Bridgerton's Simone Ashley will not return for Sex Education season 4

14 April 2022, 15:06

Meet Bridgerton’s new season 2 characters

By Katie Louise Smith

Simone Ashley's Olivia Hanan will not be returning for Sex Education season 4 – "I'm a Bridgerton girl now."

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Thanks to her performance as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton season 2, the world has completely fallen in love with Simone Ashley. But fans of Sex Education fell in love with the actress waaay back in 2019, when they first saw her on-screen as the bubblegum-chewing, colourfully dressed, one third of the Untouchables trio, Olivia Hanan.

Simone has played the role of Olivia, best friend of Ruby and Anwar, in the British Netflix series since season 1. She's appeared in all three seasons of the series so far but it's now been confirmed that her time on the show has come to an end.

Netflix renewed Sex Education for season 4 last year and filming is set to begin at some point in Spring/Summer 2022. But while the likes of Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa and Aimee Lou Wood are set to return, Simone has revealed that she and Olivia will not be back.

Will Simone Ashley be in Sex Education season 4?

In an interview with Glamour, Simone Ashley opened up about what's next for her and her career following the huge success she's about to have once Bridgerton season 2 is released.

And unfortunately, it sounds like she has already moved on from Sex Education and will not return as Olivia for season 4.

“I think my time on [the show] has come to an end," she told the publication. "It's very sad because I love them all so much.”

While fans may have been holding out for some hope that she might pop up briefly, Simone has now officially confirmed that she's done with the show.

While chatting on This Morning to hosts Josie Gibson and Vernon Kay, Simone confirmed her departure from the show: "No. I get asked that all the time. No, I'm a Bridgerton girl now."

Simone Ashley plays Olivia Hanan in Sex Education. Picture: Netflix

Neither Netflix nor the Sex Education creators themselves have commented on Simone's exit. Fans also won't know how Olivia will be written out until the show returns.

Thanks to the way season 3 ended, it's likely that we may see less of certain characters in season 4 anyway.

At the end of season 3, it was revealed that Moordale High School was being shut down and sold to developers. As a result, it looks like the sixth formers will now have to find new schools and colleges to finish up their final year.

Even if we don't see Olivia Hanan back in Moordale again, here's hoping the show lets us know she's off somewhere being the true icon she was born to be.