Bridgerton stars Hannah Dodd and Victor Alli have said Francesca and John's relationship is tested by "real life problems" in part two of season four of the hit streaming show.
Dodd, who plays Francesca Bridgerton (now Lady Stirling), said their marriage has been one of the show’s "calmest" so far, but that the new season puts the couple under pressure as they face challenges around starting a family.
Asked where the couple are when the season breaks at episode four, Dodd told RTÉ Entertainment that they have "put the work in" and are learning to communicate better.
"I think they’ve put the work in and they’re really learning to communicate their needs, and it’s actually a really, really nice moment," she said, adding: "We’re exactly where we’re meant to be… We’re perfect exactly where we are."
Click the image above to watch our interview in full
However, she suggested that their progress is complicated when a new person arrives in their world.
"And then this one shows up (pointing to Masali Baduza, who plays John's cousin Michaela). And I think we all know that this might mess a few things up," she said.
Dodd also teased an immediate shift in tension on screen, describing it as the uncertainty of finding your place when "a new person" enters a close dynamic.
"A part of it comes from having a new person kind of take a lot away from one," she said, adding that Francesca is "feeling a little jealous" while also trying to give others "space".
Season four of Bridgerton is streaming now on Netflix.
