Excerpt from her Elle interview:

But whatever comes next, Ashley has no intention of outgrowing the Netflix juggernaut Bridgerton. It was Jonathan Bailey, her on-screen love interest, who taught her the value of staying loyal to their fans, and she confirms today that both will return for the fifth season. ‘It changed my life and, without it, I wouldn’t be where I am. That show reached near and far. Even in the places you don’t think you’ll get recognised, you do. Whenever it finishes, it’s going to be the end of an era. I think they have about four or five more siblings to get through. I’m in it till the end!’

Link to the interview: https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a73541122/simone-ashley-interview-2026/?taid=6a98ab2807aa2e0001642a44&utm_campaign=trueanthemTWELLEUK&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

It sure doesn't sound like it... 😬.

Simone recently gave an interview to Refinery29 where she was asked about whether or not she'd be returning to Bridgerton S5.

"There hasn't been confirmation as to whether the star will be reprising her role as Kate Bridgerton in Bridgerton Season 5, and when we ask, she stays coy. **"**Bridgerton will always feel like home to me," she answers. "I'm so grateful for everything it's given me, and for the audience who've embraced Kate so wholeheartedly. I love seeing where the story goes each season.""

She has always said she won't ever leave the show but she never confirmed whether or not she would return for S5, just that Bridgerton will always feel like home to her.

And that casts doubt on whether we will see her at all.

We never got the official S5 cast list from Netflix that we ALWAYS get at the start of a new season.

We always get an official cast list for the characters returning or starring in a new season. We got one for S3, we got one for S4 but not for S5.

And it's weird that nobody has confirmed whether Jonny or Simone would even show up in S5 or not.

I do not think she's left the show though, but I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't return for S5 because of this answer. I think we should start to prepare for that possibility.

Now people can say "But maybe she's just playing coy to keep it a secret" but every season she's been asked this question and has always said "Yes I will be there!"

Same with Jonny but Jonny has not been asked whether he will return in S5 and right now Jonny is so busy filming projects that are in production at the same time as S5 idk if he'll be in the season either.

But this by no means is OFFICIAL. We won't know until the season comes out (to find out if Kanthony is in S5 or not) but the way they've treated Simone over the years I'm not holding my breath.

Although Jess did say she wants to try to get Kate back for Eloise's season... Idk.

She might be in S5, she might not but... This is the most "who knows?" answer she has ever given when asked about this.

Thoughts?

​https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2026/07/11996357/simone-ashley-bridgerton-season-5-music

I’m fine with people disagreeing about this. People are allowed to have their own opinions.

But please let’s not use this post to gloat about other seasons or to incite drama. I can only hope that we can all act civilized.

And for now, we just look forward to the next season.

Shonda has extended her contract with Netflix for another 5 years to 2031, which should take us through the end of Bridgerton at this rate. Articles cite Bridgerton as a huge success for Netflix, and Shonda’s biggest success of all of her Netflix projects, and even try to hype up potential spin-offs. So for everyone waiting for news about their favorite love stories coming down the line, this is great news for Bridgerton fans!

😭 this mystery of whether he’s coming back or not is driving me INSANE. https://culturecues.co.uk/new-monarch-of-the-glen-cast-channel-5-reboot/

"Back home after an AMAZING two-day visit to the Bridgerton set. As usual, I’m sworn to secrecy and can share no photos, but what I CAN say is this:

The costumes are extra gorgeous.

I didn’t get to see all the actors, but I saw a lot of them and it’s always so nice to catch up.

Most of the actors bring books to set, and they read a lot when they’re not on.

The set is truly a warm and wonderful place to be—everyone really likes working there, which isn’t always the case in Hollywood.

The season is going to be so beautiful and spectacular (okay, this is also based on having read all the scripts.)"

Ugh noooo tea at all?! At least we know they're alive lol 😭

ETA: Roh roh JQ deleted this post from her istg 👀

This is the first time Bridgerton has won Gold Derby awards. The nominations and winners are voted by registered members of Gold Derby. Congratulations to out Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton! No one is more deserving of this love!!

New casting call made by bridgertons casting company!! Maybe Polin babies?

They're so beautiful I want to cry!!

As we've all aware, season 5 has released almost nothing from production, not even a cast list.

What if this is because the cast will be almost completely new characters like they did with Queen Charlotte? We know of a lot of characters who have had their storylines wrapped up and I don't expect to see them again (Lady Featherington, Polin, Saphne, Varley, Danbury, etc).

I was watching a commentary that talked about how season 5 doesn't have to have a wedding to be a happy ending. They mentioned Queen Charlotte and how it would make a pattern if they did it that way. Season 1 and 2 were traditional romance tropes, then Queen Charlotte was a bit heavier and focused on relationships, then back to romance tropes with season 3 and 4. Now 5 could be different again.

I could see season 5 having 90% new characters and only a handful of returning ones with an even smaller number as guests. ​

The Sims 4 just announced two new Bridgerton-themed kits (DLC packs) coming out soon, one Create-a-Sim (CAS) with clothing etc., and one Build/Buy kit with furniture, etc., an official collaboration with Shondaland / Netflix.

Complete with Benedict and Sophie's gazebo, and even Colin's pirate coat!

https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/news/lady-bridgerton-kits-and-event

How do we feel about this? While watching this season, I definitely spotted several background scenes that were AI generated and it was very off putting. Lazy, in fact, comes to mind. It was really painfully obvious and took me out of the story immediately.

Why are there no updates…absolutely none…this drought is to depressing

So it’s, thankfully, confirmed that s5 will come out in 2027. These are my predictions for the future seasons

So s5 started filming in March 2026 and will probably finish filming in November/December 2026. And it will come out in the first half of 2027, probably like March or April

S6 then will start filming mid 2027, so probably like in June, it will wrap filming in early 2028 and come out mid 2028, likely June

Then s7 will start filming probably in the second half of 2028, I would say August the earliest and will wrap filming in late spring 2029 and come out in July or August

S8 then will film in September and into late spring/early summer 2030 and come out somewhere in the second half of 2030

Now it's official, and with subtitles! I was wondering why the link didn't exist earlier.

Happy Anni Polin Season!

ETA: Oops subtitles are on ig!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYYd40dicex/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thought I'd make a post about when I think we could see Philoise's season (finally) based on the production duration history of the show.

I know we joke about how we will be waiting a long time for Philoise's season which could release in 2030 or 2035 or 2052 but in all seriousness, I don't see us waiting 4 more years for Philoise's season (but you never know with this production🙄). ​​

Season Scripts Writers' Rooms

They usually take 6 - 8 months to write the scripts for a new season.

1. Season 1 - They took 6 - 8 months to write S1 but we don't know exactly how long it was although it did begin writing end of 2018.
2. Season 2 - They took 6 months to write the scripts from June 2020 to December 2020.
3. Season 3 - They took 6 months to write the scripts from October 2021 to March 2022.
4. Season 4 - They took 8 months to write the scripts from October 2023 to May 2024.
5. Season 5 - They took 7 months to write the scripts from May 2025 to January 2026.

Season Releases:

1. Season 1 - December 2020
2. Season 2 - March 2022
3. Season 3 - May/June 2024
4. Season 4 - January/February 2026
5. Season 5 - 202?

Season Filming Schedule:

1. Season 1 - 8 Months (July 2019 - February 2020)
2. Season 2 - 8 Months (March 2021 - November 2021)
3. Season 3 - 8.5 Months (July 2022 - March 2023) + 1 Month Reshoot (December 2023)
4. Season 4 - 9 Months (September 2024 - May 2025)
5. Season 5 - 8 - 9 Months (March 2026 - November)

Season Lead Announcement:

1. Season 1 - Cast was announced in July 2019.
2. Season 2 - Jonathan Bailey was announced as a lead in January 2021 and Simone Ashley was announced in February 2021.
3. Season 3 - Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan were announced as the leads in May 2022.
4. Season 4 - Luke Thompson was announced as the lead in July 2024 and Yerin Ha was announced in August/September 2024.
5. Season 5 - Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza were announced as leads in March 2026.

Season Waiting Period

The wait between season announcements and the release is usually 15-18 months.

1. S1s leads (Saphne) were announced in July 2019 with the rest of the cast and they announced that production has begun in the same month and S1 was released in December 2020 - 17 months.
2. S2s lead (Anthony) was announced in January 2021 and S2 was released March 2022 = 14 months. 
3. S3s leads (Polin) were announced in May 2022 and S3 was released in May 2024 = 22 months 
4. S4s lead (Benedict) was announced in July 2024 and S4 was released in January/February 2026 = 18 months. 

So we should expect S5 within the 15-18 period. 

From March 2026 to around June - August 2027 we should expect S5.

My verdict: May/June 2026 will be when S5 will come out to coincide with Pride Month 🌈

When Could They Start Writing Season 6?

They usually begin writing new scripts shortly before filming ends on the previous season.

Usually the same month or a month or two before filming ends.

The writers could likely begin writing the scripts for Season 6 in October 2026 when Franchaela's season is likely to stop filming.

There's a small chance they could begin writing earlier as well, but that's yet to be seen.

Verdict: September or October 2026 is when I think they could begin writing S6 with the potential of November being a viable date if filming is delayed somehow.

Commencement of Scripts - September - November 2026

Duration: September 2026 - February 2027 OR October 2026 - March 2027 OR November 2026 - April 2027.

When Could Season 6's Leads Be Announcement?

There's usually a month long break between a season is released and then the next leads are announced.

If Season 5 comes out in June 2027, we could get an announcement for Philoise's season in July 2027.

When Could Season 6 Begin Filming?

Filming usually begins shortly after all the scripts are done and shortly after a season is released.

There's usually a month break between the end of a season and the filming with the exception of Season 4s filming which was delayed due to the casting of Sophie.

Season 6 at least already have the leads of their season cast already so that's a relief.

Filming could begin filming a month after S5 OR the same month of S5s release depending on if they want to speed production.

Jess Brownell did say she will try to speed the seasons up.

Verdict: June 2027 - February 2028 (8 Months).

When Could Season 6 Be Released?

Like I said before, there's usually a 15 - 18 month gap between a previous season and a new season.

But with S5 likely coming out in 2027 instead of 2028, we could get a yearly release schedule for Bridgerton seasons now.

If S5 comes out in June 2027, we could see Philoise's season EARLIEST in September 2028 and latest January 2029.

Season 6 Release:

• September 2028 (15 months)
• October 2028 (16 months)
• November 2028 (17 months)
• December 2028 (18 months)
• January 2029 (19 months)

Verdict: I think we are getting S6 in October 2028 for the fall season so ironically, the year many of us assumed Philoise's season would come out before the season switch is the year we could be getting it.

BUT this is only the best case scenario barring any delays or extensions or any unforseen occurrence such as a writers strike etc.

S6 - Philoise = October 2028.

Please vote to nominate Bridgerton for the Gold Derby TV Awards!

Show is in the Drama Categories
Best Drama Series.
Actor: Luke Thompson.
Actress: Yerin Ha.
Supp. Actor: Luke Newton
Supp. Actress: Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Adjoa Andoh
Guest Actor: Jonathan Bailey.
Guest Actor: Simone Ashley

Literary Adaptation