Who Could Replace Penelope As Bridgerton's Lady Whistledown? 5 Candidates
Who would you pick if you were the Bridgerton showrunner?
It's no secret that when the Shondaland creators adapted Julia Quinn's fan-favorite romance series for Netflix, they changed a lot about the source material. One of the biggest changes that shaped the show as we know and love it was the role of Lady Whistledown, the gossip columnist of the ton.
If in the books the column is just a harmless hobby for Penelope Featherington, in the show Lady Whistledown has become the main narrator (with a stunning Julie Andrews voice) and the driving force behind the plot.
So as the Season 3 love arc between Penelope and Colin Bridgerton approaches, Bridgerton fans are worried about what's in store for the enigmatic writer and her society newspaper. Pen can't continue publishing gossip once she's married to Colin, can she? At least in the books, she chooses family over her passion for writing.
One of the fan theories is that once Penelope is outed to the ton and decides to drop her scandal sheet, someone else might pick it up, creating a new mystery and keeping the audience on their toes.
Fans have even speculated about who might replace Penelope as Lady Whistledown after Season 3. Here are five of their most exciting candidates.
Eloise Bridgerton
Probably the most obvious suggestion is Eloise. She has been obsessed with Whistledown for the past two seasons and is somewhat jealous of the power her column has over the ton and the degree of independence the anonymous writer has.
Of course, at the moment Eloise is angry at Pen for keeping her hobby a secret and making questionable decisions, but fans are sure that in the future she will see things from her friend's perspective and decide to help her, if not by taking over the column, then by working side by side with her.
Hyacinth Bridgerton
We haven't had the pleasure of getting to know the show's Hyacinth, as she's still a child in the Netflix Bridgerverse, but she's a fan favorite in the books and has the perfect sassy temperament to become the new Lady Whistledown.
If there is a time jump in Season 4, Hyacinth might be old enough to pick up the column and give it a new life. This would also make her an interesting character whose romantic story is worth waiting for.
Portia Featherington
This is a rather shocking suggestion, but an intriguing one. The past few seasons have shown that Portia can be more devious than she appears, and she needs money.
Add to that her penchant for gossip, social ambition, and close partnership with her housekeeper, Mrs. Varley, and we can totally see Portia taking over the Whistledown column from her daughter.
Bartholomew Brimsley
Giving the column to the Queen's right-hand man, Brimsley, would be a hilarious development full of potential. After the Bridgerton spinoff, viewers fell in love with the character, and giving him a bigger role in the original would certainly be a welcome change.
Why would Brimsley be writing gossip? Maybe the Queen puts him up to it, or maybe he does it for his own amusement and a little rebellion against the crown.
Iris Smythe-Smith
Viewers of the show will ask, 'Who is she?' But for fans of Julia Quinn, the name makes a lot of sense. Iris is part of the titular family of Quinn's book series The Smythe-Smith Quartet, which takes place in the same universe as Bridgerton.
Many readers are rooting for The Smythe-Smith Quartet to be adapted as the next Bridgerton spin-off, or at least added as a separate storyline to the main series. To make that happen, the creators could introduce the family by making one of their daughters the new Lady Whistledown. And Iris has the best potential.
Like Pen, she is a bit of a wallflower, but very smart and observant. She also spends a lot of social seasons unmarried, which would give her the freedom to devote herself to the column.
Source: Reddit.