SILVER lining

LUKE THOMPSON and new cast signing YERIN HA on playing star-crossed lovers in the Regency saga's latest chapter

- CAREN CLARK

BRIDGERTON

NEW FROM THURSDAY 29 JANUARY, NETFLIX DRAMA (EPISODES 1-4 FROM THURSDAY 29 JANUARY; EPISODES 5-8 FROM THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY)

A sweeping fairy-tale romance that crosses the class divide is at the heart of Netflix's lavish period drama Bridgerton as its fourth season begins.

Based on An Offer from a Gentleman, the third Bridgerton novel by US author Julia Quinn, the eight-part run – which launches with four episodes this week - sees dashing bachelor Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) take centre stage.

Free-spirited artist Benedict has until now cannily swerved the ruthless marriage market of Regency London's high society, known as the 'ton'. But at a masquerade ball hosted by his mother, Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), he falls for a mysterious Lady in Silver.

In Cinderella-style, however, Benedict has no idea that the dazzling stranger is lowly maid Sophie Baek (The Survivors star Yerin Ha), who has disguised herself for the dance and works for uncompromising Lady Araminta Gun (Harry Potter's Katie Leung) and her daughters Rosamund Li (Goosebumps' Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Black Doves' Isabella Wei).

Can their love break through the social structure of the 1800s, and will they cause a scandal in the gossip sheet penned by Lady Whistledown, AKA Benedict's sister-in-law Penelope Bridgerton (Nicola Coughlan)?

Here, Luke, 37, and Australian actor Yerin, 28, tell TV Times what to expect...