Ever since Netflix dropped the official trailer for Bridgerton season two earlier this month, we’ve been growing increasingly excited to return to the glamour and gossip of Regency society.

We couldn’t help wonder, though, how the smash hit series would address the exit of one familiar face who won the hearts of millions across the world last season: Regé-Jean Page, aka Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.

Last year, viewers were stunned to learn that Page wouldn’t be returning to the wildly popular period drama, which premieres this Friday.

This time around, the love story centres around Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) shifting the focus away from Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon.

But while Dynevor will be back in a limited role in the new season of Bridgerton, there’s been no explanation thus far of how the new series will address the disappearance of Simon. Until now.

In an interview with TVLine, creator Chris Van Dusen said that while the beloved character won’t appear on screen, his presence will still be felt.

“We do reference Simon,” he explained. “In the very first scene of season two, Daphne mentions she left her husband and baby at home [to be there for Eloise’s debut]. 

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in terms of Rege being a part of the second season, but he will always be Bridgerton’s Duke. He’s not going anywhere in the world of the show. And just because we don’t see him, it doesn’t mean that he’s not there.”

In other words, no harm has befallen the Duke. Phew! And with the series guaranteed to return for at least two more seasons, we’ll keep everything crossed that he returns for a cameo later down the line.

Earlier this month, Netflix finally dropped the captivating trailer for the new season.

In the clip, we see Penelope Featherington, who was revealed to be Lady Whistledown last season, penning her latest dispatch.

“Dearest reader,” she writes with a mischievous smile on her face. “It has been said that competition is an opportunity for us to rise before our greatest of challenges”.

We then see the whole cast at a grand ball, and Lord Anthony Bridgerton making his entrance alongside his mother, Violet Bridgerton.

“This is the season the viscount intends to find a wife,” she announces to a hushed room, while her son looks predictably mortified.

We also see sisters Kate and Edwina Sharma make their entrance into society, and Edwina catch the eye of Anthony. But, as Lady Whistledown warns, “any suitor looking to gain an audience with Miss Edwina Sharma must first tame her sister.”

Cue a fiercely competitive game of pall mall, lingering glances and love triangles, and one very Mr Darcy-esque moment in which Anthony Bridgerton emerges from the lake in a wet shirt…

In a series of newly released images from Netflix, we see the blossoming relationship between Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma.

In one scene, Anthony appraises his romantic interest over afternoon tea.

A beautiful image also shows Kate, played by Simone Ashley, alongside her sister Edwina Sharma, played by Charithra Chandran.

There could be trouble brewing between the sisters, though, as another image shows Edwina turning the head of Anthony.

In the new collection of stills, we also see an ensemble photo of Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton, Phoebe Dyvenor as Daphne Basset, Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, Florence Emilia Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton.

Netflix also treated fans to a solo shot of Penelope Featherington, played by Nicola Coughlan, who was revealed to be Lady Whistledown in the season one finale.

Last month, the streaming platform finally dropped the first official season two teaser trailer – and it’s everything we’d hoped for.

Alongside all the longing glances and colourful dresses, the trailer reintroduces us to the character of Lady Whistledown, who is on a mission to make her mark once again. 

“Dearest gentle reader, did you miss me?” Whistledown, who is voiced by the inimitable Julie Andrews, is heard saying as images of the Ton flash across the screen.

“As the members of our Ton questioned my identity and means, this author has been doing but one thing,” she continues. “Honing my skills. No, even better – I’ve been sharpening my knives.”

As the trailer builds to a crescendo, the picture flicks to Penelope writing at her desk, as she finishes her entry with the words: “For all of you.”

The trailer also gives us our first look at the relationship between Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and one of the series’ new characters Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), who we see alongside her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran).

As we’ve already mentioned, the trailer comes after a collection of first-look images for the series were released last month, which introduced us to Ashley in her new role. 

As well as looking impressively badass with a gun slung over her shoulder in one shot, we also got a glimpse of the new character being swept off her feet in an intimate dance with Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) himself.

We also got our first look at Kate and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) – the new sister duo that are set to shake things up further in the Ton.

After a long and impatient wait to find out when Netflix’s Bridgerton will be returning to our screens for season two, the show’s creator Shonda Rhimes tweeted a video clip on Christmas Day to mark the three-month countdown to the second season of Netflix’ most-watched show.    

“Prepare the carriages, dear reader. #Bridgerton is back on March 25, 2022!”, Rhimes tweeted, much to the delight (and relief) of fans across the world who had been following breadcrumbs that would hopefully lead to this long-awaited reveal. 

Taking to Instagram on 20 November last year, creator executive producer Chris Van Dusen confirmed that filming on the second series had officially wrapped. He shared a photo of himself alongside the show’s stars Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley and wrote: “And that’s an official wrap on Season Two! I am so proud of this cast and crew who all brought their A-games to work each and every day in this very challenging year. I cannot wait for the world to see what we have in store for them. And these two in this photo with me right here. Words are not enough. We’ll be coming in 2022.” 

With the focus for season two shifting towards Bailey’s character Anthony’s search for love, it’s safe to say we’re pretty excited to see the dynamic between Bailey and Ashley play out on screen.

Keep reading to check out everything else we know about Bridgerton season two so far. 

What is Bridgerton season two about?

The second season of Bridgerton follows Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling and Viscount, as he sets out to find a suitable wife. 

The synopsis reads: “Driven by his duty to uphold the family name, Anthony’s search for a debutante who meets his impossible standards seems ill-fated until Kate (Simone Ashley) and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) Sharma arrive from India. When Anthony begins to court Edwina, Kate discovers the true nature of his intentions – a true love match is not high on his priority list – and decides to do everything in her power to stop the union. 

“But in doing so, Kate and Anthony’s verbal sparring matches only bring them closer together, complicating matters on both sides. Across Grosvenor Square, the Featheringtons must welcome the newest heir to their estate while Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) continues to navigate the ton whilst keeping her deepest secret from the people closest to her.”

Certain details were revealed in a letter from the show’s mysterious matriarch Lady Whistledown in January last year, where she also confirmed that the show would be entering production in spring 2021.

“This author has been reliably informed that Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season,” the letter read. “I will have my pen ready to report on any and all of his romantic activities.” 

The second series of Bridgerton is inspired by the second book in Julia Quinn’s series The Viscount Who Loved Me, which details Anthony’s search for a wife.

The second book also follows Anthony as he bids to make Edwina Sharma – aka, the “most beautiful debutante of the current season” – his wife. The only problem? There’s an obstacle in his way – Edwina’s older sister, Kate.

Indeed, as the book’s official synopsis reads: “Kate is determined to do all she can to allow her sister the chance to marry for love rather than convenience. And the roguish viscount is beginning to think he may have met his match in Kate’s keen wit and sharp tongue. Until, that is, he makes the mistake of kissing her…” 

Who will star in Bridgerton season two? 

We expect most of the cast from season one to return in some capacity minus Regé-Jean Page, who announced he wouldn’t be returning for season two in April this year.

However, there are a bunch of new faces joining the show for season two. These include Sex Education’s Simone Ashley, who will be starring as Miss Kate Sharma, and Dunkirk’s Calam Lynch, who will play Theo Sharpe, a “hardworking printer’s assistant” who “fights for the rights for all”.   

Other faces joining the cast are Charithra Chandran, who will play Kate’s younger sister Edwina, Shelley Conn, who will play Kate’s mother Mary, and Rupert Young, who will play Jack, “the newest member of the ton”.

The Man In The High Castle’s Rupert Evans will also play Edmund Bridgerton, Violet’s late husband and the father of all the Bridgerton children. 

Has Netflix released any images from season two?

It has indeed. 

As well as images of the new cast members, we also get a sneak peek at some of our returning favourites in the Bridgerton clan such as Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne Basset) having a tense word with her older brother.

We also have a glimpse of the Featherington women (looking as bejewelled as ever) and Penelope (Coughlan) having quite the heartwarming moment with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) – could the two be discussing her secret persona? 

Or will Penelope continue to go undetected in the new series?

While we don’t know the answer to this burning question quite just yet, we’re sure that Penelope will likely continue to put people off the scent of her double identity as Lady Whistledown.      

During the platform’s global fan event last year, Netflix also released a series of season two images via its official Twitter account.

The images, which mark our first look at season two, depict Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran in their roles as Kate and Edwina Sharma – the two sisters who attract the attention of Anthony Bridgerton.   

While there’s no more information accompanying the shot, it looks like it’s taking place at a ball – perhaps one where the Sharma sisters are being introduced to the Ton for the first time.

Is there a trailer for Bridgerton season two?

Alongside the teaser trailer which was released on 14 February, we have a first-look clip that gives us a taste of Anthony and Kate’s relationship. You can watch the clip below: 

What has been said about Bridgerton season two?

During an exclusive interview with Radio Times in October, Nicola Coughlan – who plays Penelope Featherington on the show – gave fans a taste of what to expect from season two, revealing that the finale would be full of “big, heavy, dramatic stuff”.  

Coughlan – whose character was revealed as the notorious gossip writer Lady Whistledown at the end of the season one finale – also confirmed that fans would be seeing more of Whistledown’s secret life throughout the show’s second season.

“That final moment of series one was definitely a peek into her life,” she said. “I think in series two you kind of see how the sausage gets made and all that’s happening. I felt very lucky when I got given the script to series two, like when you’re an actor in a show already… [and] they’ve just given [me] so much good stuff.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Coughlan teased that Penelope will face “repercussions” for her duplicity, and that she “matures” and grows “closer” to Colin Bridgerton throughout the series. 

“The drama has amped up a lot,” she added. “As I say, we’re shooting all those big dramatic scenes for the end. It’s exhausting but very satisfying.” 

When and where will Bridgerton season two be released?

There were fears that the show would be delayed due to coronavirus-related setbacks on set – but there’s no need to fear.

Bridgerton will be returning for its second series on 25 March.

Images: Netflix