Dearest Gentle Reader, the fourth season of Bridgerton has left us with a lot of different emotions and a major mystery to uncover. Someone from the ton has claimed the moniker of Queen Charlotte’s gossip columnist, Lady Whistledown. Towards the end of the season, Penelope Bridgerton née Featherington rested her pen as Whistledown to pursue other interests as an author, but soon after, someone else claimed the name. Who might be the new Lady Whistledown, you may ask? We don’t know for sure, but the internet sure has some marvellous theories.
The Julia Quinn books that the show is based on do not feature a Lady Whistledown other than Penelope. So, this twist is purely exclusive to the show, and fans can’t wait to uncover the identity of the new gossip queen. Speaking on the reveal, the showrunners said, “Penelope was Julia Quinn’s Whistledown, so we knew we couldn’t really play with that reveal for too long because people could just Google it. But now, we get to play with audience expectations.” While they remain tight lipped about the identity of the new Whistledown, the internet is searching for clues in every turn to uncover the new author operating under Julie Andrews’ voice, and here are some theories that make a strong case.
Who could be the new Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton?
Eloise Bridgerton
Eloise is smart, well-read, and capable of carrying out the voice of Whistledown, but her suitability also makes her an obvious choice. Moreover, she has been friends with Penelope all her life, so she probably knows Whistledown a lot better than the average member of the ton. However, Eloise has no particular motive to write a gossip column, and because she will eventually assume the role as season lead, it would be difficult for her to continue as the column’s author. So, even though she seems like a good candidate, it’s unlikely for Eloise to have taken on the role.
Cressida Penwood
Last year, Cressida falsely claimed herself as Lady Whistledown. Now, she’s back as Lady Penwood and trying to climb the social ladder. A gossip column could be a great help to her. But as we’ve seen last year, she lacks the finesse to be an author or real gossip collector. It would be a massive undertaking for her to pose as the columnist once again.
Sophie Bridgerton
Newly married into the Bridgerton family, Sophie is another intelligent and strong character who could fill the shoes of Penelope’s Whistledown. We know she used to read the column quite religiously. She has gotten a lot of help from family and friends, and now that she’s finally a part of society, she might like to channel her free time into helping others with the power of her pen.
Mrs. Varley
The housekeeper of the Featherington household, Mrs. Varley, is more than accustomed to collecting good gossip. She has also spent a fair amount of time with Penelope at the Feathering house. However, Lady Featherington has mentioned that Varley is not a reader, and she may be too busy to carry a gossip column on her own. Nonetheless, she is a good candidate for who could be the new Lady Whistledown.
Posy Li
A lot of fans think Sophie’s stepsister, Posy Li, may be the new Lady Whistledown. Like Penelope, Posy was also the outcast in her own home, and a wallflower who is also also quite the reader. At the end of the season, Eloise encourages Posy to pursue her dreams, leading to her taking her fate in her own hands, and eventually marrying a suitor of her own choice. Her success might just give her the independence and boost she needed to take a bold step forward.
Rosamund Li
We couldn’t count out the other Li sister, Rosamund, who was left heartbroken by her mother and her ex-fiancé. We know that Sophie and both her sisters are well educated. Having both the intention and the capability, Rosamund could very well take on the role of Whistledown to prove her worth.
Alice Mondritch
Alice Mondrich has become quite a strong character in Bridgerton, growing with each passing season. She has become the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, now trying to fill in the shoes of Lady Danbury who will be taking a trip to her homeland. Mrs. Mondrich also played a key role in convincing the queen to accept Sophie as part of society. Her smart and resourceful nature is a must-have for anyone seeking to write a gossip column. She is also among the internet’s favourite candidates for the new Lady Whistledown.
Hyacinth Bridgerton
The internet’s favourite theory about the new Lady Whistledown is that it is Hyacinth Bridgerton. This season, we saw how excited Hyacinth was about making her debut. We also saw Hyacinth discovering how to avoid prying eyes and blend into the background. Though it would be difficult for her to attend balls and societal events when she hasn’t debuted yet, she might just surprise everyone. Towards the end of the season, she also decided to discover herself first, and a foray into Whistledown’s world may be a good way for her to learn the intricacies of society.
A new character?
Despite all the theories and easter eggs on the internet, we can’t deny the possibility of an entirely new character taking the seat. The showrunners might introduce a new character in the next season, who could turn out to be the new Lady Whistledown.
Who do you think could be the new Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton?