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Bridgerton’s Season 4 Coming Out Scene Is ‘Hugely Important’, Says Showrunner

Posted on 03/03/2026 by Boris Clair

The latest season of Bridgerton has received widespread praise for its touching coming out scene, which sees Benedict opening up to Sophie about his sexuality.

Luke Thompson’s character was confirmed to be queer during the show’s third run, where he was seen engaging in trysts with both men and women.

Benedict is Bridgerton’s first openly queer lead character, and his coming out scene took the show’s writers into new territory.

“I am capable of caring for you, just as I have cared for women I have known who are of the Ton,” he told Yerin Ha’s character, Sophie, in season four’s sixth episode, which premiered on Netflix last week.

“Just as I have cared for some men whom I have known intimately,” he added. “And I refuse to be at all ashamed about that.”

Since the episode’s release, showrunner Jess Brownell has explained why it was “hugely important” to her that this scene be included.

“I think any queer person knows that no matter who you end up with, queerness is a part of your identity,” Jess told Business Insider. “It never goes away. And I think one of the messages of this show every season is that the only way to truly be loved is to be your true self.”

After Benedict’s coming out, Sophie assures him: “Love is always a thing to be proud of. The world needs more of it.”

Benedict and Sophie in the Bridgerton season four finale

But to Jess, there was never any doubt about how the character would react.

“Sophie is someone who’s been through so much and has lived in the downstairs world and been friends with people of all different classes,” she claimed. “And I do think she’s probably encountered people of different sexualities.”

Before the series was released, Jess stressed that it was “really important” to her that Benedict’s queerness remain a key part of his character, including after he began to pursue a romantic relationship with a woman.

“There is a really harmful and untrue stereotype that bisexual men are actually just gay men. More often, we see bisexual men ending up in media in homosexual-presenting relationships,” Jess told Variety last year.

“And it felt fresh and important to see a bisexual man ending up in a heterosexual-presenting relationship and still owning the fact that he is still queer.”

Benedict is not the only queer character in the world of Bridgerton.

Jess has previously said that Hannah Dodd’s Francesca will enter a same-sex relationship in a future season.

At the end of Bridgerton’s third outing, Francesca is introduced to her husband John’s female cousin, Michaeala Stirling.

Fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series will know that in the novels, this character is written as a man called Michael, with whom Francesca finds love after John suddenly dies.

However, he has been gender-swapped for the TV adaptation, with Michaela being played by Masali Baduza.

All four seasons of Bridgerton are available to watch on Bridgerton now.

The Best Scents To Use In The Bathroom For A Sensual Experience

Posted on 13/02/2026 by Boris Clair

With fans already anticipating that bathtub scene between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek, sensual baths have quietly moved to the forefront of our collective imagination.

Set in a firelit room and framed as a moment of trust and vulnerability, the scene which appears in Julia Quinn’s Offer From a Gentleman and has already been teased in the Bridgerton season 4 part 2 trailer, taps into a growing appetite for intimacy that’s built through atmosphere rather than spectacle.

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With Valentine’s Day landing just days before the episode airs on February 26, it’s no surprise that many are thinking about how to recreate that same mood at home, and if you’re one of them, we have expert guidance on hand.

The most erotic candle scents for a sensual bath experience

Of course, when it comes to a sexy suds-y experience, scent is everything and with this in mind, we spoke with Archie MacDonald, Director of Highland Soap Co. to learn about which scents create the most romantic atmosphere.

He commented: “Fragrance is closely linked to emotion and memory, which is why scent can have such a strong effect on intimacy. It’s something people don’t always consciously think about, but whether you’re choosing a gift or simply trying to elevate an evening with your partner, scent plays a powerful role in shaping how a moment feels and how it’s remembered.”

This makes perfect sense. The power of smell to bring us to a different place, mood, even person is incredible.

The scent expert added: “Rose and patchouli have long been associated with intimacy because of the way they work together on a sensory level. Rose absolute brings a soft, delicate floral note that feels calming and comforting, while patchouli adds an earthy warmth that grounds the scent and gives it depth. The result is a fragrance that feels uplifting and soothing at the same time, creating an atmosphere that’s relaxed and sensual.

“Whether it’s through a scented candle in the home or a soap used as part of a daily routine, incorporating rose and patchouli into everyday moments can help create a sense of closeness and connection without needing anything overly elaborate.”

Brb, need to make my bathroom look and smell romantic AF.

Bridgerton Stars Make Very Unsexy Admission About Filming That Steamy Staircase Scene

Posted on 03/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Across the last four seasons, Bridgerton has become famous for not holding back when it comes to its many sex scenes.

While last season featured that infamous carriage scene between Penelope and Colin, the most recent chapter in the Netflix period drama saw Benedict and Sophie getting steamy in the stairwell.

So, what was it like filming the scene?

Well, according to cast member Luke Thompson, it was actually pretty rough because he and co-star Yerin Ha kept falling ill.

“What we actually did is we both got ill,” he admitted to E! News.

Benedict and Sophie's most romantic moment played out in a cliffhanger scene that took place on a staircase — Benedict and Sophie’s most romantic moment played out in a cliffhanger scene that took place on a staircase

Meanwhile, Yerin, who plays Sophie, explained how sex scenes may look fun to viewers but are challenging to make, especially when under the weather.

The Australian actor also admitted that the staircase hookup scene had to be moved back in the schedule due to her and Luke’s illness.

“We were very mentally a little bit weak, a little bit nervous, my immune system was down,” Yerin added.

Luckily, their intimacy coordinator, Lizzie Talbot, made shooting the memorable moment a “quite seamless” process.

“When you have trust with a great scene partner like Luke, it always just comes together quite naturally,” Yerin told People.

She added: “It’s funny, because those Bridgerton steamy, sex scenes – or whatever you want to call them – they don’t feel like they’re there just for the sake of it. They’re actually an extension of the storytelling, and it is quite poetic and they’re there for an actual purpose.”

Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha in another key moment from Bridgerton's fourth season — Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha in another key moment from Bridgerton’s fourth season

This season focuses on the class divide between Sophie, who works as a maid, and the aristocratic Benedict, which is how the symbolic location for the sex scene came to be.

“It is upstairs, downstairs, and they meet in the middle, and it’s like, what does that represent? And what story are we trying to say in that moment exactly?” Yerin added.

Part one of Bridgerton season four is now streaming on Netflix. Part two premieres on 26 February.

Bridgerton Newcomer Yerin Ha Teases 1 Major Difference In Season 4

Posted on 28/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Previously, every Bridgerton sibling who fronted their season has found romance in their own upper classes. Season four, though, is taking a bit of a different approach with its lead love story.

This latest run of episodes will see Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton becoming enamoured with a mysterious “Lady In Silver” at a masquerade ball.

Little does he know, the woman he has fallen for is Yerin Ha’s Sophie, who works as a maid for the demanding Lady Araminta Gun (played by Katie Leung).

Unlike Daphne’s romance with Simon, the Duke of Hastings, Colin’s relationship with childhood friend Penelope, or Anthony and Kate Sharma’s marriage, this pairing sees love forming through a class divide.

While maids have existed in the show, including Lorraine Ashbourne’s Mrs Varley, they have always played a background role when it comes to the romance.

Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha play the new central couple in Bridgerton's fourth season — Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha play the new central couple in Bridgerton’s fourth season

Newcomer Yerin Ha thinks it’s a “blessing” to see the Netflix show explore an upstairs-downstairs style romance.

“I think it just really opens up whole new doors for Bridgerton. I think it grounds, it makes it more realistic-ish. It’s less pretty and shiny and glamorous, which I think is quite nice,” Yerin told Metro.

“It’s the fourth season now, so it’s nice to have a change of energy and pace. I’m excited for the audiences to see that.”

Luke Thompson, who has been in the period drama since the first series, agreed with his on-screen love interest and appreciated the show taking a different direction in its fourth series.

“It’s sort of baked into the story, in a way, isn’t it? In a story that does seem to be about fantasy and reality, it is about the performance of the Tom and then suddenly you get a stronger flavour of the real world in Bridgerton, what reality means in Bridgerton, which I think is really interesting, because the Ton world can feel like a bit of a bubble sometimes,” he said.

Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury, also praised season four for its “freshness” and for exploring the class divide in British society.

“Our show is not a sociology project, but even to discuss class in this way is really lovely to see,” she said. “What does keep the glittering household going? It’s those people downstairs. So what are their lives like and what happens when the two worlds actually cross over?” Adjoa added.

Bridgerton season four, part one premieres on Thursday January 29 on Netflix.

Bridgerton Season 4 Release Date: Here’s How Long Fans Have To Wait Until The New Episodes

Posted on 13/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Bridgerton bosses have revealed that fans’ next trip to The Ton is mere months away.

It’s now been over a year since the latest instalment of the Netflix period drama, which broke from the order of the original novel series in order to bring fans the love story between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, played by fan-favourites Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan.

On Monday morning, Netflix shared an exciting preview video for season four, which revealed some good news and bad news for Bridgerton devotees.

First, the good news: Bridgerton will be back on our screens early next year.

Unfortunately, not all of the news is positive however, with Netflix once again making the decision to split the season in two, the first part of which will arrive on Thursday 29 January 2026, followed by a second drop four weeks later, on 26 February.

Watch the teaser for yourself below:

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It was previously confirmed that the new batch of episodes will focus on Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed in the first three seasons by Luke Thompson.

While Benedict has previously taken a somewhat more fast-and-loose approach to romance, the new season will see him falling in love with a new character, played by Yerin Ha, who meets him at a much-hyped masquerade ball.

An official Netflix synopsis previously teased: “The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down – until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.”

Other new additions to the cast include Michelle Mao, Isabella Wei and Katie Leung, previously best known for her work as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter movies.

The first three seasons of Bridgerton, as well as the spin-off prequel series Queen Charlotte, are available to stream now on Netflix.

Here’s Where You’ve Seen The New Additions To The Cast Of Heartstopper Season 3 Before

Posted on 06/10/2024 by Boris Clair

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The new season of Heartstopper has already proved to be just as popular as its predecessors, winning rave reviews from critics and shooting to the top of Netflix’s most-watched list just one day after its debut.

Once again, Kit Connor and Joe Locke return as central couple Nick and Charlie, with supporting cast Yasmin Finney, William Gao and Tobie Donovan among the regular cast members also back in action for the new series.

But you might have also noticed a few new additions to the cast of season three, that could ring a little familiar to Heartstopper viewers.

Here’s a bit more about where you might have seen them before…

Hayley Atwell

Even if you think Heartstopper is your first time being introduced to Hayley Atwell (who plays Nick’s aunt Diane, in Olivia Colman’s absence), the chances are you’ve seen her before without realising it.

She initially got her start on the big screen in period pieces like Brideshead Revisited and The Duchess, as well as an acclaimed (and Golden Globe-nominated) performance in the show The Pillars Of The Earth, before appearing as Peggy Carter in the Captain America movies.

More recently, she joined the Mission: Impossible series, and is due to share the screen with Tom Cruise once again in the upcoming ninth instalment. Later this month, you can also hear Hayley as the voice of Lara Croft in Netflix’s new animated Tomb Raider series.

Eddie Marsan

With a CV as vast as Eddie Marsan’s, it’s hard to know where to start. In the last two years alone, he’s been booked and busy, playing Amy Winehouse’s dad in Back To Black, a gangster in Amazon’s The Power, the villainous Ray in Netflix’s Supacell and an imposing CEO in the erotic thriller Fair Play.

His other acclaimed work includes the indie film Happy-Go-Lucky, the Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth and the period drama Vera Drake, co-starring Imelda Staunton.

Annette Badland

Soap fans will recognise Annette Badland for her performance as Aunt Babe in EastEnders, but her on-screen work dates back almost 50 years.

Some of her stand-out performances include the movie Little Voice, the hit football series Ted Lasso, Channel 4 comedy Big Boys and the first series of the Doctor Who reboot in 2005.

Darragh Hand

Heartstopper is Darragh Hand’s biggest role to date, joining the fun as a new love interest for Charlie’s sister, Tori (Jenny Walser).

He has done a few big shows so far, though, including Silent Witness and the ITV drama Grace.

Jonathan Bailey

Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey makes a brief cameo in one episode of Heartstopper as a social media influencer that Charlie harbours a crush on.

Before being cast in his break-out role of Anthony Bridgerton, you may have seen Jonathan in Chewing Gum, Broadchurch, W1A or Fellow Travelers.

In fact, you can check out more of Jonathan Bailey’s roles you might have forgotten all about here.

Bridgerton Casting Director Reveals She Receives ‘Unsolicited’ X-Rated Audition Videos Daily

Posted on 06/07/2024 by Boris Clair

Some would-be stars are so eager to be in the next season of Bridgerton that they’ve been bombarding casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry’s inbox with “unsolicited” videos.

While appearing on the latest episode of the Should I Delete That? podcast, Kelly, who has worked on the Netflix period drama since it first aired in 2020, admitted that NSFW clips land in her inbox like clockwork.

“It’s every day … I get the most unbelievable videos, unsolicited,” she told the podcast’s hosts, Em Clarkson and Alex Light. “It’s sex basically.

“It’s not actual sex but it’s quite punchy. … It’s not nudie pictures, but it’s not far off.”

She added: “It’s a bit sad, really.”

Kelly went on to reveal that many of the actors who reach out hoping to join the romance series want to star as Sophie Beckett despite the role not being officially confirmed yet.

In Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels, Sophie is the love interest of Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson in the Netflix series).

It’s probably not too shocking for actors to submit racy clips considering the popular show is known for its steamy scenes.

Back in May, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, revealed that she took on some especially steamy scenes in the recently released third season in order to shut down trolls who criticised her appearance.

“I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included,” the Derry Girls recalled of collaborating with the series’ intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot.

“There’s one scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice,” she added. “It just felt like the biggest ‘fuck you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering.”

Bridgerton Season 3 Gives Us The Complexity We’ve Been Waiting For

Posted on 18/05/2024 by Boris Clair

The carriage wheels are spinning as they return the fashionable set to their London homes, delivery boys are selling the latest copy of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, and a new set of young ladies prepares to enter society. In other words, after two long years, Bridgerton has returned with the first four episodes of its much-anticipated third season (helmed by new showrunner Jess Brownell).

Since the trailer premiered in April, the chemistry between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has set the internet ablaze as fans prepared themselves for the friends-to-lovers trope with a side of a She’s All That-esque makeover. And this season does not disappoint. It may even exceed fans’ already-high expectations.

While I loved the fake dating storyline of Daphne and Simon in season one and Anthony and Kate’s evolution from enemies to lovers in season two, the rom-com tropes in Season 3 are even better.

This season follows the tradition of the first two and opens with a Bridgerton — the sparkling Francesca (Hannah Dodd) — making her debut. However, despite its similar construct, this season is heightened in almost every way.

From the period-inspired but mostly fantastical costumes (lots of ombre, embellishments and layered fabrics) to the whimsical, floral-filled sets to the complicated interpersonal drama, everything fans love about Bridgerton has been exaggerated to create a fuller, more colourful, bejewelled world. A world that is clearly not meant to be a rendition of the past or a mirror of our present moment, but a place to live in some imaginary in-between space.

In this place, the events of last season have changed everyone. The most obvious transformation is Colin, who has returned from another adventure abroad looking muscular and tan, and, as his brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) describes him, “sturdy”. Colin has a new confidence and hair that rivals that of Shondaland favorite Dr. McDreamy. His new social ease helps him glide into rooms and flirt with countless groups of debutantes.

But this new façade will not help him with Penelope, his oldest friend, who is still enraged after overhearing him tell a group of men at the end of last season that he would never court her. The new armour he has donned to re-enter society will also make it even harder for Colin to process the possibility that he may have feelings for Penelope that go beyond friendship.

The second big transformation occurs on screen after Penelope has decided she must marry to escape her mother’s household. To achieve any hope of accomplishing this, Penelope realises she must step out of the shadows and safety of the walls of ballrooms she has hidden alongside. She replaces her citrus wardrobe with stunning gowns in blue and green, gowns that flatter her figure, showcase her fair complexion and highlight her stunning eyes.

In a Laney Boggs-esque moment – which has been teased in the trailer – Penelope descends the staircase at Lady Danbury’s ball, the momentous first ball of the season (fans of Queen Charlotte know exactly what it entailed for Lady Danbury to achieve this honour), to reveal her new aesthetic. However, Penelope’s social anxiety and awkwardness quickly make it clear that, to secure a husband, changing her appearance is not enough. She will have to embody the confidence and strength of her alter ego, Lady Whistledown.

Cue a gentleman – it should surprise no one that the duty-driven man is Colin – with an offer to help Penelope do so. The next three episodes explore the complications that are bound to ensue after his help works and she captures the interest of the eccentric but very eligible Lord Debling (Sam Phillips).

What makes this season so special is that it’s not only Colin and Penelope who are grappling with their identities. Every character is wrestling with change, with the growing pains that come from both necessary and self-imposed evolution and the internal conflict that is often the byproduct of denying a part of oneself.

Violet Bridgerton is navigating a new world in which Kate (Simone Ashley) has returned (much to fans’ delight) and is now the viscountess. Kate is supposed to step into Violet’s role, and Violet is expected to move away from her children and into the dowager house. With two daughters out at the same time, Violet is also trying to avoid the maternal overstepping that she believes contributed to Anthony almost marrying the wrong person last year and Eloise’s dangerous friendship (and possibly more) with Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch), the boy from the printshop.

However, Violet will learn that stepping back may not always be the right thing, because children, even grown ones, sometimes need their mothers’ guidance. Also, as fans of Queen Charlotte know, Violet’s garden is “in bloom”, and she may be ready to open herself up to a new suitor, especially if that man has impeccable timing when picking up a dropped glove and has a gift for conversation.

Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in the first episode of Season 3 of "Bridgerton." — Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in the first episode of Season 3 of “Bridgerton.”

Other Bridgertons are also going through a time of great change. Benedict is trying to figure out who he is after giving up art, Francesca is hoping to find a husband and move into her own, quieter household, and Eloise is still recovering from the relationship that put her family at risk and the shock of discovering Penelope’s lies.

Even though Eloise is trying to conform to society’s expectations – she wears more ornate dresses and ties bows in her hair – and befriends the unlikeliest of people – Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) º she still must grapple with her belief system and the truth that her former best friend is Lady Whistledown.

Though some change is reactionary, others are necessary because of the rules that regulate the ton. Portia Featherington (Polly Walker), Alice (Emma Naomi) and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) must face the pressures of the crown and the implications of the rules imposed to ensure that “the lines of succession run smoothly”.

All this interpersonal conflict is also taking place within a paradoxical system that simultaneously “feeds on the nouveau” and rejects social change. This tension sets up season three to have a level of complexity that the first two lacked.

Last May, I wrote about the beautiful depth of Queen Charlotte, the Bridgerton spin-off that explores the realities and consequences of marriage and the ways women (Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton) fight for agency within the constraints that society has imposed upon them. There was a complexity in Queen Charlotte that — as much as I have enjoyed watching Bridgerton — was missing from the first two seasons of the show. But its absence will be felt no longer.

In Julia Quinn’s book series upon which the show is based, the novels themselves are very insular. Each focuses primarily on the experiences of the Bridgerton sibling and the person they will eventually marry. Since the beginning, the show has been building out the world Quinn created, adding secondary characters and giving them larger, ongoing storylines with their own arcs. Now, after two seasons and a spin-off, Bridgerton is using the foundation it has laid to its advantage, adding layers of meaning to every scene and lines of dialogue that allow it to explore the same rich themes as Queen Charlotte.

This effect is felt most acutely with Brimsley (Hugh Sachs), Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), whose backstories elicit sympathy and give all their interactions — even the queen’s seemingly silly game with Whistledown — greater meaning.

And, unlike Queen Charlotte, which was beautifully done but also had moments that were torturous to endure, Bridgerton accomplishes this feat with a fun, fanciful romance.

It also helps that, unlike seasons one and two, which relied on flashbacks to create emotional depth (the abuse Simon’s father inflicted because of his stutter and the traumatic death of Anthony’s father), Bridgerton is relying on fans’ pre-existing investment in Colin and Penelope. We’ve watched Penelope pine for Colin from her window. We’ve listened to Lady Crane (Ruby Barker) tell Colin that he is taking Penelope for granted. Our hearts broke with Penelope’s when she overheard Colin’s mean comment at the end of the last season after they had finally danced together. All of these moments have been building toward this season, and we are ready for it.

In the opening sequence, Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) says: “Whoever it is that makes the finest match this year, let us hope that their pairing brings some titillation.” I can attest that these first four episodes lay the groundwork to do exactly that, especially for those who read the book and are hoping for a steamy scene (perhaps in a carriage).

Also, in true Shonda Rhimes fashion, viewers can be certain the fourth episode will end in such a way that you will be screaming at the TV, wondering why Netflix is forcing you to endure an entire month to finish a season that you’ve already spent two years waiting for.

I don’t know Netflix’s reason, dear viewer, but I can attest that these four episodes are an immersive delight because, yes, the chemistry between Colin and Penelope is electric, but the larger world their romance takes place in is becoming even better.

Bridgerton Season 3, Part 1, is streaming on Netflix. Part 2 begins on June 13.

‘Seriously Steamy’ Or ‘Stale’? Critics Can’t Agree On Bridgerton Season 3

Posted on 16/05/2024 by Boris Clair

After the first two seasons became record-breaking TV smashes, hopes have certainly been high for the long-awaited next chapter in the high-society world of Bridgerton.

Part one of season three is now streaming on Netflix, with viewers finally able to swoon over the much-hyped romance between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

This next instalment certainly marks the biggest romantic build-up the regency drama has teased so far – but was the wait worth it?

While some critics have praised the Netflix show’s reliable format and sweet chemistry between its stars, others fear the show might be losing its spark.

Here’s the consensus on the first half of season three so far…

“Nicola Coughlan is sensational as Penelope Featherington, whose long-simmering romance with Colin Bridgerton reaches boiling point – and the bonking is scarce but seriously steamy… As we dive into season three, the show’s delights are still blindingly obvious, its flaws possible to overlook. Just like the besotted couples it follows, Bridgerton’s honeymoon phase is far from over.”

“There is something about seeing the bond between Colin and Penelope transform from comfortably platonic to yearning and passionate that elevates this journey. Coughlan and Newton have always had a beautiful rapport, but watching Colin realise he desires Penelope sexually […], creates a sparkling tension throughout Part 1 that threatens to burst off the screen.”

“Still sweet and seductive but the taste is growing stale…If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, this still won’t be the show for you. But if you’re craving an early-summer pick-me-up, you’ll devour these warm and watchable episodes in one scrummy sitting.”

Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan in Bridgerton

“In Season 3 of Netflix favourite, the spell starts to wear off…despite the friends-to-lovers premise, we are given little sense of what Colin and Penelope are like as buddies before they’re thrust into the awkwardness of attraction. Combined with the fact that Colin is written to have little of the rich inner life that Penelope enjoys […] the relationship that should be this volume’s breathless centrepiece feels uneven.”

IGN (6/10)

“Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 has the bones of something great. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton excel as the couple at centre stage, beautifully portraying the knife’s edge balance on which Penelope and Colin’s relationship sits…Time will tell if the rest of Bridgerton’s third season can balance its overabundance of plot threads, but Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s chemistry as Penelope and Colin is shaping up to be worth the wait for Part 2.”

“One of the best things about Bridgerton is its ability to tell a different kind of love story each season. Yes, there is a rotating cast of characters who each get their own storylines, but the central romance – and its dynamics and tropes – stand apart, giving us an opportunity to enjoy and experience something fresh each time.”

“Even though this is very much Penelope and Colin’s time in the spotlight, the third season (of which the first six episodes were provided for review) also begins to sow the seeds of other love stories that, quite frankly, need plenty of time to grow. These teased threads don’t just prove that the future of Bridgerton is already being taken into consideration, but that the series itself is still as good as ever.”

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“Nicola Coughlan is superb – but the Netflix show is losing its bite… The writing in this third chapter is particularly flimsy, while the production design looks increasingly like the hyper-saturated, uncanny results produced by an AI tool.”

“Regency romp has gone stale – even the sex scenes are dull…What was once fresh and fun now seems stuck in a rut, as the hit period drama begins to show signs of wear.”

The first half of Bridgerton season three is available to watch now on Netflix, with the next four episodes set to drop on Thursday 13 June.

Bridgerton Star Regé-Jean Page Says Netflix Can Re-Cast His Role As Simon Basset

Posted on 14/07/2022 by Boris Clair

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Any Bridgerton fans still holding out for a possible return of Regé-Jean Page to the Netflix series might want to look away now.

Just a month after the actor shut down rumours that he was set to return to the period drama for its upcoming third series, Regé-Jean has now doubled down on those comments, even declaring that he’d have no qualms if his character Simon Basset was recast.

*clutches pearls, starts furiously fanning self*

Regé-Jean played one of the romantic leads in the first season but did not return for the second, which was released earlier this year.

In an interview with Variety at the LA premiere of his new film, The Gray Man (above), Regé-Jean insisted his days of playing the “Regency fuckboy” (his words) are definitely over.

“They’re free to do as they like,” he said. “Shonda [Rhimes, executive producer on Bridgerton] and I had a wonderful conversation at the end of Season 1. We were quite happy with how we stuck the landing on that one.”

He continued: “We did so well on that redemptive arc that people forget that Simon was kind of horrific.

“He was the best example of a Regency fuckboy that any of us had come across. And so, because we came around full circle so well, because we stuck that landing, you’re left with this great feeling.

“You really do have to be brave about ending stories like that.”

Regé-Jean Page as Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset in Bridgerton

Regé-Jean also admitted that he still hasn’t tuned into the second series of Bridgerton, which debuted on Netflix in March.

After hanging out with former co-star Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony Bridgerton, at Milan Fashion Week last month, Regé-Jean posted some snaps on Instagram.

“The boys are back in town (No, I’m not going back to the show btw – the papers made that one up), he captioned the pics.

“But we had the best, and most stylish, catch up I’ve had in a while over some truly excellent Italian coffee and sunshine.”

Bridgerton series 1 and 2 are streaming in Netflix now.

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