Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan's off-screen chemistry is equally endearing. Director Andrew Ahn shared a behind-the-scenes video from the set of Bridgerton Season 3, showing the co-stars filming what appears to be a ballroom scene before the set is interrupted by a hilarious prank.
In the film, a serious-looking Newton, who plays Colin Bridgerton, talks to Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington. In the now-viral video, music suddenly starts playing in the background, prompting an immediate reaction from Newton, who bursts into laughter along with the rest of the cast and crew.
The song heard in the BTS video is "Cougar Town" by former British boy band South 4, of which Newton was a member before his Bridgerton days.
Luke's boy band days
Described as "Sussex's answer to One Direction", South 4 signed a record deal in 2012 reportedly worth $1.3 million. In addition to Newton, band members include Oli Evans, Joel Baylis and Henry Tredinnick. The band first met at the prestigious British School, which had previously produced talents such as Adele.
After releasing their first single, "Cougar Town," band member Ollie said: "We're really excited about this single. We think it's going to be one of the biggest hits of the summer." Sadly. ,But in fact, it's not. The band appeared to break up shortly after their debut, and eight years later, Newton landed a role in Netflix's Regency-era hit.
The behind-the-scenes prank appears to have been pulled off by Newton's co-star Coughlan, who burst out laughing as the cast, crew and extras danced to the track from "Southern Four." BTS's video also quickly circulated online among Bridgerton fans, with some calling it "absolutely ridiculous."
"I loved everything about this prank! Nikolai and Luke are the best," another fan wrote on Instagram, while one user commented, "This is not the iconic prank we hear! This is hard Confidence.”
This isn't the first time fans have gotten a glimpse into life on the set of BTS Bridgerton . In 2022, the show's choreographers released footage from the Season 2 wrap-up party, in which the cast and crew dressed in Regency-era costumes danced to Sister Sledge's "We Are Family."
