‘Too erotic’ Versailles is axed
TV series Versailles is set to be axed amid claims viewers have “grown tired” of the historical drama’s notoriously graphic sex scenes.
The French epic, which cost £21million to make, was originally planned to run for four full-length series.
However, cable channel Canal Plus has revealed that the controversial show’s upcoming third series, which will go out later this year, will be its last.
The show’s first series enjoyed high ratings on BBC Two with close to two million viewers but then plummeted to half that when the second aired last year.
It is now understood that the makers believe the drama has “run its course”.
A source said: “The BBC made a big decision when it bought Versailles from Canal Plus, particularly with all the full-frontal nudity.
“At first, viewers were open to all the pornographic scenes but slowly the BBC saw Versailles ratings drop to just one million viewers — and it seems to have had the same effect in France too.”
The source added: “They believe it will have run its course after the third series, which will see Louis XIV achieve absolute power, so they have decided there won’t be a series four.”
The lavish period drama, which focuses on Louis XIV’s decision to relocate his court from Paris to Versailles, shocked many when it first hit UK screens back in 2016.
If anything last year’s followup proved even more controversial. The number of explicit scenes featured in the latest series totalled 30 – including a 24-person orgy – spread across just 10 hour-long episodes.
Reaction to the show’s axing has been mixed. One fan wrote on Twitter: “Versailles is a great show and if it was really cancelled because of the sex scenes, then people really need a knock on the head. I’ve seen far worse on television.”
However, another said: “Yet another failure that the good people of Britain have to pay for due to the BBC licence fee!”
The BBC has refused to comment.
But the head of programming at French broadcaster Canal Plus, Fabrice de la Patelliere, confirmed the drama will come to an end with series three telling of the French king’s notorious affair with courtesan Madame de Maintenon.