Nicola Coughlan trades ballgowns for evening gowns as she joins glamorous co-stars Hannah Dodd, Simone Ashley and Hannah New at the Bridgerton season three part II premiere

Period dresses were traded for something rather more contemporary on Tuesday evening as part two of Bridgerton's enormously successful third season premiered in London. 

The cast were in attendance at Leicester Square's Odeon LUXE, where an appropriately dramatic red carpet, festooned with tasteful floral embellishments, greeted guests ahead of the official screening. 

Bridgerton's third season will resume on Thursday, with fans desperate to see what happens next in Penelope Featherington Colin Bridgerton's love story.

Appropriately, it was Featherington herself - actress Nicola Coughlan - who led the glamour as she reunited with her co-stars, among them Hannah Dodd, Simone Ashley and Hannah New. 

Nicola, 37, turned heads as she arrived in an off-the-shoulder pink gown, encrusted in sequins and intricate beading.

The figure-hugging number clung to her curves and showcased a glimpse of her cleavage, while featuring floral lace detailing on the neckline.

The Derry Girls star gave her ensemble even more dramatic flair with a lacy headpiece with a long tulle veil that trailed behind her on the red carpet.

She added a pair of burgundy velvet evening gloves for added glamour, and sported a Artists for Ceasefire pin - a creatives-led initiative demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

Nicola posed up a storm for the cameras, before warmly embracing her co-star Luke Newton, with the onscreen couple holding hands on the red carpet.

The actress and the actor, 31, star as Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton in the steamy period drama, with the third season following their friends to lovers romance.

Luke also pulled out all the stops for the event, putting on a very fashion forward display in a black woven co-ord.

He donned a futuristic blazer-style jacket, with pockets and zip detailing and decorated with embroidered flowers on the shoulders and sleeves.

He teamed it with a pair of coordinating oversized trousers and went shirtless underneath, allowing a glimpse at his toned chest.

Luke completed his dashing look with artfully gelled hair and a pair of shiny black boots, adorned with more silver flowers.

Meanwhile, Hannah put on a very leggy display in a silver metallic corset mini dress, while elevating her height in strappy heels. 

Simone Ashley, who plays Kathani 'Kate' Sharma in the period drama, stunned in nude bralette which boasted quirky pointed cups.

Simone overlayed this with a gorgeous sheer lace gown that featured ruffles and teased a glimpse of her jaw-dropping figure beneath.

She added extra sparkle to the ensemble with diamonds courtesy of Suaznna Kalan in the form of princess diamond drop earrings and an eternity ring.

On-screen sister and brother Claudia Jessie and Luke Thompson put on an animated display as they reunited on the red carpet.

Season three of Bridgerton dropped last month, with eager fans wasting no time in settling down to devour the latest antics of the Regency era romantics.

And the series seems to be back better than ever, as according to What's On Netflix, it pulled in a shocking 45.1M views within just four days of going global on Netflix.

After the romp-fest came under fire for its lack of steamy scenes in the second series, the first four episodes of series three treated viewers to at least six minutes of kissing, sex, threesomes and lesbian love-making.

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

Series three focuses on the long-awaited romance between Penelope and Colin, but the plotline of the best friends realising their true feelings proves to be a slow burner.

Part One 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 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 second half of Bridgerton 's hotly anticipated third season is set for release on Thursday, June 13.

Fans are gagging to see what happens next in Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ) and Colin Bridgerton's (Luke Newton) love story.

Viewers can expect things to get even more steamy between the pair , with Nicola and Luke previously revealing that they filmed so many romps that by the end they were comfortable lounging around together naked between takes.