Bridgerton series 3 made a huge leap into Netflix‘s top 10 most-watched shows list less than 24 hours after premiering.

As of Thursday evening it was positioned at number 8 on the streaming platform’s chart after becoming available on the site at 8am on May 16.

The much-loved drama set in the Regency era in England follows eight close-knit siblings of the powerful Bridgerton family attempt to find love.

The series is expected to climb the chart in the coming days, where the top spot is currently taken up by Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal – about a dating site for people seeking adulterous affairs.

Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer is still at number two after viewers became obsessed with the real life stalker drama.

Season three of Bridgerton landed on Netflix on Thursday morning, with the ending leaving fans begging for more.

The new series of the period drama focuses on the love story between Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), but the plotline of best friends realising their true feelings proves to be a slow burner.

With that being said, season three ends on a steamy cliffhanger as after being unable to think of anyone else, Colin eventually declares his love for Penelope in a carriage after she was left heartbroken by Lord Debling.

During the encounter, which takes place at the end of the fourth episode, Penelope admits that she’d ‘very much like to be more than friends’ with Colin, and the pair eventually kiss, going on to share quite the steamy scene together.

But just as they’re getting into it, they arrive at the Bridgerton house, and after Colin fixes Penelope’s dress and hair, he steps down from the carriage and puts out his hand to Penelope to ask whether she’s coming with him.

The show was then left on a cliffhanger, as Colin hit fans with the iconic line from the Romancing Mister Bridgerton novel: ‘For God’s sake, Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?’

The camera pans to a very happy Penelope, who is taken aback by the big question.

Viewers were shocked when they learned they have to wait until June 13 for Penelope’s answer, with one penning on social media platform X: ‘I knew there would be some sort of cliffhanger that left me unwell at the end but I wasn’t prepared for that LAST LINE’;

‘Who made the diabolical decision to split it into two parts, on a cliffhanger like that’;

‘Not the cliffhanger ending. I need part 2 NOWWW’

The romp-fest came under fire for its lack of steamy scenes in the second series, with a meagre three minutes of bedroom action amid eight hours and 29 minutes of screen time.

Viewers can already expect more from the first four episodes of series three, with at least six minutes of kissing, sex, threesomes and lesbian love-making.

But after being promised that this season is the steamiest yet, viewers are made to wait until the closing moments of part one for the central love story to really kick off.

Most of the action between Penelope and Colin promises to come when part two arrives on June 13.

Viewers will also see how Prudence Featherington copes with motherhood, having revealed at the end of episode four that she is expecting her first child with Robert Huxley.

Her mother Portia will no doubt have plenty to say on the matter, having encouraged Prudence to be ‘familiar’ with her husband in the bedroom in order to provide her with a grandchild.

Other fan favourite couples are seen enjoying newlywed bliss and secret dalliances.

Fans are treated to an update on married life for series two’s main characters Lord Anthony and Kate Sharma.

In fact, Anthony and Kate are in the first sex scene of the new series, which takes places 31 minutes into the first episode.

Fans were thrilled to see series two’s main characters Lord Anthony and Kate Sharma return in series three, after the close of the previous season saw the fan favourite couple marry.

The new episodes see the newlyweds enjoying married life after returning home from their honeymoon.

Elsewhere Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) also share a very steamy kiss in the first four episodes.

And Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) is seen embarking on a secret affair with widow, Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New), despite an age gap.

Meanwhile, Colin has two threesome’s – but to viewers disappointment, neither include Penelope.

The bachelor has returned from his world travels and is keen to continue to enjoy the single life, visiting various women for steamy encounters, including two threesomes.

Colin and Penelope’s passion is instead a slow burner as the pair slowly come to realise their true feelings for one another.

Colin is seen having a racy dream about his friend in episode three after the two share a brief but passionate kiss, leaving the bachelor very confused about his feelings.

Seeing his friend in his dreams, Colin imagines more sizzling interactions with Penelope.

He is later involved in another threesome but can’t help thinking about his friend.