The fifth season of the hit period drama ‘Bridgerton’ will put spotlight on actor Hannah Dodd’s Francesca Stirling, the introverted middle daughter of the Bridgerton family, Netflix and Shondaland announced yesterday.

The eight-episode season five of the Regency-era show has started production in the United Kingdom, the streamer said in a statement.

“Two years after losing her beloved husband, John, Fran decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons. But when John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) 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,” read the official logline, according to a PTI report from London yesterday.

Meanwhile, ‘Bridgerton’ showrunner Jess Brownell told Netflix’s companion website Tudum: “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.”

“When you spend so much time with a character, you genuinely do want them to be happy. At the moment, (Francesca) is in such a devastating position. So I am really looking forward to her feeling like she deserves love.

“She’s always trying to get things right, and so much has gone wrong for her. I’m really excited for her to experience feeling loved… and feeling enough within herself as well,” Dodd added during his interaction with Tudum.

The focus of season 5 is important for a variety of reasons, with Dodd explaining to Tudum that “queer relationships like Francesca and Michaela’s” have traditionally been “excluded from things like period dramas.”

Meanwhile, while on ‘Bridgerton’, Netflix in a recent statement highlighted the global craze for the series’ four seasons.

Ever since the esteemed ‘Bridgerton’ clan and their many paramours waltzed into the hearts of Netflix members in 2020, the marriage mart has been quite busy. On screen, the series has produced nearly a dozen engagements (and almost as many marriages), Netflix said in a statement, adding, off-screen, that number continues to grow with at least eight engagements at recent masquerade balls and fan activations in Argentina, Chile, Italy and Romania to celebrate the fourth season.

The fourth season of  ‘Bridgerton’, which centers on the cross-class connection between Benedict (Luke Thompson) and maid Sophie (Yerin Ha), has also inspired consumer products, musical experiences, live events and much more. Now that the book has closed on Season 4, Netflix said it thought it pertinent to reflect on the two-month international celebration that has kept fans buzzing from premiere to finale and beyond.

It appears that the elusive lady in silver has not just captured the heart of young Benedict Bridgerton, but the hearts of millions across the globe. Season 4 has appeared in the Top 10 in 92 countries and debuted atop the Global English TV list. The ‘Bridgerton’ universe, including Seasons 1-3, the Queen Charlotte spinoff, the Bridgerton Fireplace and Bridgerton-The Afterparty, has amassed over 437 million views since 2023. In addition to being the most-streamed original series in the US in 2025, according to Nielsen, Bridgerton has been on the Global Top 10 list 69 times since its launch and reached the Top 10 in all 93 countries tracked.