Normal People's intimacy co-ordinator details filming of sex scenes

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: May 12 2020 | 15:57

Last updated: May 13 2020 | 22:03

Normal People's "intimacy co-ordinator" reveals how the show's many sex scenes were filmed.

Normal People's "intimacy co-ordinator" Ita O'Brien has revealed the technical details of filming the show's many sex scenes.

The 12-part teen drama was released last month to almost universal acclaim, with particular praise for its no-holds-barred approach to sex, which accounted for 41 minutes of screen time across its six hours.

Speaking to the Brendan O'Connor Show, O'Brien said that the two leads, Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, had "safe words" that they could use if they felt uncomfortable during filming.

"If you're doing an intimate scene the fundamental rule is never ever should their genitalia touch," she said. "You'll have the actress wearing a modesty patch and the gentleman wearing a modesty pouch.

"The actor will have a safe word to halt the action and share it with the crew and if anything happens through the take that isn't comfortable or they need to take a break they need to call out to halt the action themselves."

BBC Three recorded its best ever viewing figures following the show's release, with 16.2 million requests for the programme in the first week alone.