With just a day to go until season three of Bridgerton makes its long-awaited arrival on Netflix, the excitement is palpable.
We already know that the third season is poised to focus on the relationship between fan favourites Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), but there are still so many other open-ended storylines that we need some closure on.
In the trailer, Penelope is heard insisting that she 'cannot live at home anymore,' announcing 'I must take a husband’. A 'sturdy' looking Colin, as he's dubbed by his brothers, seems all too happy to help Penelope find that husband.
Ahead of season three’s official release, Bridgerton's X account delivered a welcome surprise for fans. ‘Perhaps, dear reader, it would serve you well to halt what you are doing...for this author has a surprise for you. Do enjoy the first five minutes of Bridgerton season three,’ they wrote.
How to watch the first five minutes of Bridgerton season three
If you can’t wait until, erm tomorrow, to get your season three fix, Tudum – the official companion site to Netflix – is streaming the first five minutes of Bridgerton season three, episode one. You can access it here and re-watch as many times as your heart desires.
Those glorious five minutes capture everything we love about Bridgerton. The outfits, the soundtrack, the nervous anticipation of the debutantes… And this year in the titular household, it’s Francesca Bridgerton’s turn, who, actress Hannah Dodd revealed, is preparing pragmatically to present herself to Queen Charlotte.
‘Francesca obviously has a lot of nerves going into it, but [Bridgerton writer] Jess [Brownell] and I talked about how she also has quite a logical headspace towards the whole thing. She wants to get in there and get it done. She’s not fighting it in the same way that Eloise fought it. But she’s not obsessing over it and romanticizing it in the same way that Daphne did either,’ Dodd said.
The final scene in the five-minute opening captures an emotional Penelope attempting to go unnoticed as she watches Colin reunite with his family, before he turns and locks eyes with her. The feels!
When does Bridgerton season three come out on Netflix?
Netflix is dropping the third season of Bridgerton in two volumes. The first four episodes will land on the streaming platform on 16 May, with the second set released just under a month later on 13 June.
What time does Bridgerton season three come out on Netflix?
UK fans, you will be able to watch Bridgerton season three from 8am on Thursday 16 May.
For those in the States, you will be able to start streaming from midnight on 16 May (PDT) and 3am on 16 May (EDT).
How many episodes in Bridgerton season three?
Eight in total. The first four will be released on 16 May, with episodes five to eight dropping on 13 June.
What is season three of Bridgerton about?
The official X account for the show tweeted alongside a teaser poster, ‘Every mirror tells a story... And Miss Penelope Featherington's story is one that cannot be missed.' A later teaser clip released in February, meanwhile, showed Penelope gazing into Colin's eyes.
Curious to know more about what's happening inside the Ton? It just so happens that Grazia spent Valentine's Day at Netflix's Bridgerton fan event, where we heard from the cast and creatives themselves about what to expect from the new series - including Easter eggs for book fans 'in almost every episode' and 'ramped up' sex scenes.
Yes, don't worry; Luke promised season three will be 'steamy across the board'. 'There are lots of people at the Ton that are just at it,' he joked.
The biggest news so far is that Netflix's hit period drama will be straying from the order ofJulia Quinn's bestselling books. Lady Whistledown herself, Nicola Coughlan, announced that season three will skip Benedict Bridgerton's story and instead follow Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and her character Penelope Featherington as they embark on their will-they-won't-they love story.
The first two seasons of the show closely followed the first two novels: season one focused on Daphne Bridgerton’s (Phoebe Dynevor) romance with Simon (Regé-Page Jean), while the second dove into Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) romance with Kate (Simone Ashley).
The third book, An Offer From A Gentleman, focuses on Benedict Bridgerton's (Luke Thompson) love match with Sophie Beckett. However, it seems that storyline will now likely be pushed to a later date, with the fourth book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, coming to the forefront.
At the end of season two of Bridgerton, Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) was caught in the middle of two sticky storylines - and we're hoping to get some answers in season three.
Firstly, her inadvisable - although beloved by fans - romance with Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch). Secondly, the fact that she'd just found out that her best friend, Penelope Featherington, was Lady Whistledown and had well and truly thrown her under the bus. 'The level of the betrayal, I suppose, is quite large. I don't think it's going to be made quickly,' Claudia revealed at the fan event, while showrunner Shonda Rhimes called the friendship between Penelope and Eloise 'the second love story of the season'. Could Penelope's betrayal throw a spanner in the works for her romance with Colin? Time will tell.
What does 'Polin' mean?
You might have heard Bridgerton fans referring to 'Polin', a portmanteau of Penelope and Colin given to the couple and their friends-to-lovers romance.
The close nature of Nicola and Luke's friendship off-screen mirrored that of their characters, especially when it came to filming season three's 'steamy' scenes. 'It was scary that we were friends to begin with, because the thought of doing that stuff with your friend is quite like, "Ooh!"' Nicola said at the fan event. 'But then we could talk about it and a have a laugh about it, and it ended up being quite fun.'
However, there are a few road blocks in the way for the fictional character – because Penelope's got other 'options' now. Speaking at the Bridgerton event, Nicola explained: 'She's decided she's going to find a husband, so she heads back to the Ton and she's like, "I gotta get away from the Featheringtons, they're wrecking my buzz, I'm outta here". She basically is like, "I'm gonna find a husband" and Colin's like, "I'll help you." She's like, "Fine, I don't love you at all. This will work out great."' Penelope ends up meeting a number of suitors, and 'one is very, very fond of her'.
Who's in the Bridgerton season three cast?
Along with Nicola Coughlan (Penelope) and Luke Newton (Colin), other cast members returning for season three include Claudia Jessie (Eloise) and Luke Thompson (Benedict). Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley are also confirmed to reprise their roles as Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Bridgerton nee Sharma, as seen in the latest sneak peek.
After the success of Queen Charlotte, it's also expected that Ruth Gemmell, Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh will return.
And some new faces will also be joining the cast. Among those joining the world of Bridgerton are Daniel Francis (Stay Close), who will play new character Marcus Anderson - described as a 'charismatic presence who lights up any room he enters, attracting the notice of certain matriarchs in the ton and the ire of others' – Sam Phillips (The Crown), who will play Lord Debling - 'a genial lord with unusual interests' - and James Phoon (Wreck) who will play 'the handsome, yet dim-witted' Harry Dankworth.
Where is Bridgerton filmed?
The series takes place in London, with the capital a filming hotspot. However, while the focus is London, you may be surprised to discover that many of the street scenes are actually filmed in Bath, York and Chatham.
Will Phoebe Dynevor be returning for Bridgerton season three?
She captured our hearts in the first season as debutant Daphne Bridgerton before returning in a smaller role in the second season as an anxious mother and meddling sister. Sadly, season two was the last we are set to see of Daphne's story - with Phoebe Dynevor confirming that she has followed in the footsteps of Rege-Jean Page and left the show.
Speaking to Screen Rant, Phoebe was asked if there are any interesting dynamics for Daphne in the next season of Bridgerton, to which she replied: 'Sadly not in season three. Potentially in the future. But season three, I'm just excited to watch as a viewer.'
Is the role of Francesca Bridgerton being recast?
Another change that will take place during season three is a recast of Francesca Bridgerton, previously played by Ruby Sokes. Last season there was confusion among fans surrounding the whereabouts of Francesca as she wasn't present in many of the family scenes. It was later announced that Ruby landed the lead in Netflix’s Lockwood & Co., leading to scheduling conflicts.
It's now been confirmed that the actress has exited the Shondaland show, making way for Hannah Dodd to take over.
Hannah recently played the younger version of Sienna Miller in Anatomy of a Scandal. She also played a supporting role opposite Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes 2. The recasting signals that Hannah's Francesca Bridgerton could perhaps enjoy more screen time in the new seasons.
Bridgerton returns to Netflix for a two-part season 3 in May & June 2024. Part 1 will launch on May 16, 2024 & Part 2 will launch on June 13, 2024.