Historical consultant Hannah Greig unpicks the real history behind the scandal sheets of Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown

By Emily Briffett

Published: Friday, 17 May 2024 at 06:00 AM


Smash-hit historical romance Bridgerton returns this week. One of the series’ key characters is the elusive Lady Whistledown – a savvy wordsmith with a penchant for causing mayhem among the Regency elite. But did an anonymous gossipmonger like Whistledown really exist in the Regency era? Emily Briffett speaks to public historian Professor Hannah Greig – historical consultant to the series – to delve into the outrageous world of Georgian scandal sheets and gossip rags, and learn more about those who dished the dirt.