A videograb from "Bridgerton" shows Regé-Jean Page.

Gulf Today Report

A tall, dark and handsome hero of a popular period drama, whose magnetic appeal has been drawing a huge number of eyeballs, is leaving the show after the first season ends, enraging viewers.

Bridgerton fans are furious about the departure of breakout star of the hit TV serial Regé-Jean Page.

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Netflix has announced that the star of the hit period drama will not be returning as Simon, the Duke of Hastings, for the show’s second season.

Instead, the focus will be placed on Jonathan Bailey’s Lord Anthony Bridgerton.

A statement on Twitter, written as the show’s gossiping narrator Lady Whistledown, read: “We’ll miss Simon’s presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family.

“Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer – more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear.”

However, fans are unimpressed that Page won’t even be appearing in a smaller capacity, and have questioned whether they even want to watch another season without him, according to the Independent.

 Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Regé-Jean Page as Simon Basset in ‘Bridgerton.’ TNS

“Well, not sure what the point of watching this now,” one fan wrote. “We all know that Simon was the reason why most of us were watching this.”

Another added: “Unpopular opinion, but this show kinda sucks. it definitely sucks without Regé-Jean Page.”

“I only watched because of his on-screen magnetism, charm and charisma. The other scenes were interesting but nothing compared to the scenes with him. Can’t see how it would have the same level of interest without him.”

According to Page, he only ever signed up to be in one season with the next season set to adapt Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me.

Since the show’s debut in December 2020, the actor has gained a huge amount of popularity worldwide and was, among other things, tapped up to host Saturday Night Live in the US, and read a bedtime story on CBeebies in the UK.

Bridgerton is expected to return to Netflix in 2022, with a specific hint placed in the season finale about what to expect.