Who Will Be Bridgerton’s Next Top Gossip?

Season four of Bridgerton closely follows the book it’s based on, keeping the side stories simple and ending with a classic fairytale feel. Because of this straightforward approach, the show introduces a surprising twist: a new Lady Whistledown takes over. To emphasize this change, the voice-over actor is also replaced at the end, making it clear that Penelope Featherington is no longer the one writing the scandalous newsletter – it’s a completely different person.

But who could Lady Whistledown be? Almost anyone on the show could become a writer – Colin proved that’s possible – but some are better suited to the role than others. Being Lady Whistledown requires access to gossip, meaning they need to be close to people in power, but not too powerful themselves. They also need free time to gather information and write the weekly newsletter, which is hard to do with a busy life. Most importantly, though, we need to understand their motivation. Why would someone take on this role, and why now? There are several possibilities, but only one person truly fits the bill. Let’s examine each candidate closely.

Cressida Penwood, neé Cowper

Cressida is a strong candidate to take over as Lady Whistledown, since she’s previously attempted to emulate the persona. It would be surprising if the show didn’t initially present her as a likely suspect to mislead the audience. We can expect Eloise or Penelope to suspect her, and the show will likely use visual cues – like shots of her looking thoughtful in hallways – to reinforce this idea.

It definitely won’t be Cressida as Lady Whistledown. Even a short time writing gossip showed her she dislikes the constant work of a freelance writer. While she isn’t always the quickest thinker, she’s smart enough to focus on what she does well. Also, the show seems to be setting up a storyline where Cressida changes for the better, and that doesn’t really fit with her secretly writing scandalous gossip.

Violet Bridgerton

Violet Bridgerton is entering a new phase of life. With fewer children still unmarried, she’s looking for personal fulfillment and new interests – though pickleball hasn’t come along yet! As a mother, she hears plenty of gossip through her children and their friends. However, as an older woman, she’s now more of an observer than a participant in the social scene. She has the resources and the chance to get involved. The question is, would she want to?

Perhaps Violet has finally had enough of people speculating about her children’s relationships and is planning to take control of the narrative, much like Kris Jenner. However, this feels unlikely. Violet has always been motivated by protecting herself, and she isn’t particularly interested in gossip. Plus, she struggles with even simple explanations about life, so it’s hard to imagine her skillfully crafting and spreading scandalous information through clever writing and hints.

Alfie the Footman

Alfie is perfectly suited to be the next Lady Whistledown, and it’s frustrating that the show hasn’t recognized his potential. He deserves to be sponsored by a top wigmaker and host a popular podcast reviewing all the social events. Unfortunately, Bridgerton hasn’t given Alfie the chance to shine, and it seems the servants aren’t even allowed a quick trip to the market without being reprimanded. It’s a shame, but Alfie’s moment hasn’t arrived yet.

Mrs. Varley

The same reasons Alfie the footman couldn’t write a newsletter probably apply to Varley – someone working in a household simply doesn’t have the time. However, Varley has a unique position. She’s a trusted source of gossip for the Featheringtons and has returned to their household with more influence, meaning she could likely request significant time off without much resistance. The bigger question is why she would. While she recently asked for a raise, there’s no indication she’s suddenly seeking more power. It seems unlikely she’d risk everything to become an anonymous writer.

Marcus Anderson

Everyone agrees it isn’t Marcus, but imagining it is amusing! Hurt by Violet Bridgerton, he’s now plotting revenge by leaking damaging information about the entire family – and he knows all their secrets. Frankly, Marcus is a bit of a blank slate, so maybe causing this drama is his way of finally becoming an interesting character.

Alice Mondrich

Alice Mondrich seems like the perfect person to gather all the latest news and secrets. As a lady-in-waiting, she’s privy to everything happening with the queen, attends all the important social events, and her husband’s past connections give her access to information about the gentlemen of high society. While her job mainly involves keeping the queen company and helping with parties, she has a surprising amount of free time, and needs a stimulating hobby to keep her occupied. Though there’s no proof she’s a writer, Lady Danbury insists Alice is exceptionally intelligent, witty, and engaging – arguably the most entertaining woman around.

The strongest argument for Alice Mondrich being Lady Whistledown is her motivation. Unlike other suspects, she has several compelling reasons to take on the role. Her job is to amuse the Queen, who desperately wants more Whistledown content, and writing the column herself would allow Alice to control the social scene, provide the Queen with gossip, and find her work more fulfilling – something she currently lacks with party planning. It would almost be a mistake for Alice not to become Lady Whistledown. Even more convincingly, the show has spent four seasons searching for a purpose for this character. Making her Lady Whistledown would be the perfect culmination of the show’s long-running effort to establish Alice Mondrich as a significant character.

2026-03-03 17:55