Joanna Vanderham, the girl from Paradise who's out to ruin Cowell's Sunday nights

As you've never seen her: The girl from Paradise who's out to ruin Cowell's Sunday nights

• Joanna Vanderham, who stars as sales girl Denise Lovett in the BBC period drama, smoulders in shoot with Mail on Sunday
• Show will return on Sunday at 8pm, going head-to-head with ITV's XFactor

By CHRIS HASTINGS

PUBLISHED: 22:21, 19 October 2013 | UPDATED: 22:23, 19 October 2013

It is an outfit you certainly won’t find on sale in The Paradise.

Joanna Vanderham, who stars as sales girl Denise Lovett in the BBC period drama set in a Victorian department store, has ditched her prim 19th Century costume for a  sultry look in this exclusive Mail on Sunday photograph.

The 22-year-old’s pose in leather jacket and minidress comes as The Paradise returns to BBC1 tonight – moved to a primetime 8pm Sunday slot where it will go head-to-head with The X Factor on ITV, in a fierce battle for audiences.

BBC bosses believe the show could slow down Simon Cowell’s ratings juggernaut by attracting female viewers who became hooked on the drama’s first series last year.

Then it was shown on Tuesday nights and audiences of almost six million watched the unfolding love triangle between Denise; The Paradise’s owner John Moray, played by Emun Elliott; and his imperious fiancee Lady Katherine Glendenning, played by Elaine Cassidy.

Many critics described the show as too cosy and lacking the dramatic punch of its ITV rival Mr Selfridge. 

But producers hope the new plot, in which scorned Lady Katherine is out for revenge, will give it an edgier feel. 

Cassidy said: ‘I think people are going to enjoy it even more this year because it feels like it motors a bit more,’ she said. 

‘Series One has established the characters and the central premise, so we don’t have to worry about that any more.’

Viewers will also be introduced to a new character, Katherine’s new husband Tom Weston, when The Paradise returns tonight. 

Ben Daniels, who plays him, said: ‘He is vain, he is egotistical, he is cruel, he is duplicitious. But he is also incredibly charming and  does a lot through a snakey smile.’

Prim: Joanna as Denise in The Paradise, which will return to screens this weekend

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2467724/As-youve-seen-The-girl-Paradise-whos-ruin-Cowells-Sunday-nights.html#ixzz2iDSmqHMY
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