Julie Andrews has never been seen on Bridgerton, but her role as the narrator, a.k.a. Lady Whistledown, is one of the most essential players in the series. Aside from the fact that Dame Andrews is a national treasure, it would be strange to lose her voice as our North Star, but that’s exactly what seems to happen at the end of episode 308 (titled “Into the Light”). Spoilers ahead.
In the second half of season three, Penelope finally tells Colin that she is Whistledown and there’s a power accompanying that responsibility. He urges her to stop writing the column, but she tells him she cannot. It’s a sentiment she later shares in front of Queen Charlotte, when she states to “aim my quill more responsibly” if the queen affords her the chance to continue. (She does.)
Lady Danbury goes a step further by telling the new Mrs. Bridgerton that she actually looks forward to Pen’s next edition. And then, in the biggest show of support, Colin tells his wife that he reread all her old letters to him and realizes now that she is Whistledown and Whistledown is her.
“You have always had one voice,” he says. “There is no separating you from Whistledown. I think in truth…I have been envious of you. Of your success. Of your bravery. And now I simply cannot believe that a woman with such bravery loves me. How lucky I am to stand by your side and soak up even a little bit of your light. If my only purpose in life is to love a woman as great as you…then I will be a very fulfilled man, indeed.”
As the finale episode comes to a close, Andrews is still narrating Whistledown and says, “It is time now to look toward the future, whatever it may bring. This author knows better than to make any predictions about what the future may hold. But with every closing chapter, the story is sure to grow richer and deeper. It has been quite a journey we have taken together, and so it is with the heaviest heart, that I write this final, unbelievably short sentence as Lady Whistledown. Goodbye.”
It is then, during this final part, that we hear Andrews’s voice for the last time this season when she says, “And with the retirement of my literary persona, I would like to formally introduce myself: previous wallflower, current columnist, observer, wielder of quill, nobody unique, and yet I have my moments.”
In the next line, which starts with “And hopefully dear reader…,” Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Bridgerton takes over. She finishes with this: “You will stay on to enjoy them with me as we begin this next part of our journey. Yours truly, Penelope Bridgerton.”
By all accounts, this would seem to set up nicely (although definitely bittersweetly) the handing of the torch from Andrews to Coughlan. But not so fast, executive producer and showrunner Jess Brownell tells Glamour. In fact, it may not be the end of the road for several other actors, as well, including Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton) and Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma Bridgerton), whose characters moved to India in episode 307 as they prepared to welcome their first child.
Below, Brownell reveals why she wants to keep Dame Andrews in the fold for the rest of the series and what the future holds for Bailey and Ashley, as well as Coughlan and Luke Newton.
Glamour: At the end of the episode, Julie Andrews’ voice as Lady Whistledown transitions into Nicola Coughlan’s voice as the narrator. What does this mean for Dame Andrews in season 4? Is this the end of her run as our narrator?
Jess Brownell: So thematically, that is absolutely the right assumption because it makes so much sense now that Penelope is owning her own voice to literally have her voice Lady Whistledown. However, Julie Andrews is just such a part of the feeling of the show. So, we’re playing around in season 4 with ways that we can explain why it’s still Julie Andrews. I think it’s just—it’s in Penelope’s head the way she officially reads it to herself as she writes.
So, she’ll be back?
That’s my hope, to keep Julie Andrews forever because she’s freaking Julie Andrews.
What about Nicola and Luke? Will they factor heavily into the next season? Now that the Ton knows who the real Lady Whistledown is, I’m interested to see how this evolves.
For every leading couple, we want to have them around as much as we can, especially in the season directly after their season. I’ve talked to Nicola and Luke about the fact that there is more story to tell. Especially because Penelope is Lady Whistledown, now that she’s public, I’m so curious to see what that’s going to be like. She’s Perez Hilton now. Everyone knows who she is and knows she’s reporting on them. That brings with it a new set of challenges. Luke and Nicola have said that they’re game, and I’m very excited to see where they’re going to go.
Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley are so good as Anthony and Kate, but their characters are headed to India so Kate can give birth there. Does this mean the actors won’t be back for season 4? Are Anthony and Kate in India for good?
They’re not in India for good. India is a plot device. It’s meaningful, of course, in terms of Anthony wanting to go back to Kate’s hometown so the baby can understand his mother’s side as much as the Bridgerton side. But it’s a good plot device also in terms of sending them off for a little bit so that the actors, who have amazing opportunities coming off of the show, are able to take advantage of those opportunities. It also leaves the door open for us to bring them back when and if schedules allow. I currently have some really exciting thoughts for them both in season 4, and we’re working on it. There is hope to have them back as much as we are able to make happen.
Given there were so many storylines and moving parts in the second half, what kept you up most at night?
It actually got easier to balance all the side stories in the back half because it was more difficult to set them all up in the first half. But then they all kind of weave together in the back half. That made it easier.
Episode 8 was a really tricky one because there were so many characters I wanted to touch on and see how they’d be reacting to the Whistledown announcement. Once Penelope makes that announcement and Colin accepts her, you’ve kind of gotten to the end of the story and want to wrap it up. So, we tried to quickly have everyone give their two cents and get toward the end [and that surprise reveal].