Talk of the TOWN

Stars SIMONE ASHLEY and JONATHAN  BAILEY on the new romance at the heart of season two of the hit period saga

- SEAN MARLAND

BRIDGERTON 

FROM FRIDAY 25 MARCH, NETFLIX DRAMA

The sumptuous world of Netflix’s Regency-era drama Bridgerton swept viewers off their feet when the show launched in December 2020.

Set within the higher echelons of London society in the early 1800s, series one introduced us to the eight Bridgerton siblings and centred on eldest daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) as she made her social debut and eventually fell for rebellious Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page, who won’t be back in season two).

As the saga returns for a much anticipated second run this week, it’s Daphne’s big brother Anthony’s turn in the spotlight.

Based on the second book in American author Julia Quinn’s bestselling series of novels, The Viscount Who Loved Me, the eight-parter will follow Anthony ( Jonathan Bailey) as he searches for the perfect wife and his budding romance with whipsmart Kate Sharma (new cast signing Simone Ashley).

Here, Jonathan, 33, and Simone, 26, tell us more…

We’re delighted Bridgerton is back! You must have been pleased with the reaction to the first series, Jonathan?

JONATHAN It’s been a wild few years for the world and I think part of that led to the show’s success, because it came along and gave everyone some Christmas romance!

Where do we find Anthony at the start of the new series?

JONATHAN At the end of the first series, we saw Anthony defeated and lost. But now he’s looking for a wife and he knows exactly what he wants.