Dearest readers, what better news than an update on Bridgerton season four? While you might still be reeling from all the drama of the Polin romance, it's finally been revealed which sibling will lead the next season, after months of speculation.
The show has officially announced that season four will focus on Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson. The second eldest of the Bridgerton family, Benedict is a perpetual bachelor in comparison to his siblings, but this season is set to focus on his character by expanding on his journey as an artist, and his experimentations with his identity and sexuality.
This is highlighted in a trailer released by Netflix. It starts with some teasers of scenes involving the Bridgerton family, before Thompson appears behind the scenes and opens a door. ‘I hear we're fitting you for a suit,’ an unseen actor tells Thompson, who replies ‘I already have an outfit for tonight.’ The voice then says, ‘It's not for tonight… it's for the masquerade ball,’ before Thompson says ‘In that case, come on in.’
Netflix followed this up with a post on X, where they wrote: ‘Benedict Bridgerton has been unmasked as next season's newest suitor. Please scream to celebrate our boy.’
So without further ado, here’s everything we know about what might happen to Benedict Bridgerton in season four…
What is Benedict Bridgerton’s sexuality?
Showrunner Jess Brownell told TVLine that the show’s writers describe Benedict Bridgerton ‘as being pansexual.’ She added that, for Benedict, ‘gender is not that important when he is finding attraction.’ Pansexual is defined sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity.
In season three, Benedict was in a throuple with the widowed Lady Tilley Arnold and her friend Paul Suarez. Brownell addressed Benedict’s sexuality in an interview with Variety, saying ‘He’s not just open minded, it’s that he seems like the type of person who wouldn’t be as concerned with gender — someone who might be more fluid and pansexual.’ She added ‘He’s really attracted to someone’s spirit. And so it felt like we should make sense of those pieces that were in Seasons one and two. That was what we were attempting to do with his storyline.’
Thompson also opened up about his character's sexuality in an interview with Bustle, telling them: ‘It’s always been part of the writing that Benedict feels slightly curious about his desires, rather than certain in what he wants and is looking for.’ He added ‘Male sexuality, particularly, can feel boxy in the way that it’s explored. Let’s be clear, it was an extremely repressive period. By our modern terms, the closest [descriptor] would be something along the lines of pansexuality – being attracted to the way that someone thinks and feels, regardless of gender.’
This follows another queer Bridgerton storyline set in motion in season three, when Francesca Bridgerton is introduced to her husband’s new cousin, Michaela Stirling.
What happens to Benedict Bridgerton in the book?
The Bridgerton TV show is based on the eight-book series by Julia Quinn. Season four will follow the events of Quinn’s third novel ‘An Offer from a Gentleman,’ which follows Benedict’s romance with Sophie Beckett, a low-born woman he meets at a masquerade ball - the mysterious Lady in Silver. This is because Season three skipped ahead to 'Romancing Mr. Bridgerton', the fourth novel of Quinn's series.
Netflix confirmed that Benedict’s love interest in the show is still the Lady in Silver. ‘The fourth season of ‘Bridgerton’ turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson),’ their season four logline reads. ‘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.’
What happened to Benedict at the end of season three?
In season three, Benedict’s bohemian spirit led him to enter into a polyamorous relationship with Lady Tilley Arnold and her friend Paul Suarez. At the end of season three, he puts a stop to the relationship with Lady Tilly Arnold, because he wants to enjoy his freedom, and explore the world she had introduced him to.
This came after Lady Tilly admitted she had growing feelings for Benedict – and his reluctance to enter into a committed relationship with her hints at his desire to explore his sexuality further. So, if one things guaranteed, we can be sure to expect to see lots more steamy scenes from the second eldest in the Bridgerton brood.
Alice Hall is the Staff Writer at Grazia UK. She was previously a Junior Features Writer for The Daily Telegraph. At Grazia, she writes news and features about pop culture, dating, health, politics and interiors.