Netflix announces Lord Anthony's love interest for season two of Bridgerton

Get excited Bridgerton fans!

Lady Whistledown has some big news: Netflix has found Lord Anthony's match.

When it was revealed that the show had been renewed for a second season, fans everywhere had been wondering who would play the role of Kate, who features in the second book of Julia Quinn's novel series, The Viscount Who Loved Me.

And now it has been revealed Simone Ashley will play Anthony’s love interest.

Netflix made the announcement yesterday, describing Kate as a "smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools – Anthony Bridgerton very much included."

Ashley is no stranger to Netflix, having previously played Olivia Hanan in the streaming platform's hit teen comedy, Sex Education.

The 25-year-old has also played Elise Fox in the thriller ITV mini-series The Sister. She's also had small parts in Doctors and the British series Broadchurch, but Kate Sharma is undeniably her biggest role yet.

The second season will chronicle the pursuit of a suitable marriage for the eldest Bridgerton sibling, as was teased in the final minutes of the Season 1 finale when Anthony revealed to Daphne and Simon his plans of "finding and promptly declaring my intentions to my new viscountess" after the heartbreaking end of his relationship with opera singer Siena.

The show's creator Chris Van Dusen revealed the first season's most notable couple Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett will make a return in the second season.

"They are now, of course the Duke and Duchess of Hastings but in my mind they will always be Bridgertons and I think they will always be part of the show," he said.

Filming for the second season will commence in the "Spring of 2021" (Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere).

Netflix has not confirmed a release date yet.