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Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in ‘Birdgerton.’ Liam Daniel/Netflix
The fourth season of Bridgerton will include many fan-favorites — but not everyone is returning for more episodes of the show.
Bridgerton, which is based on the book series written by Julia Quinn, centers around members of the wealthy Bridgerton family as they search for love in 19th century London. Season 1 followed Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset’s (Regé-Jean Page) romance, who were the central couple in the first book, The Duke and I.
Season 2, meanwhile, took inspiration from The Viscount Who Loved Me, which followed Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) finding love with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Despite Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) being the subject of the third novel — An Offer From a Gentleman — his love story with newcomer Sophie (Yerin Ha) was pushed to season 4.
Instead, the third season focused on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) as seen in Quinn’s book Romancing Mister Bridgerton. The shakeup has kept readers on their toes — as has former cast members stepping away from the show.
Bridgerton fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the series first debuted. The historical drama, which is based on the book series written by Julia Quinn, follows the members of the wealthy Bridgerton family as they search for love in 19th century London. When Bridgerton premiered in 2020, the show centered […]
Page became the most memorable exit when he chose to wrap up one season in.
“They’re free to do as they like,” Page told Variety in July 2022 after being asked about a recasting for Simon. “Shonda 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. 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 f—kboy that any of us had come across.”
Page continued: “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.”
While Bridgerton didn’t recast Simon, Page has stood by his decision not to return. Dynevor later confirmed her own exit from the series, which didn’t appear to be her choice.
Keep scrolling to see which Bridgerton characters are returning — and which aren’t — in season 4:
Benedict Bridgerton
Thompson and Ha will be front and center during season 4. “It’s a fairy tale love story but it’s also got the Bridgerton element of trying to sort of tether it to some sort of reality as well and see how that pans out,” Thompson told Tudum in September 2024 before Ha added, “[Fans will see] this kind of emotional tug-of-war, or like this kind of push and pull between I guess what their heart desires, and I guess what society kind of desires for them.”
Liam Daniel/Netflix Bridgerton season 3 just came to an end — and Us has already compiled answers to the biggest questions about the show. The third installment pulled inspiration from Julia Quinn’s book Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, which focused on Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) love story. After getting engaged, the fictional couple faced […]
Anthony Bridgerton
Bailey confirmed he will return as Anthony in season 4, sharing during a November 2024 appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, “Gonna reunite with the family next week. I’ll always pop back and say hello.”
Kate Bridgerton
“I know that I am returning, but that’s all I can say,” Ashley said in an interview with Glamour U.K. in October 2024. “I absolutely adore the show, and the more I can be a part of it, the better,” she added. “They’ve been really kind to work around my schedule.”
Eloise Bridgerton
When season 3 came to an end, Eloise (Claudia Jessie) joined Francesca (Hannah Dodd) on her trip. Eloise is a frontrunner to be the next lead with To Sir Phillip, With Love, which is the fifth book in the franchise, reintroducing Phillip (Chris Fulton) as he built a connection with Eloise.
Colin Bridgerton
In April 2024, Newton said he planned to remain on the show. “It’s changed my life so I know that I’ll be sticking around,” he told High Life Magazine at the time.
Penelope Bridgerton
Coughlan received an invitation to return, telling The Wrap in May 2024, “They’ve told us we’re back for Season 4, which is super lovely … It’ll be exciting. [We’ll] pop back and have some fun for sure.”
Francesca Stirling
“I can’t say if it’s in season 4 or not, but yes, there will be a time jump. I mean, we also really want to honor John and Francesca’s relationship, which although we are telling a queer story with Francesca, I don’t think that that negates her genuine connection with John. I know a lot of people have really fallen for that relationship, and we in the room really cared deeply about that relationship and about their connection,” showrunner Jess Brownell told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2024. “I think hopefully, it’s a lovely statement on the fact that relationships based in companionship, respect, friendship, trust and shared interests are just as valid as relationships that are super passionate. Both have value, and neither negates the other.”
She concluded: “So we’re absolutely not denying the connection that Fran and John have, and when we tell the Francesca and Michaela story, we would definitely want there to be a time jump to give Francesca some time to earnestly mourn what she had with John.”
John Stirling
Victor Alli was introduced as Francesca’s love interest — and future husband — in season 3. While the fictional couple ended up together, book fans know that John ultimately dies and Francesca finds love with his cousin Michael, who has been gender-swapped on the show. Alli and Masali Baduza, who plays Michaela, are both set to reprise their roles in season 4.
“I’m confident now that when Francesca has her Bridgerton season, it will be the most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show, just like When He Was Wicked has always been the true tear-jerker of the Bridgerton book series,” Quinn wrote in a June 2024 statement. “Honestly, it may pack even more of a punch, since John is getting a lot more time on the screen than he ever did on the page, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve all fallen a little bit in love with him.”
Hyacinth Bridgerton
The seventh book in the Bridgerton series follows Hyacinth’s love story. Florence Hunt, who has played the character since season 1, has been announced as a cast member for future installments.
Gregory Bridgerton
With Gregory being the last Bridgerton lead, Will Tilston will continue to make guest appearances until season 8.
“One of the things that was very exciting when they actually first bought the series was that it was really clear to me that they put a lot of thought into it already,” Quinn told People in July 2024. “We had to go through everything and very specifically say, ‘These characters are included, these characters are not.’ In that process, it was really clear to me that they had a long plan and were really thinking about all the books.”
Daphne Basset
During an interview with The Direct in January 2025, Dyenvor said she’s “still waiting on that call” to return to the show, adding, “They’ve not called me yet and I think they’re shooting season 4 right now.”
Simon Basset
Netflix announced in April 2021 that Page would not be reprising his role as the Duke of Hastings despite plans for Daphne to appear in future seasons.
“It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end — give us a year,” he told Variety at the time. “[I thought] ‘That’s interesting,’ because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit, and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.”
Page has stood by his decision even though fans have publicly voiced their disappointment about not getting to see where Simon’s story goes from here.
Queen Charlotte
Despite the real Queen Charlotte’s death in 1818, showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed the show would get creative to keep Golda Rosheuvel on the show.
“I worship Golda Rosheuvel and I think she’s so fantastic in her role. Shonda [Rhimes] and I, internally, have just decided that we’re in an alternate dimension,” Brownell told TVLine in June 2024 about why viewers don’t have to worry about Charlotte being killed off. “There’s potential that in this timeline, Queen Charlotte could live forever.”
Voice of Lady Whistledown
When Penelope’s identity as Whistledown was a secret, iconic film actress Julie Andrews did the voiceover for the character. Season 3 shook things up by having Penelope take that over after revealing she was behind the Whistledown columns.
“Thematically and creatively, that would be the right thing to do. Penelope is owning her voice, so it really should be Nicola’s voice. But it’s Julie Andrews and I don’t know how you say no thank you anymore to Julie Andrews,” Brownell shared with EW in June 2024. “I couldn’t possibly, so to me that’s just the voice that Penelope uses in her head when she writes the thing. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that she’s owning her true self now.”
Brownell used the opportunity to hint at whether Whistledown will continue to play a role, adding, “It means that she’s now a public scandal writer, which is going to be a tricky balance. … She has everyone knowing who she is. After her arc this season, she’s going to be wrestling with accountability and with righteousness and trying to figure out what the right path is to use her pen responsibly.”
Albion Finch
Lorn Macdonald, who has played Finch since season 2, took to Instagram in June 2024 to celebrate his time on the hit Netflix series. Fans, however, quickly questioned if the message doubled as a goodbye to the series.
“Albion Finch. What started off with cheese and a sneeze became a character I deeply care about. Huge thanks to everyone who made this a job I’ll never forget and to all the fans showing your love for this weird little dude,” Macdonald wrote at the time. “It means a lot. And to my Philippa. @harriet.cains . My partner in crime. It’s been real.”
Will Mondrich
Photos from a season 4 table read released via Instagram in December 2024 confirmed the return of characters including Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), Portia Featherington (Polly Walker), Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and more.
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