Bridgerton Star Nicola Coughlan Is Stepping Back From the Series in the Upcoming Season

Fans of Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton can expect some major changes. Nicola Coughlan, one of the show’s leading stars, has announced that she is stepping back and reducing her involvement in the upcoming fifth season.

The 39-year-old Irish actress, who plays Penelope Featherington — as well as the secret gossip columnist Lady Whistledown — told E! News that she is saying goodbye to the show with a light heart.

“It’s a bittersweet moment,” Coughlan said. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what an epic run I’ve had!’ I think that’s the beauty of this world: it constantly reinvents itself. Every season is a new story that takes on a completely different form.”

Coughlan’s character has undergone a dramatic transformation throughout the series. At the end of Season 3, Penelope’s secret identity as the author of Lady Whistledown’s scandalous pamphlets was exposed amid her romance with Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton.

In Season 4, her character faced the consequences of her publications and the loss of her anonymity, ultimately deciding to step away from her work in favor of marriage and motherhood.

At the end of Season 4, a new mysterious gossip writer appeared in London, with the creators keeping their identity tightly under wraps.

Coughlan herself admitted that she has no idea who is hiding behind the mask of the new author, as the show’s creators deliberately keep her in the dark because she has a habit of accidentally giving away secrets.

The actress does not yet know exactly how many episodes she will appear in during Season 5, which is scheduled to premiere in 2027. However, she emphasized that she would always be ready to return at the slightest request from the showrunners.

“If they asked me to just be a piece of scenery in the background, I’d come. No problem,” she joked.

A New Love Story in Season 5

Season 5 is expected to center on Lady Francesca Stirling, played by Hannah Dodd, and Michaela Stirling, portrayed by Masali Baduza.

The storyline will give viewers the first central same-sex love story in the history of the Bridgerton franchise.