Bridgerton is an American television series that tells a different version of history during the Regency era. It is a romance show created by Chris Van Dusen for Netflix. The series is based on books by Julia Quinn and is the first scripted show made by Shondaland for Netflix. The show features a group of actors, including Adjoa Andoh, Golda Rosheuvel, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, and Claudia Jessie.

Julie Andrews narrates the story. It follows the Bridgerton family, a noble and powerful group, as they help their children find marriage partners during a special time in society called the social season. This season introduces young people from the upper class and wealthy families to society. The series is set in the early 1800s in a version of London during the Regency era. In this version, King George III created racial equality and gave aristocratic titles to people of color because of Queen Charlotte’s imagined African heritage in the show.

The first season of Bridgerton began on December 25, 2020. The second season started on March 25, 2022. The third season was released in two parts: the first part on May 16, 2024, and the second part on June 13, 2024. The fourth season was also released in two parts: the first part on January 29, 2026, and the second part on February 26, 2026. A fifth season has been planned. A spin-off series called Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which focuses on Queen Charlotte, was released in May 2023.

Bridgerton has been praised for its direction, acting, production, and set design. It has won five Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards and a Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award. It has also been nominated for awards at the Primetime Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Satellite Awards, and NAACP Image Awards. The music score by Kris Bowers was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Premise

During the Regency era, the eight siblings of the noble and powerful Bridgerton family—Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth—try to find love in London's high society. They are supported by friends and must also deal with competitors.

Cast and characters

• Adjoa Andoh as Lady Agatha Danbury (born Soma Anderson), a sharp-tongued and insightful leader of high society
• Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton (born Ledger), mother of the Bridgerton children
• Golda Rosheuvel as Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and wife of King George III
• Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown, the writer of a scandalous society newsletter
• Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington, Dowager Baroness Featherington, the head of the Featherington family
• Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton (born Featherington), the youngest Featherington daughter, wife of Colin Bridgerton and mother of Elliot Bridgerton, who is now Baron Featherington (Lord Featherington)
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, the fifth Bridgerton child and second daughter
• Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton son, husband of Penelope Bridgerton (born Featherington) and father of Elliot Bridgerton, who is now Baron Featherington (Lord Featherington)
• Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, the second Bridgerton son and husband of Sophie Bridgerton (born Baek)
• Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley, the Featheringtons' housekeeper
• Jonathan Bailey as Lord Anthony Bridgerton, 9th Viscount Bridgerton, the eldest Bridgerton son and head of the family. Husband of Kathani "Kate", Viscountess Bridgerton (born Sharma) and father of Edmund Bridgerton II
• Ruby Barker (season 1; guest: season 2) as Marina, Lady Crane (born Thompson), a Featherington cousin from a rural gentry family
• Sabrina Bartlett (season 1) as Siena Rosso, an opera singer and Anthony's former lover
• Harriet Cains (seasons 1–3; guest: season 4) as Philippa Finch (born Featherington), the middle Featherington daughter, wife of Albion Finch and mother of Philomena Finch
• Bessie Carter (seasons 1–3) as Prudence Dankworth (born Featherington), the eldest Featherington daughter, wife of Harry Dankworth and mother of their unnamed daughter
• Phoebe Dynevor (seasons 1–2) as Daphne Basset (born Bridgerton), Duchess of Hastings, the fourth Bridgerton child and eldest daughter. Wife of Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings and mother of August "Augie" Basset
• Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, the eighth and youngest Bridgerton child
• Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich, a gentleman's club owner, retired boxer, and friend of the Duke of Hastings
• Ben Miller (season 1) as Lord Archibald Featherington, Baron Featherington, the patriarch of the Featherington family
• Regé-Jean Page (season 1) as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, one of London's most eligible bachelors who marries Daphne Bridgerton and father of August "Augie" Basset
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, the seventh Bridgerton child and youngest son
• Simone Ashley (season 2–present) as Kathani "Kate", Viscountess Bridgerton (born Sharma), wife of Anthony and mother of Edmund Bridgerton II
• Charithra Chandran (season 2) as Edwina Sharma, Kate's younger half-sister
• Shelley Conn (season 2) as Lady Mary Sharma (born Sheffield), Kate's stepmother and Edwina's mother
• Calam Lynch (season 2) as Theo Sharpe, an apprentice at the printing shop used by Lady Whistledown who befriends Eloise
• Rupert Young (season 2) as Jack, Baron Featherington, the new head of the Featherington family
• Victor Alli (seasons 3–4) as John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin. Late husband of Francesca (born Bridgerton)
• Joanna Bobin (season 3; recurring: seasons 1–2) as Lady Araminta Cowper, Cressida's mother
• Dominic Coleman (season 3; recurring: season 2) as Lord Cowper, Cressida's father
• Ruby Stokes (recurring: seasons 1–2) and Hannah Dodd (seasons 3–present) as Francesca Stirling (born Bridgerton), Dowager Countess of Kilmartin, the sixth Bridgerton child and third daughter. Widow of John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin
• Daniel Francis (seasons 3–present) as Marcus Anderson, Lady Danbury's brother
• Jessica Madsen (seasons 3–present; recurring: seasons 1–2) as Cressida Gun, Countess of Penwood (born Cowper), an ill-mannered debutante competing with Daphne and Penelope. In season 4, she is now the new Lady Penwood, the wife of the new Earl of Penwood
• Hannah New (season 3) as Lady Tilley Arnold, a widow who has a fling with Benedict
• Masali Baduza (seasons 4–present; guest: season 3) as Michaela Stirling, John's cousin
• Yerin Ha (season 4) as Sophie Bridgerton (born Baek), Benedict's wife
• Katie Leung (season 4) as Lady Araminta Gun, Dowager Countess of Penwood, Rosamund and Posy's mother and Sophie's stepmother
• Emma Naomi (season 4; recurring seasons 1–3) as Alice Colson, the housekeeper at the Hastings' country estate
• Daniel Francis (seasons 3–present) as Marcus Anderson, Lady Danbury's brother
• Jessica Madsen (seasons 3–present; recurring: seasons 1–2) as Cressida Gun, Countess of Penwood (born Cowper), an ill-mannered debutante competing with Daphne and Penelope. In season 4, she is now the new Lady Penwood, the wife of the new Earl of Penwood
• Hannah New (season 3) as Lady Tilley Arnold, a widow who has a fling with Benedict
• Masali Baduza (seasons 4–present; guest: season 3) as Michaela Stirling, John's cousin
• Yerin Ha

Episodes

The first season is based on The Duke and I.
The second season is based on The Viscount Who Loved Me.
The third season is based on Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
The fourth season is based on An Offer from a Gentleman.

Production

On July 20, 2018, Netflix said Shonda Rhimes, through her company Shondaland, would make the TV version of the popular books The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn. Chris Van Dusen would be the person in charge of the show. Quinn told The Tamron Hall Show that when her agent said Rhimes wanted to adapt her books, she was very surprised and quickly agreed. The first season of the show was based on the first book, The Duke and I. Van Dusen said in a Shondaland article: "I think period shows are often seen as traditional. With Bridgerton, I wanted to make something fresh and relatable."

Before the first season aired, the second season was already being planned. It was officially announced in January 2021 and focuses on Anthony, based on the book The Viscount Who Loved Me. On April 13, 2021, Van Dusen said on Twitter that the series had been renewed for a third and fourth season.

The third season, unlike the first two, does not follow the book order. It focuses on Colin and Penelope, based on Quinn's fourth novel Romancing Mister Bridgerton, instead of Benedict. Jess Brownell took over as writer and showrunner for the third and fourth seasons. In July 2024, it was confirmed that Benedict Bridgerton would be the lead for Season 4. In May 2025, Netflix announced that Seasons 5 and 6 would be made together. On March 24, 2026, it was confirmed that Francesca Bridgerton would be the lead for Season 5.

Unlike the books, Bridgerton is set in a different version of history where London includes people of color in the social group called the ton, some of whom have titles given by the king or queen. Van Dusen was inspired by historical debates about Queen Charlotte’s African ancestry to create a story where her mixed-race heritage was well-known and had a major impact on Black and other people of color in England. He said the show is not "color-blind" because "that would mean race was never considered, but race is an important part of the story."

On June 19, 2019, Julie Andrews was cast as Lady Whistledown, whose voiceovers explain parts of the story. Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page were chosen as the main characters. Other actors included Jonathan Bailey, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Nicola Coughlan, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, and Polly Walker. Luke Thompson, Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, and Ruby Stokes were cast as the remaining Bridgerton siblings. Additional actors included Ben Miller, Bessie Carter, Harriet Cains, Martins Imhangbe, and Lorraine Ashbourne.

On January 21, 2021, it was announced that Jonathan Bailey would return as Anthony for the second season. The following month, Simone Ashley was cast as Kate. On April 5, 2021, Charithra Chandran joined the cast as Edwina; Rupert Young was added as a new character; Shelley Conn was cast as Kate’s stepmother and Edwina’s mother, Mary; and Calam Lynch was cast as Theo Sharpe. On May 28, 2021, Rupert Evans joined as Edmund Bridgerton, the late patriarch of the Bridgerton family.

Page did not return for the second season even though he was asked because he only signed a one-year contract and wanted to try other work.

In April 2022, Bailey and Ashley were confirmed to return for the third season as Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton, exploring their married life and roles as leaders of the Bridgerton family. The following month, Hannah Dodd was cast to replace Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton for the third season. Stokes left due to scheduling conflicts with Lockwood & Co. In August 2022, Chandran said she would not reprise her role as Edwina for the season. In July 2022, Daniel Francis, Sam Phillips, and James Phoon were cast in undisclosed roles for the third season. In October 2022, Hannah New joined the cast as Lady Tilley Arnold. In January 2023, Dynevor confirmed she would not appear in the third season but said she might return "in the future."

In May 2024, Coughlan and Newton were confirmed to return for the fourth season. In August 2024, Yerin Ha was cast as Sophie Baek (known as Sophie Beckett in the book), and Bailey confirmed he would return for the fourth season but would only film for a few weeks. In September 2024, Katie Leung, Isabella Wei, and Michelle Mao joined as Araminta, Rosamund, and Posy, while Hugh Sachs and Emma Naomi became series regulars. In October 2024, Ashley confirmed she would return for the fourth season in an additional cast role, not as a series regular. In January 2025, Dynevor said she had not been asked to return for the fourth season. When Yerin Ha was cast, she made a Spotify playlist for her role, including the song “Into My Heart” by Lee So-ra and songs by Benjamin Clementine and Billie Eilish.

In April 2026, Tega Alexander, Jacqueline Boatswain, and Gemma Knight joined the cast of Season 5 as Christopher Anderson, Helen Stirling, and Lady Elizabeth Ashworth. As filming for Season 5 began, Phoebe Dynevor confirmed she had not been asked to return to the series.

Principal photography started in July 2019 and ended in late February 2020. The show was filmed in London and Bath, as well as at estates and parks across England. Even though the series is set in London, most street scenes were filmed in Bath, York, and Chatham. The grounds of Wilton House were used for Hyde Park, and the grounds of Somerley were used for Hampstead Heath. Garden scenes were filmed at Painshill near Cobham and the Commissioner’s House in Chatham.

Filming locations included Ranger’s House in Greenwich (used for the Bridgerton House exterior in London); Halton House at RAF Halton (Bridgerton House interior, Featheringtons’ interior); Wilton House (Simon’s Hastings House, Clyvedon estate interior, St James’s Palace throne room); Syon House and Badminton House (Hastings House); Castle Howard (Clyvedon estate); Coneysthorpe (Clyvedon village); Hampton Court Palace and Lancaster House (St. James’s Palace); Holburne Museum (Lady Danbury’s estate); Hatfield House (Featheringtons’ interior); No. 1 Royal Crescent (Grosvenor Square); Queen’s House and Som

Release

The first season of Bridgerton, which has eight episodes, began streaming on Netflix on December 25, 2020. The second season, also with eight episodes, was released on March 25, 2022. The third season was divided into two parts. The first part, with four episodes, premiered on May 16, 2024, and the second part, with the remaining four episodes, premiered on June 13, 2024. The fourth season was also split into two parts. The first part premiered on January 29, 2026, and the second part premiered on February 26, 2026.

A preview of a scene from season 2 was shown during Netflix's September 2021 Tudum: Extended Talent Panel. This was followed by the release of first look stills. On February 14, 2022, the first teaser trailer for the second season was made available. A world premiere event was held at Tate Modern in London, England, on March 22, 2022, before the eight episodes of the season were released. Jonathan Bailey, who was the lead actor in the West End play Cock, was unable to attend press events, talk shows, FYC events, or the Met Gala because of his three-month commitment to the play.

In December 2023, it was announced that the third season would be split into two parts. On February 14, 2024, during a Valentine's Day Event, the episode titles for the third season were revealed, along with exclusive photos and first look footage. A panel featuring Rhimes, Brownell, Quinn, and cast members—including Coughlan, Newton, Rosheuvel, Andoh, Jessie, Thompson, and Imhangbe—was held during this event. The trailer for season 3 part 1 was released on April 11, 2024. A world premiere was held in New York City before the release of part 1 of Season 3. Another world premiere took place in London's Leicester Square before the release of part 2 of Season 3.

Reception

The series has received an average score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, a website that collects reviews, and a score of 71 on Metacritic.

The first season received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 100 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7 out of 10. The website’s critics said, “Beautiful design, dramatic storylines, and a strong cast make Bridgerton a fun and enjoyable show.” Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 based on 34 reviews, which means the reviews were “generally favorable.”

Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a B+ and wrote, “Bridgerton is a fun watch for people who enjoy Pride & Prejudice but want more romantic scenes involving stairs.” Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times gave the series four out of four stars and called it a show that makes viewers want to watch more episodes repeatedly. British GQ compared Bridgerton to Downton Abbey and Gossip Girl but said it “may not be as good as it could have been.” Salamishah Tillet of The New York Times said, “Bridgerton shows how Black characters can be part of British historical stories without being servants or enslaved people.” Erum Salam of Cosmopolitan wrote, “I wanted more explanations about how race influenced society in the show.” Carolyn Hinds from Observer stated, “Bridgerton is praised for being racially diverse in a historical setting, even though Black, South Asian, and other people of color have lived in England for centuries.” Vanity Fair’s Caroline Framke said the show’s romantic scenes are not overly shocking for a drama series.

The first season’s sixth episode faced criticism because of a scene showing Simon and Daphne having sex. In the scene, Daphne moves on top of Simon to prevent him from pulling out when he finishes, even though he objects. This was described as a harmful part of their relationship. Critics noted that the show did not address this as sexual assault and did not explore the challenges faced by male victims of rape or the overemphasis on Black men in media.

The second season received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of 95 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10. The website’s critics said, “The exciting feel may have lessened, but Bridgerton is still a show that keeps viewers wanting to watch more episodes.” Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 based on 32 reviews, which means the reviews were “generally favorable.”

Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series an A− and wrote, “The second season is smarter and more emotionally deep than the first, showing that the show is more than just a fun, romantic story.” The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Hahn said the season is “older and wiser” than the first, with a central romance that focuses on “smart conversations and friendly competition.” Peter Travers of ABC News praised the season for exploring characters’ emotions and continuing the diverse casting.

Alison Herman of The Ringer said Season 1 is “sexy without being erotic,” while Season 2 is “not as sexual but still has a lot of romantic tension.” Emma Clarke of The Independent said the lack of physical scenes makes the season “very sexy.” Scott Bryan of the BBC said the season feels modern and accessible despite being set in the past.

Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast said the actor playing Lord Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey, does a great job showing his emotions without making the story too sad. Anita Singh of The Telegraph said Bailey brings more depth to the role than previous actors. Randy Myers of Mercury News said Bailey has a good sense of humor. Proma Khosla of Mashable said Bailey and his co-star, Phoebe Dynevor, have great chemistry and create a lot of romantic tension.

The third season received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 79 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0 out of 10. The website’s critics said, “The gossip in London is still exciting in Bridgerton’s third season, thanks to the strong chemistry between Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton.” Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 69 out of 100 based on 26 reviews, which means the reviews were “generally favorable.”

Aramide Tinubu of Variety praised the chemistry between Coughlan and Newton, saying their relationship becomes more romantic in the third season. Tinubu also said part 2 of the season is a highlight. David Opie of Empire called a scene in part 2 “the most beautiful romantic scene in the show” and praised the acting. Opie said Season 3 ends with the strongest episodes yet and that Bridgerton has become a successful Netflix show. Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian said the third season has the most interesting romance yet, partly because of Coughlan’s acting. Alyssa Mora of IGN said the chemistry between Coughlan and Newton is strong and that Coughlan’s acting is impressive.

Katie Rosseinsky of The Independent called Coughlan “the best performer of the season” and praised her work. Carly Lane of Collider also said Coughlan is the standout. Judy Berman of Time said Coughlan’s character is the most interesting in the series and praised her acting. Kelly Lawler of USA Today said Season 3 made Coughlan a famous star. Keisha Hatchett of TVLine praised both Coughlan and Newton, calling them “Performers of the Week” after part 2. Hatchett said Newton did a great job showing Colin’s emotions in the season finale.

Historical inaccuracies

Chris Van Dusen has stated that while the show is set during the Regency era, it is not meant to be a history lesson or a documentary. Instead, the show combines real history with imaginative elements in a creative way. One example of this is how the show handles the topic of race. Most characters in the show, including the Bridgerton family and Lady Whistledown, are not real people.

Some scholars have said that the idea that Queen Charlotte had African ancestry is not supported by historical evidence. In an interview, historian Marlene Koenig explained that the show’s portrayal of Regency-era London includes more diversity than was actually present during that time. She noted that the concept of diversity, as it is understood today, did not exist in Britain during the Regency period. Some music used in the first season was written after 1813, such as Dmitri Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra, which was created after 1956, and "Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour" from Jacques Offenbach’s 1881 opera The Tales of Hoffmann.

Historians have pointed out that the show includes some clothing inaccuracies. For example, corsets in the show are shown as tools of oppression, but in reality, they were often worn with a chemise to prevent bruising. Fabrics and patterns in the show are also more modern than those used during the Regency era. Other inaccuracies include the absence of bonnets and the use of fabric styles and colors that were not common at the time. However, many of these inaccuracies are intentional. The show does not aim to accurately represent the Regency era but instead creates a version of the past that mixes real history with creative fantasy. The show is described as being "rooted in Regency times but the volume is turned up," meaning it takes inspiration from the period but adds dramatic and imaginative elements.

Themes

A common theme throughout the show is gender, particularly the roles of women in British high society. Chris Van Dusen wanted the show to include an ongoing discussion about how, over the past 200 years, both women and men have experienced changes and also faced lasting challenges.

The show focuses on the social events of each year, and characters such as Daphne, Kate, Penelope, and others face challenges from society’s expectations. Daphne Bridgerton, known as the Queen’s Diamond of her season, works to protect her reputation while trying to marry for love. Kate Sharma, who is considered too old to marry, tries to help her sister, Edwina, find a good marriage while also rebuilding her family’s position in society. Eloise Bridgerton, who does not want to marry, becomes more involved in political matters instead.

The men in the story face fewer challenges to their reputations. When Kate overhears Anthony saying he wants a more agreeable wife, she challenges him about his views on women, pointing out that his standards for women are not the same as those he holds for himself.

A modern change in the show is its diverse cast. Van Dusen used Queen Charlotte as a central character to highlight racial equality, a change from the original books. Queen Charlotte is portrayed as a Black woman, and Van Dusen asks, “Could she have used her power to help other people of color in society? Could she have given them titles, lands, or dukedoms?”

When Simon Basset refuses to pursue Daphne Bridgerton, Lady Danbury explains that love can overcome challenges, using Queen Charlotte and King George’s marriage as an example of how their union changed society. However, Simon argues that even though Queen Charlotte is powerful, “Black progress is fragile and depends on the actions of white kings in power.”

The show also explores the influence of written words, such as those of Lady Whistledown, whose Society Papers greatly affect the social season. Van Dusen compares social media to a modern-day corset, explaining how both can shape public opinion.

Throughout the series, Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers share information about important people during the social season, whether praising them or revealing secrets. Her writings are powerful enough to influence Queen Charlotte, who tries to find the author of the Society Papers to stop them.

Prequel miniseries

In May 2021, Netflix asked Shondaland to create a special series that comes before the main Bridgerton story, focusing on young Queen Charlotte, a character not in the Bridgerton books. Shonda Rhimes wrote the series and helped lead the project with Betsy Beers and Tom Verica. Actors who previously played roles in the Bridgerton series, including Rosheuvel, Andoh, Gemmell, and Fleet, returned for this new series. New actors joined the cast, such as India Amarteifio, Michelle Fairley, Corey Mylchreest, and Arsema Thomas. Connie Jenkins-Greig played young Violet. In September 2022, Netflix shared the title of the series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and showed the first images. The series premiered on Netflix on May 4, 2023, and includes six episodes.