Contains major spoilers for Bridgerton season four
This season of Netflix's Bridgerton has been one of the most dramatic yet, with arrests, mistress requests and perhaps the most shocking moment of all - Penelope stopping writing Lady Whistledown. So does this mean Nicola Coughlan will be leaving Bridgerton and her role of Penelope?
After four seasons of being the ton's resident gossip, during episode six of the new season 'The Passing Winter' the character of Penelope decided she no longer wanted to write her riveting newsletter.
Speaking to the Queen in a tense scene, Penelope revealed her plans to step away from her role as the writer of Lady Whistledown, telling her majesty she was no longer able to do the job properly, after her identity was unmasked in season three.
"Now that I am known publicly, I'm avoided like the plague by anyone with any real gossip," she said. "Because for everyone in the ton, Whistledown functions just as this palace does for you. It keeps them trapped, watched, scrutinised."
Later on in the episode, Penelope shared her final Whistledown newsletter with the ton at Cressida's ball.
So now Penelope is no longer writing down Whistledown is this a hint Nicola Coughlan who plays her will be leaving the series? Here's what we know.
Is Nicola Coughlan leaving Bridgerton?
As of yet there's been no official announcement Nicola won't be part of the show going forward.
Penelope and Colin's (Luke Newton) love story was the focus of Bridgerton season three, and like every other leading couple of the previous series, once their love story has been told, their role is then slightly reduced in future seasons.
Both Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page, who played Daphne Bridgerton and Duke of Hastings in season one, both chose to leave the show. And Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley, who play Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Bridgerton, have not appeared as frequently in seasons three and four. So given this, it's not surprising for us to be seeing less of Penelope and Colin going forward.
Now Penelope has decided not to be Lady Whistledown and has been working on her novel, some fans are theorising this could be a suggestion Nicola will not be appearing as much.
However, given the ending of episode eight 'Dance in the Country' which saw a new unknown person take on the role of Lady Whistledown, we wouldn't be surprised if Penelope then becomes more involved in the plot again as she tries to figure out who stole Whistledown.
Either way we're really crossing our fingers we'll be seeing Penelope next season!
Bridgerton season four is available on Netflix now
