‘Bridgerton’: How Is Season 4 Going to Handle This Major Book Change?
Bridgerton hasn’t shied away from departing from its source material. An original character, Theo (Calam Lynch), briefly became Eloise’s (Claudia Jessie) love interest in Season 2. Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) future spouse, who’s known as Michael in the books, was introduced as Michaela (Masali Baduwa) in Season 3. The show even swapped the order of the books, telling Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin’s (Luke Newton) love story before Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie’s (Yerin Ha) romance. In doing that, it also included the moment in Penelope’s book that she’s outed to the ton as gossip columnist Lady Whistledown.
That last change is what leads us to our biggest question going into Bridgerton Season 4. Fans know by now that Benedict and Sophie will be the main couple this go-around, but what we don’t know is how they’re going to handle the fact that Lady Whistledown’s identity is no longer a secret — especially since Whistledown is a key player in how An Offer From a Gentleman plays out. Let us explain.
In Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Penelope retires from writing her column once she’s exposed. We already know that won’t be the case in Season 4, now that Penelope has the Queen’s permission to continue. “I think there is more story to tell there, because now Penelope is a public gossip columnist who people are going to know is the writer when she writes about them,” showrunner Jess Brownell told Variety, adding that she’ll have to contend with the Queen’s demands. “So how Penelope balances that is fodder for Season 4.”
Penelope won’t be able to fade away into the background, watching the Bridgerton family from her bedroom window across the street and eavesdropping on high society members at events. Penelope’s Whistledown column will continue, but how she operates is sure to change. The big question is how. Maybe Penelope will enlist the help of spinsters, paying them to spy for her, which would fit with Bridgerton‘s tendency to modernize the material. Penelope might become a media mogul. Maybe Penelope will pay servants to help out, too. It would make sense, considering that they’ll be a greater focus this season.
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for An Offer From a Gentleman.]
It also begs the question: Will Whistledown play as much of a role in Benedict and Sophie’s story as she does in the book? Benedict learns that Sophie was arrested on the Bridgertons’ doorstep through the column. We’ll do our best to summarize the long and complicated story: When Sophie is kicked to the curb by her evil stepmother, Sophie steals her diamond shoe clips to ensure her survival.
Years later, her stepmother spots Sophie as soon as she leaves the Bridgertons’ house, calling for the authorities. Sophie had just resigned from her position as the Bridgertons’ lady’s maid and is about to leave for good. (Again, long story.) It leads to a dashing rescue on behalf of Benedict, and an incredible dressing down of said evil stepmother. Benedict and Sophie get over their differences, and they live happily ever after in true Bridgerton fashion.
Let’s get back to the issue at hand: How is Benedict going to learn of Sophie’s arrest, if not through Whistledown? Wouldn’t Penelope simply relay the information to the Bridgerton family, rather than write about it first? It’s far less dramatic way for Benedict to find out, but we suppose it could work. Maybe Benedict will learn of his lover’s circumstances through another source, or he’ll be there when it happens. Only time will tell.
How do you think Bridgerton is going to handle Lady Whistledown in Season 4? Tell us your predictions in the comments!
Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 1 Premiere, Thursday, January 29, 2026
Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 2 Premiere, Thursday, February 26, 2026
