If you’ve seen that gobsmacking finale of Bridgerton season four, then you’ll know we’re in store for a brand new Lady Whistledown next season. Yes, sadly, Penelope Bridgerton (Nicola Coughlan) has officially put down her quill and called it a day, putting to rest seasons of deliciously juicy gossip and revelations. Who can forget season one’s unveiling of the wallflower Penelope being behind the pen, as she dramatically removed her hood as she escaped Queen Charlotte’s guards? Or when she was blackmailed by Cressida Cowper (boooo!), which forced Penelope to reveal her identity to the entire ton at a ball.
For many of us Bridgerton fanatics, it’s a bittersweet ending — Penelope brought us so many jawdropping scenes and created much water cooler debates. Now, though, it’s time for a new Lady Whistledown, and there’s lots of gossip around who it might be.
Read our full guide below about who the next potential ghostwriter could be…
Who is Lady Whistledown?
Penelope Bridgerton has moved on to her novel. Liam Daniel/Netflix
Keep up — Lady Whistledown is an anonymous writer who shares all the gossip from around the ton. Think of her like the period version of ‘Xo, Xo, Gossip Girl’. It was revealed to the audience in season one that Lady Whistledown was none other than show fave, Penelope Bridgerton (then Penelope Featherington). The rest of the ton found out in season three’s dramatic finale.
How was Penelope’s identity revealed?
Following the aforementioned blackmail attempts by Cressida Cowper, Penelope reveals her identity to all of the high society at a ball, choosing to fully embrace her role as the town tout rather than hide it (you go, girl). After confessing her identity to Queen Charlotte, Penelope announces to everyone at the Dankworth-Finch ball that she is indeed the author of the society papers. Cue shocked gasps.
Who has replaced Penelope as the new town gossip?
Well… this is what everyone wants to know. Just who will take up the mantle of Lady Whistledown? There are a lot of theories floating about, but here’s what we know so far:
The Crabtrees
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