Bridgerton series two filming ‘hit by COVID chaos again’

Bridgerton series two production reportedly ground to a halt once again last week after bosses muddled up positive and negative COVID-19 tests, according to The Sun.

Earlier this month production resumed on the second season after two positive coronavirus tests shut it down – but the set experienced a further minor delay due to the testing gaffe, meaning it was not known which test belonged to whom.

It was alleged due to a positive test among the tests, bosses on the set in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire had to retest the entire cast and crew and wait for the results.

A source said: ‘Nothing can account for mistakes, sadly, and producers cannot take any chances, given it could quickly tear through cast and crew and shut production down for a while. The tests were cross-contaminated, meaning they all had to be done again.

‘Ironically, when they came back a second time the positives were negatives so maybe they could have ploughed on regardless. 

‘They had to revise and shift the shooting schedule slightly but it hasn’t caused any delays to shooting thankfully. It could’ve been a lot worse.’ 

MailOnline has contacted a Netflix spokesman for comment.

Unlucky: Earlier this month production resumed on the second season after two positive coronavirus tests shut it down – but the set experienced a further minor delay due to the testing gaffe (pictured filming last month)

Earlier this month Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen confirmed that production has resumed on the highly-anticipated second season after two positive coronavirus tests shut it down.  

‘We are back under way. We had to delay because of Covid, but we’re back in it,’ the 61-year-old showrunner told Variety.

‘Right now I’m in post, editing our first couple episodes, which are looking great.’  

Season two is based on Julia Quinn’s 2000 sequel The Viscount Who Loved Me, which is centered on Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) quest to find a suitable partner.

‘We pick up Anthony after we’ve seen what he’s been through with his mistress,’ Van Dusen teased.

Romance: The first season focused on the romance between Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe, and Simon, Duke of Hastings, the role which Rege-Jean Page bade farewell to in April 

‘He’s thinking, ‘Was that love?’ Some would call it that, others would not. We’re exploring those concepts of duty and honor once again…I hope people love this season and beyond as much as they did the first.’

Newcomers to the critically-acclaimed Shondaland show will include Simone Ashley, Charithra Chandran, Rupert Evans, Rupert Young, Shelley Conn, and Calam Lynch.  

An eye-popping 82M households streamed the Gossip Girl-style period drama about Regency London high society within the first 28 days of its Christmas Day premiere.

Season one scored an impressive 12 nominations – including outstanding drama series – for the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, which air September 19 on CBS.

Regé-Jean Page scored a lead actor nod for portraying Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett, but saddened fans after announcing he was exiting Bridgerton on April 2.

Fans of the Netflix hit can also look forward seasons three and four as well as a limited series prequel in the works about Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) origin story.   

‘I hope people love this season’: Season two is based on Julia Quinn’s 2000 sequel The Viscount Who Loved Me, which is centered on Anthony Bridgerton’s (R, Jonathan Bailey) quest to find a suitable partner 

Back in January, show star Phoebe Dyvenor expressed her concerns about filming series two amid the pandemic.

‘I can’t imagine how it would be possible to film under these circumstances,’ she told Deadline.

 ‘There are so many extras and so many crew members, and it’s a very intimate show. It just baffles me how we would film it under COVID rules unless there was a vaccine beforehand.’

The first season focused on the romance between Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe, and Simon, Duke of Hastings, the role which Rege-Jean Page bade farewell to in April– to the dismay of his many fans. 

‘The ride of a lifetime’: Regé-Jean Page scored a lead actor nod for portraying Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett, but saddened fans after announcing he was exiting Bridgerton on April 2