Every cast member who has left Bridgerton on Netflix, and each of their reasons why

Over the years it has been on, multiple cast members have left Bridgerton on Netflix. There have been shocking announcements of characters never coming back (The Duke, I’m looking at you), and other characters who just suddenly don’t appear anymore.

But what happened when some of our favourite cast members left the show behind them? Is anyone coming back to their roles in the future? Here is a rundown of all the cast members who have left Bridgerton on Netflix, and why they did so.

Regé-Jean Page – The Duke

via Netflix

Every single Bridgerton fan took a huge gasp when after season one it was announced The Duke himself was leaving the show. Announcing his exit, Regé-Jean Page said: “Pleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family – on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans – the love is real and will just keep growing.” Sharing a further explanation of his exit, he added: “It’s a one-season arc. It’s going to have a beginning, middle, end—give us a year.”

But, following this announcement there was drama and a lot of rumours about what went down behind the scenes. It was reported Regé-Jean Page turned down a pretty impressive sum of £250,000 to appear in the show’s second season. A source close to the show told The Hollywood Reporter he was offered an opportunity to return as a guest star in three to five episodes of season two, but declined for “a multitude of reasons.”

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At first it was said he had simply declined to come back because he was starring in other things, but then it was later said Page had left the show over a “disagreement with producers” over the future of his character and “refused” to come back.

Phoebe Dynevor – Daphne Bridgerton

via Netflix

Phoebe played our diamond, Daphne Bridgerton, in season one. She briefly appeared in season two, but won’t be returning from season three onwards. In an interview with ScreenRant, she said she is “sadly not in season three. Potentially in the future. But season three, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.” She chose to leave as Daphne’s character arc is finished.

Ben Miller – Lord Archibald Featherington

via Netflix

There’s quite a simple reason as to why Ben Miller gave up his part of Lord Featherington on Bridgerton – his character died. Lord Featherington had a gambling addiction, and after placing bets on a boxing match, the men he got involved with killed him.

Ruby Stokes – Francesca Bridgerton

via Netflix

Throughout seasons one and two, Francesca Bridgerton was played by Ruby Stokes. However in season three, Hannah Dodd was recast in the role. This is because Ruby took a new role instead of Bridgerton, and left the show to be the lead in Netflix series, Lockwood & Co.

Ruby Barker – Marina Thompson

via Netflix

A notable absence from Bridgerton season three is Marina Thompson – who despite being previously lined up to marry Colin Bridgerton, is now missing from the season about his love story. She is briefly in the show, and tells Colin to move on with his life without her, and now Ruby Barker who plays her will not appear in Bridgerton again.

She told Digital Spy: “I wouldn’t return to Bridgerton because A) it wouldn’t be my choice, and B) when I did Bridgerton – obviously this is very much in the public knowledge and stuff like that – I had a mental health crisis. It’s not going to happen, I’ve done my bit.”

In 2022, actress Ruby Barker first spoke out about her struggles with her mental health. She said she was in hospital, and had been struggling since filming Bridgerton. At the time, Ruby thanked her friends, and Netflix and Shonda Rhimes for the opportunity they gave her with the show. But since then, she has called out Netflix and Shondaland for failing to support her during two psychotic breaks that occurred after the show.

Part one of Bridgerton season three is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• The incredible glow ups the Bridgerton characters have had from season one to now

• These 31 Bridgerton season three memes are so good Lady Whistledown has mentioned them

• Bridgerton confirms queer romance in future seasons and people think it’s Cressida and Eloise