Is this why Dominic West went rogue in Rome? Lily James plays Linda Radlett in very racy trailer where she starred opposite the actor in BBC adaptation of The Pursuit Of Love
- A new trailer for the BBC drama shows Lily, 32, in character as Linda Radlett who is on the hunt for love
- It is believed that Lily grew close to married actor Dominic, 51, while filming the three-part series
- Shortly after filming wrapped in October they were pictured looking very cosy during a secret trip to Rome
- Following the release of pictures of the pair -his wife Catherine FitzGerald assured they were still together
- Despite being reportedly ‘torn’ over their relationship since, Catherine has stood by Dominic but allegedly banned him from ever working with Lily again
They got caught out enjoying something of a racy weekend in Rome in October last year.
And the new trailer for the BBC adaptation of the Pursuit Of Love might prove to be the reason Dominic went rogue with Lily James during their secret romantic getaway.
Following the release of some very cosy snaps of the pair, the actor, 51, and his wife Catherine FitzGerald assured the public they were still together – before she later banned him working with Lily, 32.
Saucy! The new trailer for the BBC adaptation of the Pursuit Of Love might prove to be the reason Dominic went rogue with Lily James during their romantic trip
A first look trailer for the drama series The Pursuit Of Love, where the two grew close before their scandalous trip away, has now been released ahead of the premiere next month.
The Emily Mortimer novel adaptation follows the story of Linda Radlett – played by Lily – and her hunt to find love and marriage, while Dominic plays her Uncle Matthew.
The production was filmed between July and October last year, with Lily and Dominic’s Italian getaway taking place shortly after filming on the period drama wrapped.
Snapped: Following the release of some very cosy snaps of the pair (pictured), the actor, 51, and his wife assured they were still together before she later banned him working with Lily, 32
It is believed that part of Dominic and Catherine’s agreement is that he won’t do any promo with Lily for the series, in a bid to save their marriage – which BBC bosses have apparently reluctantly agreed to.
The trailer for the BBC adaptation of the novel opens with a very glamorous Lily wearing a turquoise silk dress and she can be heard saying: ‘It’s not sexual, it’s a meeting of minds.’
The next scene shows her naked larking around in a bath, while her female friend who is sat beside her giggles as Lily spits water at her.
Character: The Pursuit Of Love follows the story of Linda Radlett – played by Lily – and her hunt to find love and marriage, while Dominic plays her Uncle Matthew
As Lily proceeds to smooch a pane of glass, a male voice bellows: ‘Linda believes in love, she’s passionately romantic!’
Her best friend Fanny Logan [Emily Beecham] who is the series’ narrator is then introduced and asks Linda: ‘You aspire to be wicked and adulterous?’
While she insists: ‘No, as I aspire to true love.’
Other sizzling scenes show Lily wrapped in a small yellow towel and slipping off her lingerie in a dressing room.
During the series her character Linda befriends Lord Merlin [played by Fleabag actor Andrew Scott], who introduces her to a male suitor ahead of her society debut.
On-screen: Dominic plays Lily’s character Linda’s Uncle Matthew in the three-part adaptation
Starring role: The trailer for the BBC adaptation of the novel opens with a very glamorous Lily wearing a turquoise silk dress and she can be heard saying: ‘It’s not sexual, it’s a meeting of minds’
Glaring: As Linda walks towards the camera she shoots the audience a smouldering look
His character says: ‘Love is for grown ups, as you’ll discover one day.’
While it is currently unclear why, in another scene, an enraged Uncle Matthew [West] shouts: ”An adulterous woman is the single most disgusting thing there is!’
And Linda can be heard saying: ‘I do feel like a terrible old black sheep!’
Set in Europe between the two World Wars, the story follows the adventures and misadventures of the charismatic and fearless Linda.
Friends: The next scene shows her naked larking around in a bath, while her female friend who is sat beside her giggles as Lily spits water at her’
Passionate! As Lily proceeds to smooch a pane of glass, a male voice bellows: ‘Linda believes in love, she’s passionately romantic!’
Dominic and Lily struck up a close bond on set – as fans only need look back a matter of months to recall their Rome rendezvous, as pictures of their cosy trip emerged.
In fact, so humiliating were the pictures of her actor husband West cavorting with James that Catherine is said to have banned him from speaking with the actress as part of a peace deal struck between the couple.
Dominic finally won forgiveness for the infamous photographs that showed him flirting outrageously with Lily while on the secret trip.
Raunchy: One passionate scene sees Linda share a smooch with a male suitor
Cheeky! In another she appears in a short yellow towel after spending time at a spa
The Wests even discussed renewing their wedding vows to rebuild their ten-year marriage, The Mail on Sunday recently reported.
‘The idea of remarrying was talked about,’ says a friend of the couple.
‘Nothing was decided, or has been yet, but Catherine brought up the idea and it was much discussed. It shows how far things have come since those photographs.’
The Lamu trip had been Tilbury’s suggestion – and it seems to have paid off.
Having dealt with the biting hurt caused by her husband’s frolicking with Downton Abbey star Lily last year, it seems that Catherine, 49, concluded that life was better with him than without.
Confidant: During the series Linda befriends Lord Merlin [played by Fleabag actor Andrew Scott], who introduces her to a male suitor ahead of her society debut
However, the MoS was told there are some strict new rules to guide Dominic’s future behaviour.
‘He has promised never to see, speak or work with Lily again,’ said a friend. Also, there are to be no joint promotional interviews for the forthcoming TV adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel.
This, apparently, has caused surprise among BBC bosses who hope the series will be a ratings triumph, having scheduled it to be screened in the primetime Sunday 9pm slot currently occupied by Line Of Duty.
It is thought that despite initial protestations, the BBC has agreed to the Wests’ request.
Indeed, it is possible that West will not do any promotional work for the series, leaving it to co-stars Andrew Scott and Freddie Fox.
Shocked: Lily’s closeness to West, say friends, was something his wife never expected – and she went to great lengths to ensure the lives of the members of her family were not too badly damaged by the fall-out from the co-stars’ Rome escapade (pictured after the scandal)
Inevitably, though, the first episode of The Pursuit Of Love, on May 9, will put the Wests’ marriage firmly back in the spotlight.
There was huge sympathy for Catherine last October when, shortly after the snaps emerged, she and her husband staged photocall outside their Wiltshire home to tell the world that they were ‘very much together’ and had a ‘strong marriage.’
Just hours earlier, father-of-five West had arrived back from the Italian capital where he had been photographed, without his wedding ring, nuzzling into Lily’s neck as the pair smooched on an e-scooter ride.
‘It was hard for Catherine to deal with all the publicity back then,’ says a friend. ‘Now it feels like Round Two.’
Catherine, an aristocratic Irish landscape garden designer, has at least benefited from the ‘peace talks’.
As The Mail on Sunday reported, Lily felt she had become the victim of sexist bullying and slut-shaming following the publication of the pictures of her and West.
While he is married and she is single, there was a feeling that she had been unfairly trolled online, while West had mainly been let off the hook.
Difficult: Lily felt she had become the victim of sexist bullying and slut-shaming following the publication of the pictures of her and West (pictured in September 2019)
Dominic and Lily first appeared together in a stage production of Othello in 2011. They were reunited to film The Pursuit Of Love around Bristol and Bath from July to October last year.
Lily’s closeness to West, say friends, was something his wife never expected – and she went to great lengths to ensure the lives of the members of her family were not too badly damaged by the fall-out from the co-stars’ Rome escapade.
‘Catherine was left in pieces by the scandal as she never believed or thought that Dom would be unfaithful,’ said one.
Family time: Dominic and Catherine put on a united front at Glin Castle over Christmas as they shared a snap with their children – Dora, 13, Senan, 12, Francis, 11, and Christabel, seven
‘After trying to make endless excuses, Dom had to give in to what the pictures suggested. He told Catherine he loved her so much but she was still devastated.’
Old Etonian West, who has a 23-year-old actress daughter from a previous relationship with aristocratic previous girlfriend Polly Astor, is said to have begged for a second chance.
But a source said: ‘Catherine is no pushover and was completely torn.’
The daughter of Desmond FitzGerald, the 29th Knight of Glin, she met West when he was studying at Trinity College, Dublin, in the early 1990s.
After a decade together and having three of their four children, they wed at the family’s Glin Castle in County Limerick in 2010 in front of a host of celebrity friends.
When the castle fell into disrepair and Catherine’s family could no longer afford to run it, West bought it in 2015, meaning it remained in the Glin family.
As its saviour, West won hero status among Catherine’s sisters and wider family.
One said: ‘Dom is woven so tightly into Catherine’s life – through marriage, their children and her family’s historic Irish home – that it would be a huge amount to give up if their marriage dissolved.
‘Splitting up was never really an option. But Catherine needed to know she could trust Dominic and that what happened with Lily James in Rome was a totally isolated incident and that nothing like it would ever happen again.’
Lily has since moved on with new boyfriend Michael Shuman.
The Pursuit of Love which is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer May 9 at 9pm.
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