- Primary Subject: Bridgerton Season 5 - Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Bridgerton)
- Key Update: Nicola Coughlan will appear in a reduced, low-pressure role in Bridgerton Season 5 while filming Only Murders in the Building Season 6.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: August 20, 2026
- Quick Answer: Nicola Coughlan remains on Bridgerton Season 5, but her role as Penelope will be smaller due to scheduling with Only Murders in the Building.
Nicola Coughlan is set to return in the upcoming Bridgerton Season 5, but fans may be upset to learn that she will have a reduced role as Penelope Bridgerton.
A prominent part of the Regency romance series, the actress has been part of the show since its first season and even led Season 3 alongside Luke Newton.
So, after she revealed herself as the ruthless society gossip writer Lady Whistledown and eventually retired her quill, will Coughlan leave Bridgerton?
Why Is Nicola Coughlan’s Role Reduced in Bridgerton Season 5?
After being a major part of Bridgerton Seasons 1 to 4, Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Bridgerton will have a limited appearance in Season 5.
However, this doesn’t mean she will leave the show, despite now being part of Only Murders in the Building Season 6.
"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, and it's just like coming home,” she told E! News.
The 39-year-old star assures viewers that she’s still committed to the hit Netflix series and will still be very much present in the next season.
In fact, she’s enjoying her “nice and low pressure” smaller role next season. While she doesn’t reveal how many episodes she’ll be on in Bridgerton Season 5, she promises to be back whenever Netflix wants her to.
“I’ll always pop back to Bridgerton if they want me,” she said. “If I can be set dressing, I'll be there. No problem.”
Who Is the New Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton Season 5?
Penelope Bridgerton may have put down the pen as Lady Whistledown, but a new mysterious lady has taken her place in the Bridgerton Season 4 finale.
Just as everyone thought Mayfair would finally be at peace without its sharpest observer, a new edition of Whistledown was released, shocking everyone, including Penelope herself.
“Are you perhaps feeling a little shocked?” a familiar voice said, still delivered by the legendary Julie Andrews. “You thought I was gone for good, but far too much transpires for this author to remain silent. It is assuredly a reunion rooted in care and love. Though this time with a very different author.”
While there are several theories about who this new Lady Whistledown could be, including Penelope herself faking her retirement to reclaim her anonymity, showrunner Jess Brownell revealed that she couldn’t reveal the new author’s identity just yet.
However, she expressed her excitement about the new gossiper, especially since this twist is not part of Julia Quinn’s original book series, on which the show is based.
“Penelope was Julia Quinn’s Whistledown, so we knew we couldn’t really play with that reveal for too long because people could just Google it,” she said. “But now, we get to play with audience expectations.”
By the looks of it, fans won’t know who the new Lady Whistledown is until Bridgerton Season 5 releases on Netflix in 2027.
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