 Screenwriter Andrew Davies said he was attracted to the story because it featured a girl transitioning into womanhood and it included his interests in Victorian erotica ; he compared it to Pride and Prejudice — for which he wrote the BBC screenplay — " with dirty bits " . Both Waters and Davies were concerned about the use of dildos in scenes with Diana , but the BBC allowed it . When news releases told of the BBC featuring swearing and sex toys , the Daily Mail reported that viewers began to protest . BBC representatives downplayed the gratuitousness of the story , comparing it to Moll Flanders . 
