The spotlight will fall on the actor’s character, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, and his search for a wife in the second season of the Netflix smash – which airs next week

Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey says a good diet, plenty of sleep – and seemingly the fear of failure – helped whip him into shape for the raunchy scenes of the upcoming new season.

The petite, 5ft 9in actor returns for season two of the smash Netflix series later this month to reprise his role as the very eligible bachelor, Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, with the new season focusing on his character’s search for a wife.

But the 33-year-old has hinted that the pressure of recreating the success of season one of the show – which became the top streaming show around the world when it first debuted on Christmas Day in 2020 – is daunting.

The saucy period drama sees the cast members strip off for raunchy sex scenes, and Jonathan says he got in shape for the new episodes while his mind considered how the pressure was on to carry the show to continued success.

He told new! magazine: “Stepping into the shoes that Phoebe Dynevor [who returns as Daphne] and Rege-Jean Page wore and led with so gracefully last season has taught me a lot.

“Taking on that responsibility has been amazing for so many reasons. This season required a lot of staying calm and steady and ready. It’s kept me on my toes. I got really fit, I made sure to eat well and get loads of sleep, and everything else just seemed to fall into place.”

Jonathan also sounds coy when considering why season one of Bridgerton was such a runaway success – hinting he thinks it simply came out at the right time.

He pondered: “It’s been a wild few years for the world, and I think part of that led to the success of Bridgerton. It came at the right time and knocked everyone off their feet. It gave people the Christmas romance we deserved after a really tricky year.”

The second season of the show sees Sex Education star Simone Ashley join the cast as one of Jonathan’s on-screen love interests.

The actor has previously explained how he was keen to ensure that Simone – who plays Kate Sharma in the drama – felt safe during their sex scenes.

He told The Sunday Times: “For a man, it is less exposing. I wanted to make sure Simone felt safe as a newcomer on set.”

He also revealed that the show’s intimate moments will continue to be shot from the ‘female gaze’.

He said a contract was drawn up which details what the stars are not comfortable with showing on-screen.

It also details ‘which bit of skin’ they would be exposing and ‘where’ and ‘how’ they would be touched.

“No one goes into a scene quaking, worrying about how it will go — if you are concerned you can talk to them,” he added.