Sneak peek at Bridgerton season 4: Penelope and Colin as parents, along with a sizzling new romance story

She was Bridgerton’s perennially single character.

Fans of the popular Netflix series will be excited to learn that a new development involves Penelope Featherington, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan, welcoming a baby with Colin Bridgerton, the man she loves.

So popular was the characters’ on-again-off-again relationship that viewers lovingly dubbed the Polin – a combination of Penelope and Colin.

An image released on Valentine’s Day provided a sneak peek into the upcoming fourth season of this historical romance series, showcasing Ms. Coughlan, 38, holding a ginger-haired baby in her arms.

Returning to her role, Ms. Coughlan, who recently publicized her relationship with 25-year-old actor Jake Dunn, was captured on camera donning the customary attire of the Regency era, complete with her signature red wig styled in curls.

It comes after a steamy season three between Penelope and Colin where fans finally got to see the pair enjoy married life and Penelope leave her gossip column, Lady Whistledown, behind.

She was Bridgerton’s perennially single character. But fans of the Netflix hit will be delighted to see that Penelope Featherington, played by Nicola Coughlan, has had a baby with Colin 

Pictures dropped on Valentine’s Day to tease the upcoming fourth season of the period romance

The fourth season won’t air until 2026 but will centre on the love story of the eldest child Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, 36, and a new leading lady Sophie Baek.

Australian actress, Yerin Ha, plays the role of the love interest and is set to be the 27-year-old’s big break after appearing in minor television shows such as Halo.

Returning to the show is fan favourite, Johnathan Bailey, in his role as Anthony Bridgerton as filming began this month for the Netflix sensation.

Season 4 will dive much more into the Regency era’s upstairs-downstairs class politics than previous seasons, due to Sophie being of a lower class than Benedict and the Bridgerton family, as well as the fairytale and forbidden love tropes.

Netflix confirmed: ‘Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down. 

‘That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict’s attention at Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball. 

‘While Benedict knows his love interest as only the Lady in Silver, she’s actually Sophie, a resourceful maid with her own secrets and dreams.’

Ahead of taking on this season’s lead role Luke said of his character: ‘Benedict has always been a little lost — or free depending on the way you want to look at it. But now he’s trying to find something a bit more solid in himself.’

The fourth season won’t air until 2026 but will centre on the love story of the eldest child Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, 36, and a new leading lady Sophie Baek (pictured)

Netflix confirmed: ‘Despite his brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down. ‘That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict’s attention’

Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball is the starting point for the series four love story – pictured Michelle Mao as Rosamund Li, Katie Leung as Lady Araminta Gao, Isabella Wei as Posy Li

Returning characters include Daniel Francis as Lord Anderson, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton

Season 4 will dive much more into the Regency era’s upstairs-downstairs class politics than previous seasons, due to Sophie being of a lower class than the Bridgerton family

Golda Rosheuvel is also back as Queen Charlotte in the new run of episodes 

Other new Season 4 characters include Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) and her two daughters Isabella Wei as Posy and Michelle Mao as Rosamund whom she is trying to marry off

Although a release date has not been announced yet, it is confirmed the season will be made of 8 parts and will take around 8 months to wrap up filming – Oli Higginson as Footman John, Sophie Lamont as Celia, Geraldine Alexander as Mrs. Wilson

Polly Walker as Lady Featherington, Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley

Creator Shonda Rhymes added: ‘He’s a charming man who’s trying to find his way. He’s very delightful and funny. I’m excited for everybody to watch him.’

Although a release date has not been announced yet, it is confirmed the season will be made of 8 parts and will take around 8 months to wrap up filming. 

Speaking to THR, showrunner Jess Brownell said: ‘We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language.

‘The writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range.’