Hold onto your mutton chops, because the first piece of big Bridgerton news has finally been released. As the series gears up for its spring production on Season 2, Netflix revealed that Simone Ashley has been cast as Kate Sharma, Anthony's love interest. The actress is familiar to anyone who has perused the streaming service's Top 10 before — she starred in Sex Education as Olivia, a member of the popular "Untouchables."

Wager to bet she won't remain untouched for long (heh) on Bridgerton, where she will star opposite Jonathan Bailey, whose Anthony we last saw getting over opera singer Siena and insisting that he declare "my intentions to my new viscountess." Though, throughout Season 1, the eldest of the Bridgertons shunned responsibility and marriage, Season 2 should see a more romantic Anthony, his affections drawn towards Kate. (Check out more about Kate's character in this very spoiler-filled article.)

While the name "Kate" might be unfamiliar to readers of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series, "Sharma" might not be. That's because, in the second book in the series, the character is named Kate Sheffield. The series' creators re-imagined the character in an effort to continue Bridgerton's colorblind casting.

But expect Season 2 to be about more than just Jonathan and Kate. Showrunner Chris Van Dusen told fans the series will be introducing several new characters. And Daphne and Simon stans, don't fret — Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page will indeed star in Season 2 as well, even if their storyline will take a bit of a backseat. (Still, "Love is a continuous process," Page teased. "It needs tending, it needs work... it gets tested.")

Take solace, though, in Van Dusen's insistence that Jonathan's storyline will be "as sweeping and moving and as beautiful as viewers of the first season have come to expect from the show."

Dear reader, what will Lady Whistledown have to say about that?

Image: Netflix