BRIDGERTON fans fell in love with Eloise and Penelope’s friendship, almost as much as they did with the romance.
But sadly the former best friends fell out in season 2, leaving viewers distraught.
WARNING: Contains major spoilers from Bridgerton season 2
The focus of the second series of Bridgerton was Viscount Bridgerton’s romance with Kate Sharma.
After a lot of “will they/won’t they” they eventually got together.
When the Viscount first proposed to Kate, she declined and told him that she planned to move back to India.
But in the season 2 Bridgerton finale at the Featherington Ball, Anthony popped the question again and this time she said “yes”.
Teasing him, Kate said: “You do know there will never be a day where you do not vex me?”
Also, we saw Penelope still reeling from her fall out with Eloise.
Despite protests from her former best friend, Miss Featherington decided to continue to be Lady Whistledown.
In first two series’ of the Netflix period drama, Eloise’s main storylines focused on her interest in discovering the identity of Lady Whistledown and her friendship with Penelope Featherington.
Sadly, the two didn’t mix well – seeing as her BFF is in fact the real “Gossip Girl”.
Throughout the first two series, every ball, every social gathering, every meeting of the Ton saw Eloise (Claudia Jessie Peyton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) linked arms with each other.
Where one was, the other was always never far behind.
However, things took a terrible turn for the worst at the end of season 2.
One of the biggest love stories in it is Penelope and Eloise because it’s their friendship that sort of underpins everything.
Nicola Coughlan
As we know, Penelope lives a double life as the iconic gossip writer, Lady Whistledown, with her best pal Eloise in the dark.
After Eloise started meeting up with Theo Sharpe, she realised that Lady Whistledown was using the print shop where he worked.
Unfortunately, Queen Charlotte then assumed that she was Lady Whistledown and Penelope quickly published mean gossip about Eloise to steer the queen away from that theory.
However, even more determined to know who the gossip Columbus was, Eloise set to work.
She soon worked out it was Penelope, and was furious at what her supposed friend had written about her.
Their friendship then came to an abrupt end.
Speaking about Eloise and Penelope’s friendship, actress Nicola Coughlan told Shondaland “When we met Julia Quinn (Bridgerton author), she told us that these books are romance books.
“But one of the biggest love stories in it is Penelope and Eloise because it’s their friendship that sort of underpins everything.”
Season 3’s trailer gave fans an insight into what is next for Penelope and Eloise.
Sadly, things don’t look good for their friendship.
In fact Eloise is seen getting close to mean girl Cressida Cowper, who is Penelope’s arch nemesis.
You can watch the trailer at the top of this article.
Season 3 of Bridgerton is being released in two parts.
The first four episodes have already dropped on Netflix, but fans have to wait for the second batch.
They will be released on June 13, 2024.
By Felicity Cross
WHEN Bridgerton landed during lockdown, it swept us all into a world of bejewelled gowns, lavish balls and endless bonking – and the world went mad for it.
Even the sexless second series didn’t damp down TV viewers’ lust for the Regency romp and fans have eagerly anticipated the arrival of the third series.
Fortunately, they won’t be disappointed.
The opener finally gives us some action from gorgeous series two newlyweds Anthony and Kate in scenes that would make your granny blush.
There’s drama and intrigue as the hunt for Lady Whistledown hots us, and laugh out loud comedy from the chaotic Featherington family.
But ultimately the season belongs to new romantic leads Colin and Penelope, whose will-they-won’t-they love story is fun, flirty and utterly believable and its, ahem, climax at the end of episode four will take your breath away.
Is Bridgerton still must-watch telly? Corset is.
