Bridgerton Teases New Lady Whistledown After Shocking Season 4 Finale

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This article contains major spoilers for part two of Bridgerton season four.

The ton is saying hello to a brand new Lady Whistledown. 

Okay, so Penelope finally stopped writing those scandalous papers at the end of Bridgerton season four, part two – it was so bittersweet! But honestly, the finale totally hinted that someone else is going to take over as the gossipmonger. I’m already obsessed with figuring out who it could be! Nicola Coughlan was amazing as Penelope, but a new scandal sheet means a whole new set of mysteries, and I can’t wait!

Oh my goodness, did that ending kill you?! Like, I literally gasped when Lady Whistledown’s voice came back! I thought she was truly finished, gone forever, but apparently there’s just WAY too much juicy gossip happening in the ton for her to stay quiet. And that last line… “a very different author”? It’s SO obvious it’s about a reunion built on genuine affection, but with a twist! I’m completely obsessed and need to know everything!

Despite Penelope’s attempts to impress Queen Charlotte (played by Golda Rosheuvel) by staying informed about the latest rumors, showrunner Jess Brownell felt it wouldn’t be believable for her to continue as Lady Whistledown.

Jess recently told Netflix’s Tudum that Penelope experienced significant character development last season. She’s moved past needing Whistledown to speak for her. Although Penelope still believes gossip can be a source of information and power for those without a voice, she now understands it’s time for her to step away from being the one spreading it.

While Penelope Featherington remains the sole Lady Whistledown throughout Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels – the source material for the show – actress Jess and showrunner Shonda Rhimes felt it was a good idea to introduce a new writer for the role.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jess explained their approach to the Whistledown storyline: ‘We wanted to create a real mystery, and introducing a new person to take on the role seemed like the perfect way to do that.’ She also revealed that she and Shonda Rhimes have a specific idea of who Whistledown is, and they’re building the story around that.

However, if you’re eager to discover who’s writing the letters, the Netflix show won’t be revealing that information soon. It will be dropping some hints over the next few seasons, though.

Jess confirmed the central mystery won’t be solved in the fifth season. While the writing for season five is complete, she couldn’t offer any further details, but hinted they plan to keep the audience guessing for a bit longer.

As seen in the season four finale, Julie Andrews will continue voicing Lady Whistledown, but as Jess mentioned, her delivery will have a slightly different feel this season.

She explained that Julie delivered a fantastic performance with only a slight change to her voice. This, she added, gives a clue as to how the new Whistledown will differ from Penelope’s portrayal of the character.

Season four of the show had more surprises than just a new Whistledown. In episode six, which centered on the romance between Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) unexpectedly became a widow when her husband, John Stirling (Victor Alli), passed away.

Even though everyone knew John was going to die, it was still shocking and upsetting for many, including the writer of the show.

Be prepared to cry when the second part comes out,” Julia warned Us Weekly. “I visited the set while they were filming, and I saw a scene that was both incredibly happy and deeply sad. You’re definitely going to need tissues!”

While everyone anticipates news about season five of Bridgerton, enjoy these behind-the-scenes pictures from season four.

While filming, Luke Thompson (who plays Benedict Bridgerton) and Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton) passed the time by playing a clapping game.

Eloise and Penelope Featherington, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan, seemed very friendly and happy together while filming, suggesting a close bond between the actresses.

While filming on a cold day, Hannah Dodd (who plays Francesca Bridgerton) had some fun making silly faces with Claudia.

Victor Alli, who plays John Stirling, revealed a humorous story from the set of Bridgerton season four.

Even when it rained during filming, the actors – including new cast members Yerin Ha (as Sophie), Katie Leung (as Lady Araminta Gun), Michelle Mao (as Rosamund Li), and Isabella Wei (as Posy Li) – were prepared with umbrellas.

There were clearly no ruff moments behind the scenes.

The actors smiled for the cameras while staying warm on set, where they’re filming a love story between characters named Benedict and Sophie.

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2026-02-26 23:17