Bridgerton: Netflix's scandalous new period drama à la Gossip Girl is already the talk of the town

TV queen Shonda Rhimes' is back with Bridgerton, a scandalous new period drama coming the Netflix this Christmas. 

The highly anticipated adaptation of Julia Quinn's eight part book series of the same name can only be described as a hybrid of Downton Abbey and cult teen dramas like Gossip Girl and Netflix's Elite, with themes of regal rivalry, love affairs and vicious backstabbing, all with a 19th century twist, of course. Love the sound of it already? Wait until you hear the plot.

Here's everything you need to know about Bridgerton before it premieres along with everything coming to Netflix this month (opens in new tab)... 

When does Bridgerton take place?

Bridgerton is set in the early 1800s Regency period - but the books are set between 1813 and 1827, according to Julia Quinn's website.

What is Bridgerton about? 

Made up of eight-episodes, the new TV show will follow similar plots to the book series,  focusing on the fictional Bridgerton family - eight siblings, firmly in the inner circle of London's elite. Like most high society families, the Bridgertons find themselves entangled in power struggles, love tangles and all sorts of other drama only the rich would find themselves engulfed in. 

Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of the family, is at the center of it all as she prepares for the marriage mart, a business that arranges marriage contracts. However, problems occur when her older brother makes it impossible to find a potential suitor.

Elsewhere, the younger sister in the family, Eloise, causes up a stir as she has no interest in being married off on the market. Meanwhile, Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest brother in the family assumes his role as head of the household following the death of his father, but struggles to find a balance between duty and pleasure. 

Aside from the dramatic storylines surrounding the siblings, you can expect to see the lavish lifestyle of the 19th upper class (with a more inclusive take) and award-worthy costume design that'll make you want any excuse to throw on a corset at home.

Who is in Bridgerton?

Well for starters, Julie Andrews is the magical voiceover for the drama. Need we say anymore? 

The rest of the cast is made up of Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne; Claudia Jessie who plays Eloise; Regé-Jean Page, who plays Daphne's rebellious potential suitor Duke of Hastings; and Jonathan Bailey, who plays the eldest son Anthony. But that's not all, you'll also spot Derry Girls star, Nicola Coughlan and an array of other British talent including Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Newton, Luke Thompson, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, Polly Walker, Bessie Carter and Harriet Cains.

Bridgerton release date: when can I watch Bridgerton?

The eight-part series will drop on Netflix on 25th December, making Christmas Day one to remember this year. We've set our reminders already!