Claudia Jessie as Eloise and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope in Bridgerton. Picture: Netflix
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This article contains serious spoilers for the second series of Bridgerton, so if you’re not up to date with all the gossip of those final episodes stop reading now!
Talking to The Big Issue on the day the second series was released, Claudia Jessie shared for the first time her reaction to the storyline.
“Eloise finds out Penelope is Lady Whistledown right at the end of the show!” she revealed.
“Eloise is pissed, she is fuming. They have a very beautiful, intense fight at the end of episode eight.”
The revelation threatens to push a wedge between the friends. Penelope is devastated at betraying her best friend but also angry and indignant, pointing out that while Eloise talks a good game, she doesn’t do anything to actually bring about change.
Jessie said: “When I knew that they were doing that in the script, I was so chuffed. Right at the end of season one we find out Penelope is Lady Whistledown – wicked, so delicious.
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The Bridgertons are back – cue lots of pretty clothes and plenty of scandal
Photo: Netflix
“There’s nothing nicer than being an audience member that knows something that none of the characters know, it’s lovely.
“But the one person you do want to find out is Eloise. And then BAM, they do that right at the end of it season two. I love they decided to do that. It’s just so yummy for the audience.”
Many have called the relationship between Eloise and Penelope, played by Nicola Coughlan, the best love story in the show.
“I think it was the clearest love story from the beginning,” Jessie agreed.
“In season one so many of the characters really struggle to express themselves, don’t they? But you could see these two young girls waving to each other across the green. I think there was a bit of respite in how pure and innocent and obvious their love was.”
But can any relationship last when there is a big secret at the heart of it?
“It’s going to take a while for them to make up,” Jessie said.
But she thinks they will make up.
“I really hope so. And I think it’s ok that we have secrets. I actually don’t think it’s right that we tell each other everything. There’s an expectation that you’re just supposed to give everything you have to the people around you.
“If they can’t survive that. Well, it wouldn’t be very interesting to watch so I think they will I think they’ll make it up together again.”
Bridgerton is based on a series of books, so the future of the characters is set – if Netflix and Shondaland decide to stick to them.
What does Jessie think the future has in store for Eloise?
“I know nothing. Obviously we do have this set of novels that is the foundation of the piece. But we can expect things to change.
“Really, I think Eloise is going to be left quite lonely. She’s lost Theo, she’s lost Penelope. It’s probably a really good time for her to figure out what it is that she actually wants.
“She’s been living vicariously through this quest to find Lady Whistledown and it’s been a form of escapism to her. And now finding out that it was her best mate, I think she’s only got one choice. And it’s to really hone in on all of this information she’s been taking in by reading loads of books, hone all of that energy and streamline it into what she really cares about, and maybe become a bit political with it and stuff like that. That’s what I hope.”
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