Simone Ashley set to lead Bridgerton's second season opposite Jonathan Bailey

'Sex Education' star Simone Ashley has been announced as the lead in Bridgerton's second season. The regency-era drama from Shondaland was recently greenlit for a second season, after it smashed records and became the streaming giants biggest series ever, watched by 82 million households.

Bridgerton’s second season will focus on Anthony, the eldest son of the Bridgerton clan, and his begrudging pursuit of marriage, and the season will be based off of the second book in Julia Quinn’s series, The Viscount Who Loved Me.

Ashley will star as Anthony's romantic interest, Kate Sharma. According to Variety, "Kate is a smart, independent woman who is new to the ton and its many social events (and expectations)."

The show also stars Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan, Julie Andrews, Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor. According to The Viscount Who Loved Me's blurb: “The season has opened for the year of 1814, and there is little reason to hope that we will see any noticeable change from 1813. The ranks of society are once again filled with Ambitious Mamas, whose only aim is to see their Darling Daughters married off to Determined Bachelors.

"Discussion amongst the Mamas fingers Lord Bridgerton as this year’s most eligible catch, and indeed, if the poor man’s hair looks ruffled and windblown, it is because he cannot go anywhere without some young miss batting her eyelashes with such vigour and speed as to create a breeze of hurricane force."