You may have only just got over Polin’s steamy, season 3 carriage scene but, dear reader, it’s not time to fold up the fans just yet. Shonda Rhimes has given us something else to get hot under the collar about: a sneak peak at Bridgerton season 4!

That’s right the behind the scenes vid dropped on instagram on Valentine’s Day (aww) revealing cast favourites hard at work (oh hi, Jonathan Bailey) along with some lavish scenes of a masked ball and news of this season’s sexy coupling. Hold on to those pearls ladies, here’s everything we know about Bridgerton season 4 so far.

So, what’s it all about?

Season 4 will focus on the second-born Bridgerton boy, Benedict (played by Luke Thompson). Over the last three seasons we have seen him, uh hum, experiment, but after a failed throuple with Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and her friend Paul, it seems our Benedict will be giving monogamy and marriage a try. Who will the lucky gal be? The beautiful ‘Lady in Silver’ whom he meets as his mother’s masquerade ball.

The mysterious masked maiden is Sophie Baek (Halo and Dune Prophecy‘s Yerin Ha), who happens to be hiding a lot more under that mask than a pretty face. The daughter of an earl, she is forced to work as a housemaid by her wicked stepmother. What’s more, in true Cinderella style, she has two step-sisters to contend with, one of whom also has her sights set on Benedict. Awkward.

Sophie and Benedict’s masked-meet-cute happens in the first episode so we’re thinking poor Benedict will spend a sizeable amount of the eight-episode season scouring the Ton to find his silver lady, no doubt dodging a wicked step-family member or two along the way.

Anything else?

Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) are enjoying newly wedded bliss and parenthood as we spy a bonny Bridgerton baby in the first look images. As for Penelope’s alter ego, Lady Whistledown, who knows how her dual role will transpire, but judging by the Cinderella scandal surrounding Stephanie, we’re sure Whistledown will feel compelled to divulge deets to the Ton.

Which book is it based on?

Season 4 is based on book three of Julia Quinn’s regency romp called An Offer from a Gentleman. As season 3 skipped ahead to book four, we’re expecting some slight plot deviations, mainly Lady Whistledown’s role in the proceedings. You may also have noticed a name change – in the book Sophie’s surname is Beckett, but in the show she’s been crowned Baek, curious.

What about the cast?

Bailey and Simone Ashley aka Kanthony join Polin, as well as other returning cast favourites: Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Hannah Dodd (Francesca Bridgerton), Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton), and of course Julie Andrews’ dulcets as Lady Whistledown. As for Phoebe Dynevor we’re unsure, but Regé-Jean Page is standing fast on not returning *dabs eyes*.

Aside from Hu, new faces include her wicked stepmother, Lady Araminta Gao, played by Katie Leung, who you may recognise as Harry’s first love interest, Cho Chang, from Harry Potter. And her two daughters, the beautiful and vain Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao), who also has eyes for Benedict, and Posy Li (Isabella Wei seen most recently in Black Doves). The trio certainly add a villainous edge to proceedings.

Where is it being filmed?

Aside for the usual jaw-dropping stately homes that have become commonplace on the show (the wisteria-clad Bridgerton family pad, Ranger’s House in Blackheath, for one), Bridgerton has expanded its filming locations for season 4.

Crews have been spotted at the newly constructed lots at Shepperton Studios, just outside London. The build, which spans about two acres, features some stunning replicas of Georgian and Regency architecture and includes homes, buildings and a rather splendid Mayfair Street.  

You can almost picture Benedict running door to door looking for his Lady in Silver. We’re thinking a raunchy rendezvous under that archway.

Release date?

Filming resumed last September and is set to wrap in April 2025, meaning we’re expecting it to be *sob* 2026 before our bustles get well and truly jostled again. Until then, get your Bridgeton fix with the behind the scenes peak below:

All three seasons of Bridgerton are available to binge on Netflix now.