When Bridgerton returns for a new season, it will be without one of its original stars in the main ensemble, in what they’ve called a “bittersweet” development.While each season focuses on a different couple, Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington has been an active presence on the Netflix show since its very first episode in 2020. However, she’ll have a reduced role in season five after being cast in comedy series Only Murders in the Building opposite Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in ‘Bridgerton' (Netflix)“I feel very lucky – it’s the best of both worlds, because I’m currently filming on Only Murders, but I still get to pop back to Bridgerton now and then and see everybody, and it’s just like coming home,” the Irish star told E! News. “You’re like, ‘Oh, hey guys, how you doing?'”She added: “It’s bittersweet. God, I had such an epic run. I think that’s part of the beauty of that world is it keeps reinventing itself. Every season being a new story – it takes on a different guise. I’ll always pop back to Bridgerton if they want me. If I can be set dressing, I’ll be there. No problem.”Coughlan led season three alongside Luke Newton, who plays Colin Bridgerton, and she called her smaller season five “nice and low pressure”.the titular family’s introverted middle daughter, Francesca (Hannah Dodd), in what will be the Netflix show’s first queer love story.The season will show Francesca deciding to “re-enter the marriage mart” for practical reasons two years after losing her husband, John – but when his cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London, her “complicated feelings” will have Francesca “questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions”.Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Dodd made her debut in the show’s third season, which aired in 2024, with Baduza’s character making her first appearance in the season three finale. The role of Francesca was previously played by Ruby Stokes in the first two seasons, before being recast due to Stokes’ scheduling conflicts.Baduza said the show is hoping to provide “a realistic view of queer love onscreen and give them a happily ever after“, adding: "I think [this] is really important for a lot of the queer community to see onscreen, to know that it can work out, and that they deserve to also feel love.”‘Bridgerton’ season five will focus on Francesca (Hannah Dodd) (Netflix)Showrunner Jess Brownell said of the new leading duo: “I cannot say enough good things about Hannah and Masali. The two of them have such a beautiful friendship and support each other in such a beautiful way.“But beyond that, I really do think that they are two incredibly talented and special performers. They’re actors who are able to say so much with just an expression, with just their faces.”The eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) married Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) in season one, while Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) wed Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) in season two.Meanwhile, season four centred on second son Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) falling for maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).While many of the core cast have remained in the series through multiple seasons, Bridgerton has seen some noteworthy departures: Page left after just one season, and Dynevor exited after season two.It has been speculated by fans that the roles could soon be recast in order to bring the characters back into the world of Bridgerton, but Brownell recently denied this, telling Variety: “We are not interested in recasting the characters. I think it would [be] a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in season one, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters.”Bridgerton season five will air on Netflix in 2027.