‘Bridgerton’: Is Nicola Coughlan Leaving the Show? Star Gives Update on Future as Penelope

Bridgerton‘s fifth season may not arrive for some time, but star Nicola Coughlan is offering a bit of an update on the Lady Whistledown front as Penelope’s recent retirement from the position leaves the new figure shrouded in mystery.

But now that the column is off Penelope’s plate, does that mean fans won’t see Coughlan don her signature red ‘do? Rest assured, the star isn’t leaving anytime soon, but she confirmed her limited role in Season 5, which will chronicle Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela’s (Masali Baduza) love story.

“I feel very lucky,” Coughlan told E! News, adding, “It’s the best of both worlds, because I’m currently filming on Only Murders, but I still get to pop back to Bridgerton now and then and see everybody.” The performer has since wrapped her role on Season 6 of Only Murders in the Building as teased on social media, but Coughlan is happy to take a step back from the spotlight of Bridgerton to let her costars shine.