Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan Reacts To Whistledown Backlash

*Warning: Bridgerton spoilers follow*

Dearest, gentle readers, Netflix's regency hit series Bridgerton is finally back on our screens – and we couldn't be happier about it.

Produced by Shonda Rhimes, season one of the record-breaking series ended on quite the cliffhanger in which we discovered Penelope Featherington, played by Derry Girls' Nicola Coughlan, as the mastermind behind Lady Whistledown and her scandalous high society news sheet.

In season two, we get to see Penelope in action as the gossip writer, but she does of course receive some backlash after her best friend has managed to suss her out.

While talking to Digital Spy and other media, Coughlan was asked about the argument which Penelope and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) have in the season two finale and if she thinks viewers have now seen the darker side of the character come to light.

'That scene was really difficult to film,' she said. 'I think Claudia and I always felt like you know that Penelope is deceiving a lot of people but the worst deception is really to her best friend, because she is lying to her face all the time.

'She's gathering information from her all the time. So it's a terrible betrayal. And then, instead of just really owning up to her wrong, she bites back. But I think you know, it makes sense if you think about the family she was raised in. That's how she's seen people talk to one another.'

'It's interesting, because I think it's part of the reason I like being on a Shondaland show is they're not afraid to have women do unlikable things. They don't always have to be perfect angels who never get anything wrong. They're allowed to make mistakes and be flawed.

'But yeah, I feel like people are gonna be really angry with her at the end of this series.'

We think it's safe to say that Penelope Featherington isn't quite the innocent character we once thought her to be... Perhaps a good redemption arc for season three?

Bridgerton seasons one and two are now available to watch on Netflix.

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Iona Rowan

Content Production Intern, Digital Spy

After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022. In this role, Iona writes across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. During her time at Digital Spy, she has interviewed multiple Love Island stars, reported from the Black Adam red carpet and, most recently, interviewed the cast of Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid.

Janet A Leigh

TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since.  For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing.  She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.