Normal People airs a whopping 41 minutes of sex in first season – making it the BBC’s steamiest drama EVER

NORMAL People included an astounding 41 minutes of sex across the show's first series - making it the BBC's raunchiest drama ever.

Previous saucy shows, such as Versailles and Wanderlust, were booted from the top spot by the love story which has become a lockdown fave with viewers.

The drama, which is based on a 2018 novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, featured 11 minutes of raunchy action in its second episode.

The BBC show focuses on the rocky relationship between the working-class Connell [Paul Mescal] and well-heeled Marianne Sheridan [Daisy Edgar-Jones] and has been praised for its unflinching take on sexuality.

12 per cent of the show, which has so far been downloaded more than 23million times, is taken up with sex, kissing or foreplay.

A source close to the show revealed the writers had not wanted to deviate from the story's essence.

They said: "The writers wanted to stay true to the book and that featured a lot of sex. They didn’t want to portray it gratuitously though, and an intimacy coach was used to ensure the cast were happy at all times."

They continued: "But there’s no denying there’s a lot of nakedness and lots of sex — it’s probably not one to watch with the parents!"

24-year-old heart-throb Mescal has recently revealed having to overcome stage fright before he was able to pursue acting as a career.

He explained: "I had this affliction, whenever I'd get nervous, that I would stand really straight and sort of lock my knees."

"But because the shake seemed to be coming from my knees… my whole body would start to vibrate."

During an appearance on RTE One’s The Late Late Show, Paul defended the show’s "non-stop"romping after some viewers criticised the racy scenes.

The first caller of the show, a woman called Mary, complained that Daisy's character "only looked about 15" and said: "I imagine it would be something you’d expect to see in a porno movie. Certainly not for family viewing."

The Irishman hit back, and was pleased to see the story told on Irish screens: "I actually listened in [to Liveline] yesterday, and I suppose I was a bit surprised, but the last thing I want to do is sit and judge people for that, because they’re entitled to their opinion.

"My own perspective of it is we worked hard to make it feel like it was a real, accurate and truthful representation of sex amongst young people."