Love & marriage

Regency drama Bridgerton is back for more intrigue, gossip and romance

- SEAN MARLAND

NEW DRAMA

Bridgerton

From Friday 25 March, Netflix

Bridgerton redefined the world of costume drama when it arrived on our screens during Christmas 2020, and this week, fans can step back into the glittering ballrooms of Regency London as the hit series returns for a second run.

The first season revolved around the passionate courtship between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), with the couple eventually tying the knot and having a son.

The new eight-part season is based on the second of Julia Quinn’s bestselling series of novels, and switches focus to Daphne’s brother Anthony, the eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, who is determined to find a wife following his split from his lover, opera singer Siena Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett). However, the Viscount is adamant that romantic feelings shouldn’t cloud his judgement as he searches for a spouse.

RUTHLESS

‘Anthony knows what he is going to look for, and he’s thinking about the future of his lineage,’ says Jonathan Bailey, who plays him. ‘He is determined that love will play no part in his search for a wife, because he’s seen how distressing losing his father was for his mother.’

Anthony soon finds himself entranced by the Sharma sisters, Kate (Simone Ashley) and Edwina (Charithra Chandran), who have just arrived from India for Edwina’s season.

Kate makes an instant impression on Anthony when they cross paths while horse riding, but his attention turns to Edwina when she’s declared the ‘diamond of the season’ by Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and attracts several suitors.