and Luke managed to break the piece of furniture with their antics.

‘Part Two is out now, we put our heart and souls into it, hope you love watching it as much as we loved filming it ❤️ #PolinForever,’ she captioned the photos.

One fan wrote in reaction: ‘Happy Pride Month to Francesca Bridgerton!’ But another wasn’t so happy and wrote on Twitter: ‘It’s disrespectful to the couple’s fans. They shouldn’t have done it’

The behind the scenes Insta snaps showed Nicola and Luke giving the camera a thumbs up as they posed with the damaged chaise lounge.

The hilarious post was met with an outpouring of comments from fans of ‘Polin’ – the couple name given to Penelope and Colin.

Nicola’s close friend, Queer Eye star Jonathan van Ness commented with laughing face emojis while another fan quipped: ‘We can all say that scene broke us’.

Nicola previously revealed: ‘I think we’ve won the sauciness for this series!’ as she teased that she and Luke had damaged the set with their onscreen romps, telling Entertainment Weekly:

‘We did break a piece of furniture while doing one scene. 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 and we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do. That makes you feel quite empowered.

‘So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn’t think they would be. It was fun.’

While Nicola previously revealed this instalment was set to be saucier than ever, viewers were made to wait until the closing moments of part one for the central love story to really kick off as things got steamy between the couple in the carriage.

However, now that the pair have finally declared their love, it seems there was no holding the young lovebirds back as they threw themselves into passionate scenes.

Penelope and Colin’s sex scene comes in episode five of the series as fans went wild for the racy romp, with one penning: ‘I’M SCREAMING I KNEW IT. ON THE SOFA;’ thought this show was PG13?!?!?’

‘oh ep 5 went from 0 to 100 quick lmao’; ‘Just watched episode 5 and all i want to say is oh my god’; ‘Boobs on my screen this is crazy’.

‘Omg these two just have me screaming, giggling, and kicking my feet, and crying all at the same time!!! I LOVE YOU POLIN!! I LOVE YOUUUU!!’

They wrote: ‘ Bridgerton deserves ALL the awards for the way they’re showing Penelope’s pleasure as something sensual and desirable and BEAUTIFUL.’

‘not even 25 minutes and I’m in a flood of tears, you have no idea how important it is for me to see a woman with Nicola’s body being so desired and loved in a sex scene because that is one of my biggest insecurities… I’m too much happy’.

‘Nicola Coughlan, you absolute goddess…. Episode 5… I cried.’

But that racy six-minute sex scene between Penelope and Colin has divided critics, with it branded both ‘cringe’ and ‘one of the sexiest moments on television’.

While Variety’s Aramide Timudu called the scene of the ‘sexiest things seen on television since Bridgerton series one’, the Evening Standard’s Vicky Jessop felt the highly-anticipated regency romp left a little to be desired.

‘Steamy this is not,’ she said. ‘Watching it feels like seeing two teenagers fumbling their way through an awkward clinch.’

Critics’ opinions on part two were largely restricted to episode five and six, as Netflix guarded the final two for its main drop on Thursday.

Vicky gave part two a damning two-star review, as she asked: ‘Is Bridgerton losing its touch?’

During a special screening Q&A in Dublin about the new episodes, a female journalist commented that she was ‘very brave’ to play the role of Penelope Featherington – which some fans branded a ‘backhanded comment’.

And in a video captured by Goss.ie, Nicola then brilliantly responded saying: ‘You know, it is hard because I think women with my body type – women with perfect breasts – we don’t get to see ourselves onscreen enough!’

‘And I’m very proud as a member of the perfect breasts community. I hope you enjoy seeing them.’

Fans of the star were quick to respond to the moment that has begun circulating on social media as they said: ‘It must have been one of those insulting, backhanded comments. Nicola’s clever!’

While the most shocking, Colin and Penelope’s scene wasn’t the first steamy moment in part two.

Less than five minutes into episode five, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) was seen in bed with widow, Lady Tilley Arnold but their antics remained firmly under the covers.

However later, Benedict is faced with a tempting sexual offer, after Lady Tilley Arnold reveals to him that her fellow partner Mr Suarez has expressed an interest in Benedict.

Torn over his decision, Benedict decides to accept the proposal on Colin and Penelope’s wedding night.

As Lady Tilley and Mr Suarez enters, Benedict says: ‘I have been thinking about your offer.’

As Lady Tilley asks: ‘And?’ Benedict seductively kisses her, before locking eyes with Mr Suarez before the two men engage in a passionate kiss before the scene cuts.