ITV dismissed Harlots as "women in skirts", says Samantha Morton

However, the period drama about 18th century brothels was a hit across the pond on Hulu, and has now found a UK broadcasting home with BBC Two - albeit three years after the first season premiered.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press, Morton said that she believed ITV dismissed the drama as "women in skirts".

"I suppose what I felt at the time was that ITV for whatever reason just didn't launch the show, didn't do anything with it at all. And I don't know why, and I don't know if we were ahead of our time, certainly," she said.

The cast included several big names from film, including both Morton and Lesley Manville (both Oscar nominees), but Morton added that ITV would have been more interested if the cast featured male film stars.

She said, "I feel, if I'm honest, that if it were a show with a load of dudes in it, like, let's see, you've got someone amazing, Colin Farrell or Liam Neeson, they're making this show for ITV, and you have these film stars with Moira writing it, and you have people with the backgrounds of the production company... it's a no brainer.

"So part of me did think, Come on. They [ITV] just think it's women in skirts. They don't understand what they've made."

RadioTimes.com contacted ITV for a response to Morton's comments but the broadcaster did not reply.

Harlots will air on BBC Two from Wednesday 5th August at 9pm, starting with a double-bill. Series one and two will air back-to-back.

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