Victoria (Sundays, ITV, 9pm) has a problem. It’s scheduled in competition with Poldark on BBC One, which is popular with the ladies because its star Aidan Turner takes his top off a lot. Victoria’s trouble is that it’s a) about a girl and b) she only gets married in episode five – so there’s very little excuse to show sweaty men being men.
Or so you’d think. In back-to-back scenes, we see Albert discussing his engagement to Victoria while sitting in a sauna and Victoria reading a passionate love letter from the saucy German in the bath. There is absolutely no dramatic purpose served by seeing wet flesh but, boy, do we get some. Rather cleverly done, I think. Tasteful.
