On Christmas 2020, Netflix subscribers were blessed with Bridgerton, a soapy, delightful television series based on  Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels. And we’re getting another gift this holiday season: A new Bridgerton book. Yes, that’s right:  The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown’s Official Guide is here.

In the new book, Quinn updates readers on all eight of the Bridgerton siblings, plus other key characters like their mother, Duke Simon, and Lady Danbury, according to People. “It was an absolute joy to revisit the books and characters for The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton. There were so many tiny moments I’d forgotten about,” Quinn told the outlet, adding that the tome “was conceived with Bridgerton readers in mind, but I think that Netflix fans who haven’t read the books will enjoy it, too. It provides a deeper understanding of the characters brought so skillfully to life on the show.”

In an Instagram video, Quinn showed off some of the book’s glossy pages and promised 13 new Lady Whistledown columns within, plus the juiciest quotes from throughout the book series. Seeing as how the Lady Whistledown character hasn’t been heard from since a 2004 novella, this is major news for the books’ fans.

Quinn has been hard at work as a creative consultant on the Bridgerton Netflix series, which will run at least through a fourth season. “I’m not allowed to give anything away about season two , but I will say that I’m a consultant for the show, and I warned the team that if pall-mall wasn’t included, I would ‘consult the heck out of’ the storyline,” she revealed to People. (This is referencing a scene from the Anthony-centric The Viscount Who Loved Me in which he and his love interest Kate play pall-mall, a lawn game similar to croquet.) Can 2022 get here already?

You can purchase The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown’s Official Guide right here. 

Consider this my official petition for Regé-Jean Page to play Fiyero in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked.

Yes, we already agreed we could listen to the Bridgerton star say “I burn for you” over and over again (in this clip, of course—he didn’t actually say it in the Netflix series), but did you know he has a singing voice that’s just as sexy?

Well, he does. As the 31-year-old actor stays booked and busy, one of his projects includes voicing Orpheus in an audio-play adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. On October 7, Audible shared a special clip that features Page singing in Greek.

“It turns out that Regé-Jean Page is not only an excellent actor and an outrageously good-looking chap, he also sings like an angel,” co–executive producer and director Dirk Maggs says in the preview, which was posted to Twitter. “And I’ve got to say, it still sends shivers up my spine.”

“He is checking all the boxes,” one fan replied to the tweet. “Actor, singer, dancer (those Bridgerton waltzes were nothing to play with!) What’s next?? Goosebumps in an understatement!!”

Though Page will not return for the second season of the steamy Netflix period drama, there are still other projects to look forward to. Page is set to star alongside Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling in Netflix’s spy thriller The Grey Man, as well as Dungeons & Dragons with Chris Pine. 

The actor recently opened up further about leaving the hit show—particularly the cast’s group chat. “I didn’t want to put them in an awkward situation where they had to kick me out,” the actor told British GQ in a recent profile, noting, “The universe has expanded. So I’m no longer in it.” 

He also isn’t giving an answer to questions about a future cameo. “You know I couldn’t tell you!” he said. “Isn’t there something wonderful about being surprised by what you weren’t suspecting?”

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You are cordially invited to look at the very first images from Bridgerton season two.

Netflix just revealed the first photos from the upcoming second season of the hit sexy period drama, sans Regé-Jean Page, who departed the series after one season.

Bridgerton season two went into production in spring 2021 but had to halt production in July following a COVID-19 outbreak on set. It resumed filming in August, and showrunner Chris Van Dusen confirmed that at least a few episodes were already in postproduction, which is promising. However, there still isn’t a premiere date. Given that we’re already seeing first looks, it’s probably coming in late 2021 or early 2022. The first season dropped on Netflix in December 2020, so maybe it will come around the same time, but at this point early 2022 is more likely.

Like the books the series is based on, Bridgerton will focus on a different Bridgerton sibling each season. Season two will turn its attention to Anthony Bridgerton and his quest for love. 

“We’re very much passing on the baton to the lovely [Jonathan Bailey], who plays Anthony, and that will be the main storyline of season two and the story arc of season two,” said Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, per Us Weekly. 

While Dynevor will remain on the series unlike her costar Page, her role will be reduced from season one. “The show centers around the Bridgertons, and there are eight books,” she said. “And I think maybe the fans of the books were more aware of that happening than the fans of the show.”

Simone Ashley from Netflix’s Sex Education will play Kate, a love interest for Anthony.

Check out the latest from Lady Whistledown’s world, below: 

Duke of Hastings Regé-Jean Page “respectfully exited” the WhatsApp group chat his Bridgerton co-stars are in, the actor revealed in September.

“I didn’t want to put them in an awkward situation where they had to kick me out,” the actor told GQ U.K. in a recent profile, noting, “the universe has expanded. So I’m no longer in it.” 

After becoming the breakout star of the sexy Netflix series, Page shocked fans with his decision not to return for season two. Devotees of the book series on which the show is based, however, were more prepared for the news: his character, Simon, is really only present in one of the books. Next season will focus more on Anthony Bridgerton’s romance with Kate Sharma (called Kate Sheffield in the books).

As for the possibility of a cameo from Duke Simon somewhere down the line (his wife, Daphne, will still be a character, after all), Page is evasive, but not against it: “You know I couldn’t tell you!” he said, adding, “Isn’t there something wonderful about being surprised by what you weren’t suspecting?” Well, sure there is, Regé-Jean!

Speaking of delightful, unexpected surprises, Regé-Jean Page spoke lovingly of the way the series modernized and diversified the storylines, which are set in the Regency era. “It’s not an Austen adaption. That’s the point…The whole thing is a bit less precious and a bit more fun,” he commented, emphasizing that having Black actors playing high status characters was a refreshing departure from what we normally see on TV. “Being on a horse is literally lifting people into a position of aspiration, power, possibility, and agency that they’ve not been afforded before. That’s what’s ridiculous. That we are not creative enough in the creative industries – that’s the failure. But the second you start doing that? It’s like, ‘This is so easy!’ Yes, it is, so keep doing that.”

Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page is here to help you have the sexiest sleep of your life. While the Duke of Hastings is not going door to door like some sort of sexy Santa Claus to make sure you’re getting your eight hours in, he has signed on for the next best thing: a new sleep story for the Calm app. 

Although the actor will sadly not be returning to Bridgerton for its second season, you can keep a bit of him in your life by listening to him narrate a 32-minute sleep story, “The Prince and the Naturalist” by author Victoria Gosling. The star has joined an elite group of celebrities who have collaborated with the mindfulness app, including Cillian Murphy, Harry Styles, Lucy Liu, Laura Dern, and Idris Elba.

For those unfamiliar with Calm, the app is filled with features like the sleep story, which is designed to improve your mental and physical health by keeping keep your mind and body, well, calm. The bedtime stories are often narrated by celebs who have the gift of being both very charming and able to tell a story so slowly that you forget all about your anxieties and drift off into a deep sleep.

The story narrated by Regé-Jean Page, “The Prince and the Naturalist,” is about, according to Calm, “a naturalist and his royal pupil find that nature is the best teacher.” Maybe this is because Netflix’s Bridgerton—one of the sexiest shows of all time—is on the mind, but this sounds weirdly feisty for a story designed to put us to sleep. 

Anyway, you can listen to Page’s dulcet tones on the Calm app now, which provides a seven-day free trial if you don’t already have an account. After that trial is over, Calm is $70 per year. 

But some advice: Before you listen to Page’s bedtime story, maybe make sure you are done with work for the day first. 

Dear Reader, you may (or may not) already know that the second season of Bridgerton is confirmed, so while you impatiently wait for brand-new episodes of the Netflix period drama to roll out, we have some other exciting news to share: Shondaland teamed up with Meena Harris’s social-justice brand Phenomenal and Nell Diamond’s Hill House Home (i.e., the lifestyle brand behind the always sold-out Nap Dress) to release a capsule of “Regencycore” pieces that you’ll be burning for the second you lay eyes on them.

The five-piece collection officially hits Phenomenal’s website today—and includes three limited-edition Nap Dress styles and two crystal-embellished bobby pins. The two sleeveless smocked Ellie dresses feature custom floral prints in pink and lavender by Diane Hill, a Black artist based in London whose work is inspired by chinoiserie, a decorative art style. The third Nesli dress, which has puffed short sleeves and a square neckline, comes in a vining white floral print, aptly named the Whistledown Trellis. The dresses ring in at $125 each, and the hair accessories at $40.

“With summer in full swing, we’re excited to bring fans a piece of Bridgerton to wear while they await the second season,” Meena Harris, founder and CEO of Phenomenal shares in a press release. “What better way to do that in true ‘Regencycore’ style than through the versatile and iconic Hill House Home Nap Dress?” This exclusive collection marks the second Bridgerton collaboration with Phenomenal, the first of which included a sell-out drop of pastel-hued sweatshirts and hoodies. 

“Regencycore” trends (think corsets, opera gloves, Empire-waist dresses, and dramatic headpieces with pearls and feathers) have been booming since the debut of the award-winning series, making this collaboration perfect for the show’s fashion lovers. As for the dresses themselves? Well, the Hill House Home Nap Dress is ideal for lounging at home, perhaps watching reruns of season one—or venturing out for “little walks” with suitors in nearby parks. (Picnic baskets and chaperones optional.) Shop the full collection below. 

 

It’s going to be driven by “peak thirst.” When asked by Vanity Fair if “peak thirst” is the mantra for season two, Van Dusen said, “Absolutely. We’re inspired by really delicious romance novels, and the sensuality [and] sexuality was always something that we were excited to be able to lean into on the show.” I’m already sweating. 

There will be Meghan Markle and Prince Harry parallels. Specifically, as it pertains to Daphne and Simon’s new baby. “I really can’t say too much, nor would you expect me to, but I guess what we do know absolutely is that they’re married now. It’s a new married life and they have the baby, so there are all the vagaries of what that is like for young people with a new baby,” Adjoa Andoh—who plays Lady Danbury—revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I mean, Harry and Meghan, what’s it like when you have a new baby? How does it affect you when [you are] a young couple with a new baby?”

That being said, Regé-Jean Page is not returning. Absolutely devastating. In June, Dynevor gave a bit more insight into what the series will look like without its broody duke. “It’s definitely different,” the Netflix star told The Wrap in an interview published on June 2. “And I’ve said it before, but I think the fans who have read the books and know the books are aware that every season will focus on a different sibling’s journey. And it might be a little bit more of a—not shock, but like a surprise for the fans that love Daphne and Simon’s story so much. But I think that’s honestly the joy of the show in the long-term, getting to see these different love stories play out.”

“I think he’ll definitely be referred to a lot. I think we’ll see the baby,” Dynevor continued. “And we’ll just focus more on her relationship with the Bridgerton family.”

We’ll finally meet the Bridgertons’ father! On May 28, news broke that the series had cast Rupert Evans (Charmed, The Man in the High Castle) as Edmund, father of the eight Bridgerton siblings. Edmund, wife of Violet, was already dead at the beginning of season one, so we’ll probably see Evans in flashbacks or dream sequences. (The series doesn’t seem to be headed in a ghostly direction, but hey, we’ll see.)

Netflix calls the character “a loving and devoted husband, whose true love match with Violet Bridgerton gave them eight perfect children. He’s also an endlessly patient and kind father, who takes special pride in guiding his eldest son Anthony through life.” Can’t wait to meet him!

Filming has begun—and your first look at Kate is here! On May 1, People shared a new photo from the set of season two that features our new main couple, Anthony and Kate.

Production reportedly shut down due to positive COVID-19 tests. But it was only temporary! According to Us Weekly, filming paused for 24 hours after crew members tested positive for the coronavirus. “Production briefly paused due to a very small number of positive covid cases,” a source reveals. “All COVID-19 health and safety protocols were followed and those impacted have been isolated. No cast [members were] affected.” Production reportedly started back up on July 16.

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Believe! It’s not just the Ted Lasso tagline; it’s what fans have to do if they want their favorite show to make it from the nominee pool to the Emmys stage. The 2021 Emmy nominations have just been announced, and there are so many of our favorites in the mix. Netflix’s mega-hit Bridgerton scored a Best Drama slot, as did its lead actor, Regé-Jean Page. Will a statuette convince him to cameo in a later season?

As with any awards show, this year’s nominee list has a few surprises–is Cobra Kai really a comedy?–but some triumphs as well. After being shut out by the Golden Globes, I May Destroy You returned triumphant, with nominations for Best Limited Series and for Michaela Coel, its star (and creator) for acting. The recently-canceled Lovecraft Country got some love alongside perennial nominees like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Crown.

The 2021 Emmys will air on September 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and will be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer.

Here are all the nominees, per The Hollywood Reporter and Variety:

Variety Talk Series

Conan (TBS)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Competition Series

The Amazing Race (CBS)
Nailed It! (Netflix)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)

Lead Actress, Comedy

Aidy Bryant in Shrill
Kaley Cuoco in The Flight Attendant
Allison Janney in Mom
Tracee Ellis Ross in black-ish
Jean Smart in Hacks

Lead Actor, Comedy

Anthony Anderson in black-ish
Michael Douglas in The Kominsky Method
William H. Macy in Shameless
Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso
Kenan Thompson in Kenan

Comedy Series

Black-ish (ABC)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Pen15 (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Lead Actor, Limited Series, Movie or Anthology

Paul Bettany in WandaVision
Hugh Grant in The Undoing
Ewan McGregor in Halston
Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton
Leslie Odom, Jr. in Hamilton

Lead Actress, Limited Series, Movie or Anthology

Michaela Coel in I May Destroy You
Cynthia Erivo in Genius: Aretha
Elizabeth Olsen in WandaVision
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit
Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown

Limited Series

I May Destroy You (HBO)
Mare of Easttown (HBO)
The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
The Underground Railroad (Amazon)
WandaVision (Disney+)

Lead Actress, Drama

Uzo Aduba in In Treatment
Olivia Colman in The Crown
Emma Corrin in The Crown
Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale
Mj Rodriguez in Pose
Jurnee Smollett in Lovecraft Country

Lead Actor, Drama

Sterling K. Brown in This Is Us
Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country
Josh O’Connor in The Crown
Rege-Jean Page in Bridgerton
Billy Porter in Pose
Matthew Rhys in Perry Mason

Drama Series

The Boys (Amazon)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Pose (FX)
This Is Us (NBC)

TV Movie

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Netflix)
Oslo (HBO)
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (Lifetime)
Sylvie’s Love (Prime Video)
Uncle Frank (Prime Video)

Variety Special (Live)

Celebrating America — An Inauguration Night Special (Multiple Platforms)
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
The Oscars (ABC)
The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Starring The Weeknd (CBS)
Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 (Showtime)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito in The Mandalorian
O-T Fagbenie in The Handmaid’s Tale
John Lithgow in Perry Mason
Tobias Menzies in The Crown
Chris Sullivan in This Is Us
Bradley Whitford in The Handmaid’s Tale
Michael K. Williams in Lovecraft Country
Max Minghella in The Handmaid’s Tale

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Gillian Anderson in The Crown
Helena Bonham Carter in The Crown
Madeline Brewer in The Handmaid’s Tale
Ann Dowd in The Handmaid’s Tale
Aunjanue Ellis in Lovecraft Country
Emerald Fennell in The Crown
Yvonne Strahovski in The Handmaid’s Tale
Samira Wiley in The Handmaid’s Tale

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Carl Clemons-Hopkins in Hacks
Brett Goldstein in Ted Lasso
Brendan Hunt in Ted Lasso
Nick Mohammed in Ted Lasso
Jeremy Swift in Ted Lasso
Paul Reiser in The Kominsky Method
Kenan Thompson in Saturday Night Live
Bowen Yang in Saturday Night Live

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant in Saturday Night Live
Hannah Einbinder in Hacks
Kate McKinnon in Saturday Night Live
Rosie Perez in The Flight Attendant
Cecily Strong in Saturday Night Live
Juno Temple in Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham in Ted Lasso

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Thomas Brodie Sangster in The Queen’s Gabit
Daveed Diggs in Hamilton
Paapa Essiedu in I May Destroy You
Jonathan Groff in Hamilton
Evan Peters in Mare Of Easttown
Anthony Ramos in Hamilton

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Renée Elise Goldsberry in Hamilton
Kathryn Hahn in WandaVision
Moses Ingram in The Queen’s Gambit
Julianne Nicholson in Mare Of Easttown
Jean Smart in Mare Of Easttown
Phillipa Soo in Hamilton

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Don Cheadle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Charles Dance in The Crown
Timothy Olyphant in The Mandalorian
Courtney B. Vance in Lovecraft Country
Carl Weathers in The Mandalorian

Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel in The Handmaid’s Tale
Sophie Okonedo in Ratched
Claire Foy in The Crown
Phylicia Rashad in This Is Us
Mckenna Grace in The Handmaid’s Tale

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin in Saturday Night Live
Dave Chappelle in Saturday Night Live
Morgan Freeman in The Kominsky Method
Daniel Kaluuya in Saturday Night Live
Daniel Levy in Saturday Night Live

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Jane Adams in Hacks
Yvette Nicole Brown in A Black Lady Sketch Show
Bernadette Peters in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Issa Rae in A Black Lady Sketch Show
Maya Rudolph in Saturday Night Live
Kristen Wiig in Saturday Night Live

Variety Sketch Series

A Black Lady Sketch Show
Saturday Night Live

Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)
David Byrne’s American Utopia (HBO)
8:46 – Dave Chappelle (Netflix)
Friends: The Reunion (HBO Max)
Hamilton (Disney Plus)
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (HBO Max)

Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)
Oprah with Megan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special (CBS)
Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy (CNN)
United Shades Of America with W. Kamau Bell (CNN)
VICE (Showtime)

Host For a Reality or Competition Program

Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness for Queer Eye
Nicole Byer for Nailed It!
Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary for Shark Tank
Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons for Top Chef
RuPaul for RuPaul’s Drag Race

There’s going to be an IRL Bridgerton ball this November, and it’s not an exaggeration to say I will fly anywhere to attend it. Like the Jane Austen–themed dinner parties and Fifty Shades pop-ups of yore (yep, I attended one of those back in the day), everyone’s favorite pandemic binge-watch is being turned into a live event.

Shondaland, Netflix, and event companies Fever and Secret Cinema will host a Regency ball in the fall, complete with a string quartet playing covers of pop hits just like the Bridgerton soundtrack, dance cards, and love tokens. Yes, everyone has to wear period-appropriate attire, and by period-appropriate, we mean the Netflix version of period-appropriate: bright and glittery as hell, but with an outline that sort of suggests the era. Per Variety, the event will function a little like a Sleep No More interactive adventure, where guests can either hit the dance floor or step into a side room to “learn skills including life drawing, card-playing, and boxing.” 

No word yet on the specific “where, when, how much” details, but in case you end up not being able to make it, don’t worry: We got you covered. If you want to truly embody a member of the Ton, here’s the deal with the show’s corset maker, who has also worked with Kim Kardashian. If you can’t wait for the next season of the show, try reading the books or checking out PBS’s Sanditon. If you want to rock a Bridgerton do, here’s the inside scoop on the show’s hairstyles. If you want to eventually audition for the show, here’s what you need to know about neck acting. And if you are simply, understandably, extremely horny, here’s the lip balm that will protect you during makeout sessions. Do all of this, then throw your own ball!

Bridgerton may have been known for its…steamier moments, but there was at least one person who struggled to watch those parts: the Duke of Hastings himself, Regé-Jean Page.

Page spoke about how it felt “overwhelming” to watch his sex scenes with his scene partner Phoebe Dynevor, who played Daphne Bridgerton. “No one was sufficiently prepared. I wasn’t sufficiently prepared, and I was there,” Page said at The Hollywood Reporter’s latest actor roundtable. “I think people were grateful for the intensity of the romantic aspects of Bridgerton; I’m not sure how grateful I was to watch it for myself. It was overwhelming. But I think people were looking to be overwhelmed.”

He continued, “My family doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by my backside, specifically, too often, but they’ll take it on this occasion because everyone seems to be terribly happy.”

In fact, Page might even argue people were so focussed on his “backside,” they remembered an iconic line incorrectly. During a new interview with Variety, the actor pointed out that he never actually said the line “I burn for you,” which was spoofed on Saturday Night Live. “I do not say, ‘I burn for you,’ it’s not my line!” Page said, adding, “Everyone clearly was feeling very burned for, which I’ll take as a compliment.” 

Unfortunately for many fans, Regé-Jean Page will not appear in the second season of Bridgerton. Dynevor recently revealed how the series will deal with the absence of the broody, spoon-licking royal. “I think he’ll definitely be referred to a lot. I think we’ll see the baby,” Dynevor told The Wrap in June. “And we’ll just focus more on her relationship with the Bridgerton family.”

“It’s definitely different,” she said of filming without her former costar. “And I’ve said it before, but I think the fans who have read the books and know the books are aware that every season will focus on a different sibling’s journey. And it might be a little bit more of a—not shock, but like a surprise for the fans that love Daphne and Simon’s story so much. But I think that’s honestly the joy of the show in the long-term, getting to see these different love stories play out.”

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