Bridgerton star Simone Ashley has teased the return of her and co-star Jonathan Bailey’s characters in the third season of the hit Netflix show.
The 27-year-old has said that the story of newlyweds Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton will return in the hotly-anticipated third instalment of the Regency era drama.
The latest hit season of the show traced the blossoming relationship between the pair, ending the season with their marriage.
During an appearance on ITV ’s This Morning, Simone told co-hosts Josie Gibson and Vernon Kay that she will not be reprising her role in the fourth season Sex Education, as she’s a “Bridgerton gal now”.
Instead, the starlet said she will “definitely” be in the third season of Bridgerton, adding of Kate’s storyline: “She’s the head of the household now. The viscountess, married to Anthony, and it’s a year later at this point, so I’m really excited.”
Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton, which is based on Quinn's eight-novel series and produced by Grey's Anatomy's Shonda Rhimes, for a third and fourth season.
Simone previously said that the story of newlyweds Kate and Anthony is “just getting started” after the second season’s “push and pull” in their enemies to lovers storyline.
She told Deadline: “There were complications with the family and then they find each other towards the end. I think everything is just starting.
“I’d like to see Kate just let go a bit more and play more in season three and kind of swim in that circle of love together. I think they both deserve it.”
Simone teased Kate’s storyline in the third season, adding: “She’s in charge of the household now and she’s got big boots to put on. I think she can do it.
“I want to keep that softness and vulnerability to Kate and she can share that with Anthony.
“I’m just excited for her to have a home and to have a family. I’m excited to see her grow. I think I’d like to see Kate being much braver and less headstrong and more heart strong.”
Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, has confirmed that the drama will begin filming the third instalment this summer, “sometime between June and August.”
If the Netflix show continues to follow the blueprint of the books, the third season will focus on the story of Bridgerton brother Benedict’s love across class divides, in line with Julia Quinn’s third novel An Offer From a Gentleman.
But actor Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict, has suggested this may not be the case amid fan speculation the third season could instead focus on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope’s romance.
Luke told Entertainment Weekly: “The books are the books, and the show is completely rooted in the books, but it's not tied to the books.
“The books would indicate that the next one up is Benedict, but we don't know that for sure because the show is the show, and the show has licence to do all sorts of things.
“The show is such an ensemble effort anyway, and it does feel like there's so much to get our teeth into even when you're not in the driver's seat.
“It's not like I'm sitting around waiting for my big moment, because it's such a huge group effort, and that's what makes it satisfying to do. As long as Benedict keeps being explored, I'm happy.”
