Calling all Bridgerton fans! Three new cast members will join London's high society for the upcoming fifth season, which will focus on the love story between introverted middle daughter Francesca Stirling (Hannah Dodd) and the cousin of her late husband John, Michaela (Masali Baduza).
Tega Alexander (MobLand, Red Eye), Gemma Knight Jones (MobLand, Professor T) and Jacqueline Boatswain (After the Flood, The Marlow Murder Club) have joined the cast of the upcoming season, which sees Francesca return to the marriage mart two years after her husband's death.
© LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIXFans are undoubtedly counting down the days until the new season, which marks a major milestone for the period drama as its first focused on a same-gender couple.
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about the new characters, and what to expect from season five.
Meet season five's new characters
Tega Alexander will take on the role of Christopher Anderson, the bachelor son of Lord Anderson, who is described as a "Regency-era Casanova".
© Marc Sirisi"Yet behind his cheeky facade lies a current of self-doubt that threatens to unravel him," reveals Netflix. "The son of Lord Anderson will make his mark on society, one way or another."
Meanwhile, Jacqueline Boatswain will play the role of Michaela's mother, Helen Stirling, who is "the very source of her daughter's spirit". "Like any mama, she seeks to guide -- and occasionally push -- her daughter through London's social season, with equal measures vivaciousness and tough love."
© Darren BellRounding out the new cast of stars is Gemma Knight Jones, who will portray Lady Elizabeth Ashworth, an old friend of Michaela's who serves as her confidante and London guide. "Beneath Elizabeth's playful charm lies a grounded realist who is wise to the unspoken rules of society," according to Netflix.
© Alan HowardWhat to expect from season five
Introverted middle daughter Francesca steps into the spotlight for season five. Two years after the death of her husband John, Fran returns to the marriage mart for practical reasons – and Michaela stirs "complicated feelings" within her.
© NetflixThe synopsis reads: "But when John's cousin Michaela returns to the Ton to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Fran's complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions."
When will Bridgerton season 5 be released?
Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the new eight-part season. If previous seasons are anything to go by, we'd expect to see the new episodes in 2028. However, showrunner Jess Brownell has expressed her desire to increase the gap between seasons.
"We're never planning for a two year gap and I will say, I knew when I said that that I was under promising with the hope of overdelivering," she told RadioTimes.com.
"I think we have done that with season 4, I think there’s only been a year and a half actually between season 3 and 4. And we are on track with season 5 so far, fingers crossed, to either meet or match that year and a half mark. So, we’re always trying to keep the trains going faster and faster."
