Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor reveals brutal reason she’s not returned to show

Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page told the story that first made fans fall in love with Bridgerton.

But since the first season of the period drama aired in 2020, which followed the romance between their characters, Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, the fictional couple is yet to return to the TV show, aside from an appearance Dynevor, 30, made in season two.

Page, 38, officially left the show after season one to pursue other projects, while Dynevor confirmed she wouldn't be back following the second series.

In the latest season, which followed the forbidden romance between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek, Daphne and Simon were nowhere to be seen, despite every other couple from the past seasons being included.

They were also absent from the family weddings in the past seasons between Francesca and John, and Penelope and Colin, which has, of course, left some viewers disappointed.

Phoebe Dynevor has revealed why she's not returned to Bridgerton since season two (Netflix)

But, it seems that Dynevor isn't missing from the ton because of a lack of wanting to be there - she simply hasn't been invited.

In an interview with Collider Ladies Night, published on Saturday (11 April), the actress shared the truth behind her absence.

She told host Perri Nemiroff: "I just want to say I have not received a call, and when I get that call, I will be there if I can."

Dynevor, who stars in Netflix's latest shark movie, Thrash, explained: “When the first season came out, they didn't know what they needed to put in place. So we were like the ones that got away, I think, in a certain way.

"But we would - I can only speak for myself - I would always come back if I was asked."

Speaking of the Netflix show, the actress said she's thankful for the 'opportunities that it gave me as an actor'.

She added: "Suddenly I realised that I had these opportunities to play lots of different women, and it's all I'd ever wanted in my career."

There's also no chance of recasting the roles of Daphne and Simon, as Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell previously shut the idea down.

The actress said she's 'not recieved' a call asking her to be in the recent seasons (Manny Hernandez/Getty Images)

She told Variety in February: "We are not interested in recasting the characters. I think it would feel like a disservice to everything Regé and Phoebe set up in Season one, and all the beautiful work they put into those characters.

"We would love to potentially have them back at some point, but I think, logistically, we want to make sure we bring them back when we have something really meaty for them."

The showrunner explained: "And to have them come back to say a line at a funeral and just prove that they were there, it wouldn’t feel right for many reasons. So I think in my mind, the camera doesn’t capture everything.

"They’re hypothetically there; it’s television. But we would love to find a time to bring everyone back at some point in the future."

Tyla has contacted Netflix for a comment.