Bridgerton Season 5 Lead Revealed

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Actor Awards 2026: Yerin Ha Shares Her Pitch for a Bridgerton-Heated Rivalry Crossover

Dearest Gentle Reader: As the ton prepares for the marriage mart once again, one Bridgerton is expected to find love in the most unexpected of places. 

After grieving the sudden death of her husband John Stirling (Victor Alli) in season four, Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) may be ready to step into a new chapter with someone special in the upcoming installment of the Netflix show.

"Two years after losing her beloved husband John, Fran decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons," Netflix—which also confirmed the season is in productionshared in the March 24 announcement. "But when John's cousin Michaela returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Fran's complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions."

Indeed, Bridgerton season five will bring Julia Quinn's When He Was Wicked to life—the sixth in her book series of the same name. 

As Francesca explores her budding romance with Michaela, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) is surely adjusting to married life marvelously alongside Sophie Gun (Yerin Ha) after tying the knot at the end of season four.

For Luke, exploring the second-oldest Bridgerton's love story was like putting on a glass slipper.

"I just feel quite lucky, really, and maybe it's because I've had time to settle into the world of Bridgerton and know what it is a bit," he told Vogue in January, "but I didn't find it to be pressurized or a big burden to lead the story. I've been able to learn by watching other people do it before me."

But that's not to say there wasn't any pressure looming over him. After all, Benedict's love story came after Simon Bassett (Regé-Jean Page), Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) had their shining moment as leading men.

"The beauty of Bridgerton is that every year it regenerates," the 37-year-old reflected. "I can't think of another show that does that, where it's long-form but every season focuses on someone else. And because the characters are different, they incarnate the lead position in different ways. And I think that's true of the actors, too. It's personal."

"And yes, Johnny and Regé and Luke all offered help," he continued. "It was lovely to know that was there, but I was keen on making the mistakes I had to make, and trying to work it out for myself."

So, as Benedict and Sophie embrace life as newlyweds and Francesca prepares to find love in Mayfair, keep reading for more TV shows to watch while waiting for season five of Bridgerton.

HBO

The Comeback (HBO) - Mar. 22

Twenty years after its debut, the HBO Original comedy series returns with Lisa Kudrow reprising her Emmy-nominated role as actress Valerie Cherish.

Apple TV

Criminal Record (Apple TV) - Apr. 22

From BAFTA Award nominee Paul Rutman, Criminal Record is a powerful, character-driven drama set in the heart of contemporary London, exploring the impossibility of policing when the truth is up for grabs. In season two, when a young man is stabbed to death at a political rally, rival police officers June Lenker and Daniel Hegarty are forced into an uneasy alliance. But what starts as a hunt for a murderer escalates into an undercover operation to foil a Far-Right bomb plot in the heart of London.

Disney

Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special (Disney+/Hulu) - Mar. 24

Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special is a love letter to fans, filled with heartfelt nostalgia. Miley Cyrus revisits her most memorable moments in an exclusive, in-depth interview hosted by Alex Cooper. Viewers will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Miley’s archival collection, familiar faces and surprise guests, and a special musical performance by Miley Cyrus.

Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios

Bait (Prime Video) - Mar. 25

From Oscar and Emmy winner Riz Ahmed comes Bait, a comedy about Shah Latif, a struggling actor. His last chance to hit it big comes in the form of an audition of a lifetime. We follow him over the course of four wild days as his life spirals out of control and his family, ex-lover and the entire world weigh in on whether he is the right man for the job.

Netflix

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen (Netflix) - Mar. 26

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen is an atmospheric horror series set at a wedding, following a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated nuptials.

Disney

Love Overboard (Hulu) - Mar. 26

Get ready to hit the high seas with Love Overboard!

Step aboard the ultimate luxury yacht, where sexy singles are ready to mix and mingle…and find love. But there's a twist…gaining access to the yacht's extravagant amenities won't be so simple. As the journey unfolds, romance ignites; alliances form; and hearts are shattered. In the end, only one couple will reign supreme. Who will rise to the top, and who will be left stranded

Apple TV

For All Mankind (Apple TV) - Mar. 27

Season five picks up in the years since the Goldilocks asteroid heist. Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents and a base for new missions that will take us even further into the solar system. But with the nations of Earth now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, friction continues to build between the people who live on Mars and their former home. The ensemble cast returning for season five includes Joel Kinnaman, Toby Kebbell, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu, Coral Peña and Wrenn Schmidt, alongside new series regulars Mirelle Enos (“The Killing,” “Hanna”), Costa Ronin (“The Americans,” “Homeland”), Sean Kaufman (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), Ruby Cruz (“Bottoms”) and Ines Asserson (“Royalteen”).

Magnolia Network/Warner Bros. Discovery

Storied Spaces (Magnolia Network) - Mar. 28

Escape to beautifully designed and curated spaces, seen through the eyes of the families that breathed life into them. Spend a day-in-the life of these homeowners exploring the personal touches, unique features, picturesque landscapes, and storied spaces that make a house a home.

Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios

Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait (Prime Video) - Mar. 30

The documentary follows Rory McIlroy’s winding road to his 2025 Masters victory and completing the career Grand Slam. 

Netflix

Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom (Netflix) - Mar. 31

In 2015, Lamar Odom was found unresponsive at the Love Ranch, a brothel outside Las Vegas. Through never before heard revelations and firsthand accounts, the documentary peels back the public narrative to expose the private struggles, hidden pressures, and pivotal decisions throughout Lamar's life that led to that moment. Featuring candid interviews with Lamar Odom, Khloé Kardashian, and the former manager of the Love Ranch, the film revisits the infamous night that nearly cost Lamar his life.

National Geographic/Disney

Secrets of the Bees (Netional Geographic/Hulu) - Mar. 31

National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory explores the extraordinary lives of bees, which are among the planet’s most important animals. Over three years, special cameras opened a rare window into a single hive, revealing its hidden world. With more than 20,000 bee species pollinating one-third of the world’s food, this series uncovers their astonishing architecture and intelligence, unlocking their secrets.

Acorn TV

You're Killing Me (Acorn TV) - Spring 2026

Set in a quaint New England town, the mystery follows bestselling novelist, “Allie” (Brooke Shields), who forms an unlikely alliance with an aspiring writer and podcaster “Andi” (Amalia Williamson), to find the killer of a close friend. Cavanagh stars as “Jack,” the new lead detective of the local Police Department and former city slicker who is trying to acclimate to the quirks of small-town life.

Anne Binckebanck/HBO

Half Man (HB) - April 2026

Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other… But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day. Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, Half Man is a six-part limited series exploring brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart… It is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.

Bravo/NBCUniversal

The Valley (Bravo) - Apr. 1

Bravo’s hit series returns for its third season

The crew is ready to reset the vibe as they navigate major life changes from babies and breakups to bold new beginnings, but the drama is never far behind. When questionable behavior and unresolved tensions arise, it threatens to permanently pull this friend group apart.

Netflix

Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) - Apr. 1

The docu-reality series is an insightful and warm-hearted series following people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships. In its fourth season, this U.S. based series tells the stories of unique and diverse individuals—including new romantic hopefuls and familiar faces—searching for something we all hope to find, love.

Disney

Dear Killer Nannies (Hulu) - Apr. 1

The new Latin America drama is a gripping coming-of-age series told through Juampi’s perspective as a child, the son of Colombia’s most notorious drug lord, Pablo Escobar Gaviria. As he grows up, Juampi’s world begins to fracture, shaped by his father’s expanding criminal empire and the constant presence of danger—embodied by the hitmen who serve as his “nannies.” Featuring a stellar cast including John Leguizamo as Pablo Escobar Gaviria, the series explores loyalty, fear, and the loss of innocence, revealing the human cost of a childhood spent inside one of history’s most infamous criminal legacies.

Warner Bros. Discovery

Expedition Files (Discovery) - Apr. 1

Explorer and esteemed storyteller Josh Gates plunges back into the archives of the past to uncover jaw-dropping new evidence behind the world’s most notorious mysteries.

From long-whispered conspiracies to chilling revelations, the new season takes viewers on a pulse-pounding journey through time as Gates reexamines legends we thought we knew. From a shocking theory behind the fate of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth and the elusive origin of the terrifying Anthrax attacks that paralyzed America, to bloodcurdling evidence behind the mysterious death of the real-life Dracula, Expedition Files shares fresh research and provocative new theories that challenge the narrative of these legendary tales.

Bronson Farr/Bravo

The Real Housewives of Rhode Island (Bravo) - Apr. 2

Welcome to the Ocean State. It may be America’s smallest, but don’t be fooled – the drama is wicked wild. In a place where everyone knows everyone and family names carry serious weight, nothing is ever truly forgotten. Friendships are built over decades, loyalties are deeply rooted and secrets are guarded at all costs…until betrayal strikes and the cracks begin to show. 

Amid a season defined by evolving relationships and rising tensions, some of the group’s most pivotal moments unfold during unforgettable escapes. As the summer heat sizzles in Rhode Island, the ladies retreat to one of Newport’s most historic and privately owned mansions, Seaview Terrace, for a glamorous weekend that rivals the Gilded Age, where opulence sets the stage for major shake-ups. Later, a sun-drenched excursion to beloved East Coast getaway Block Island pushes tensions to a breaking point as two couples go head-to-head. When lines are crossed and truths surface, nothing – and no one – is off limits.  

Netflix

XO, Kitty (Netflix) - Apr. 2

Season three of the spinoff series, inspired by the popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before film franchise, features eight brand new episodes.

This season, Lana Condor will reprise her role as ‘Lara Jean’ for XO, Kitty, making it her first time appearing in the series and officially returning to the franchise.

Apple TV+

Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple TV+) - Apr. 3

In season two, Andrew Cooper (Jon Hamm) doubles down on his life as an unlikely suburban thief, until the arrival of a new neighbor threatens to expose his secrets and place his family at risk.

Courtesy of Kansas Athletics/Paramount+

Made for March (Paramount+) - Apr. 4

The four-part docuseries chronicles two of college basketball’s most renowned programs—Kansas Jayhawks and Michigan Wolverines—this season in their bid for a national championship.

The series will feature unprecedented off-court access, exclusive game footage and interviews, and coverage of key regular season, conference and postseason matchups in the Big 12 and Big Ten. For the first time, cameras follow both teams across an entire season, capturing the intensity, pressure and passion on the road to and through the post-season.

FOX

The Faithful: Women of the Bible (Fox) - Apr. 5

The Faithful: Women of the Bible is inspired by the best-selling book of all time, the Bible, and showcases a faithful dramatization of the Book of Genesis as told through the eyes of the courageous and passionate, yet flawed women whose descendants would shape the future of faith as we know it today. Dimensional, dramatic, intimate, even surprising, The Faithful is about discovering and losing love, the challenges of marriage, the joys and heartbreak of children, confronting temptation, and finding faith.

TBS/Warner Bros. Discovery

Foul Play with Anthony Davis (TBS) - Apr. 6

TBS’ new unscripted series, hosted by 10-time NBA All-Star and Washington Wizards’ Anthony Davis, brings high-stakes, hidden-camera chaos as an elite lineup of athletes and celebrities pull the ultimate pranks on their superstar friends.

BritBox

A Taste for Murder (BritBox) - Apr. 7

Set amidst the steep cliffs and fast tides of Capri, A Taste for Murder features classic Italian cuisine as the main ingredient to each episode’s central murder mystery, revealing the power of food to foster connection, community, and healing after devastating loss.

Hulu/Disney

The Testaments (Hulu) - Apr. 8

An evolution of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments is based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name and is a dramatic coming-of-age story set in Gilead. The series follows young teens Agnes, dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders. As they navigate the gilded halls of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, a place where obedience is instilled brutally and always with divine justification, their bond becomes the catalyst that will upend their past, their present, and their future.

Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios

The Boys (Prime Video) - Apr. 8

In the fifth and final season, it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims. Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a “Freedom Camp.” Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force. Kimiko is nowhere to be found. But when Butcher reappears, ready and willing to use a virus that will wipe all Supes off the map, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change the world and everyone in it.  It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.

Dan Smith/FOX

The Floor (Fox) - Apr. 8

The game show returns for season five.

HBO Max

Hacks (HBO Max) - Apr. 9

The comedy returns for its fifth and final season.

In the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that she passed away, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) return to Las Vegas more determined than ever to secure Deborah’s legacy as a comedian.

Peacock/NBCUniversal

The Miniature Wife (Peacock) - Apr. 9

Based on the short story written by Manuel Gonzales, The Miniature Wife is a dramedy examining the power (im)balances between spouses after a technological accident induces the ultimate relationship crisis.

Netflix

Big Mistakes (Netflix) - Apr. 9

From Emmy award-winning Dan Levy comes a bold, new comedic family saga within a high-stakes crime thriller. Big Mistakes follows Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Taylor Ortega), two deeply incapable siblings who are in over their heads when a misguided theft for their dying grandmother accidentally pulls them into the world of organized crime. Blackmailed into increasingly dangerous assignments, they clumsily fail upwards, sinking deeper into chaos they’re ill-equipped to handle.

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