Netflix may have just confirmed Luke Thompson will be the new lead in the fourth series of Bridgerton; but his love story off screen is just as intriguing as his character Benedict’s is set to be

CO-STARS LUKE THOMPSON AND HARRIET CAINS PICTURED AT THE VANITY FAIR RISING STAR PARTY

 Dave Benett/Getty Images
With its steamy carriage scenes and romantic ballroom rendevous, Bridgerton season three certainly left viewers hot under the collar. And now it’s been confirmed Luke Thompson’s character Benedict Bridgerton will be the lead for season four, fans have been going wild over his potential love story with his leading lady Sophie.

But Thompson’s romance off-screen is perhaps just as intriguing as Benedict’s will likely be. The actor, who also starred in A Little Life on the West End and Love’s Labour’s Lost, has been publicly linked to co-star Harriet Cains, the show’s Phillipa Featherington. The two were spotted getting close at a recent Vanity Fair Rising Star Party.

Theirs is not the first romance to be borne from the steamy period drama. Harriet Cain’s on-screen sister, Bessie Carter, has also found a partner on the TV show’s set. The 27-year-old actress plays Prudence Featherington, the eldest of the three Featherington daughters, and one of two that Lady Featherington is trying to find a husband for at the beginning of the first season of the show. Carter, whose parents are none other than acting royalty, Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton, has previously acted in Howards End, Doc Martin and Cranford, as well as a minor role in the 2012 film of Les Misérables.

And, much like her parents, Bessie appears to have found love with another thespian. According to MailOnline, Bessie has struck up a romance with her co-star Sam Phillips, so serious that they moved in together last year. Phillips is a newcomer to the Bridgerton universe, joining the season three cast as Lord Debling, one of Penelope Featherington’s love interests. According to MailOnline, the couple met while filming for the series, which began in July 2022, with Bessie moving into Sam’s flat in Brighton last summer.

Bessie and Sam have been spotted out and about together on a number of occasions, first appearing in public in May 2023 as they attended the after-party for Theatrical Consequences: The 5th Annual Platform Presents West End Gala at Tequila Mockingbird in London.

And it seems Imelda and Jim both seem to have given their approval to Bessie’s new boyfriend. Imelda joined the couple on the red carpet for the Wonka premiere in November 2023, while Sam and Bessie both attended The Crown season 6 finale celebration event in support of Jim last year.