As the rest of us start to come out of our homes once again, one Oxfordshire actor is emerging into a completely different world.

Jonathan Bailey has found global fame in lockdown by starring as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in the raunchy Netflix hit.

And the actor, who comes from Wallingford, will become even more high profile in the second series when the Viscount’s romantic life will become the main storyline following the departure of breakout star Rege-Jean Page.

Mr Page became a heart-throb playing Simon, Duke of Hastings, as the first series focused on his romance with the viscount’s sister Daphne, played by Phoebe Dyvenor.

Mr Bailey, 32, was born in Wallingford where his father, a former DJ, was managing director of Rowse Honey.

He grew up in Benson - the family has a cockapoo called Benson - and he went to Benson C of E primary school and did ballet until he was 12 at a dance school in Henley.

His interest in acting was sparked as a child after watching a production of Oliver in the village hall.

Mr Bailey, who did his A-levels at Magdalen College School in Oxford before taking an Open university degree, has actually been in the business for a while appearing in Broadchurch, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Crashing, W1A and Chewing Gum, but it is Bridgerton that has brought new levels of success.

The lavish costume drama reached the top 10 in 189 countries and is Netflix’s most streamed original show ever.

It has a racially diverse cast with black actors playing characters such as the Queen in a way that had never been seen on screen before.

Mr Bailey, who is gay, believes the show is changing attitudes in lots of ways.

He said: “I’ve had amazing messages from people who have been able to talk about their sexuality, or people who have seen themselves or their children in the Duke of Hastings [storyline].

“I knew that I wanted to be visible about my sexuality, because in all the territories that Netflix goes out in, there might be a boy somewhere that goes, “Wait, what?” Which is what I didn’t have when I was young. All I know is that if there are opportunities for representation, and to make that point, that’s something I’ll always strive to do.”