Enter Benedict Bridgerton, the boho son of the family at the centre of Netflix’s much-loved series, handsomely striding into the masquerade ball. A mysterious masked lady in silver catches his eye. The hearts of these star-crossed lovers, presumably, will soon follow.

The online teaser for next year’s season four of Bridgerton has all the ingredients of a Shonda Rhimes production: a moreish alchemy of high drama and social commentary, soap opera and sex that has kept viewers hooked on hit shows from Grey’s Anatomy to Scandal.

Now entering, with a little less drama, is Rhimes herself, still wearing make-up from an earlier photo shoot. She has changed into more casual clothes for lunch and arrives without shoes, describing being forced to wear heels for the past two days as “foot abuse”.