Dearest gentle reader, it appears Nicola Coughlan has found herself a new match. 

The Bridgerton star and rumored boyfriend Jake Dunn had a cozy night out, walking arm-in-arm following a date at the Auld Shillelagh Irish bar London on Oct. 23. 

For the outing, Nicola donned a black dress paired with black tights and an oversized burnt orange sweater. Jake also went for a casual look, donning dark green cargo pants, a white and red baseball tee and a baseball cap. The couple appeared to be deep in conversation as they strolled down the street with Jake's arm around Nicola.

While the two haven't commented publicly on their relationship, Nicola, 37, and Jake, 24, originally sparked rumors when his Renegade Nell costar Alice Kremelberg posted a photo with the two of them on her Instagram in June.

They then attended the All Points East festival in London in August as seen in photos posted by Deux Moi at the time, where two were smiling ear to ear as they kept each other close.

Over the past year, fans have been very curious about Nicola's dating status, with many wondering if she was dating her Bridgerton costar and new onscreen husband Luke Newton. However, shortly after the premiere of the show's season three, Luke confirmed his romance with dancer Antonia Roumelioti.

And according to Nicola, her and Luke's relationship has never been anything but platonic.

"A lot of people really want me to marry Luke," she jokingly told Time in an interview published Oct. 16. "We have this gorgeous friendship."

The Derry Girls alum added, "We have such a love for one another and this experience that I'll never have with someone else again. Isn't it gorgeous that a man and woman can have that sort of relationship with one another?"

Who is Jake Dunn?

Jake Dunn is a 24-year-old British actor who has starred in the Disney+ series Renegade Nell as well as the new movie William Tell. The actor has worked on a variety of projects that include Netflix's Get Even and BBC's Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series. Jake is also a producer, and his work has been featured in the BBC drama, The Responder. It is believed that the two met through one of Nicola's Derry Girls co-stars, as Jake has worked with two of them in the past.

A Timeline of the Couple's Relationship

Neither Nicola nor Jake has publicly confirmed that they are dating, but their relationship has been the source of many rumors. Here is a timeline of their relationship, as far as we can tell.

• July 2024: DeuxMoi posted photos that claimed to show Coughlan and Dunn playing Scrabble together at a London pub.
• August 2024: Photos of Coughlan and Dunn at the All Points East Festival in London were posted by the Daily Mail. The photos showed Coughlan with her arm around Dunn's waist.
• October 23, 2024: Celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi posted pictures of Coughlan and Dunn walking together in London. The photos show the pair holding hands, and also with Dunn’s arm around Coughlan’s shoulders. In one photo, Coughlan appears to kiss Dunn’s forearm.
• October 24, 2024: The couple was spotted walking arm-in-arm after a night at the Auld Shillelagh Irish Bar in London.

While neither of the actors has publicly commented on their relationship, it is clear that the two are enjoying each other's company. Their shared work on Renegade Nell and the photos of the two together have fueled rumors for months. Whether the two are officially dating or not, it is clear that they are enjoying each other's company.

Fans React to the Rumors

Fans are excited about the potential romance. On social media, many have expressed their support for the couple. Some fans believe that Jake is a good fit for Nicola. One X user gushed: 'What I love most about Jake Dunn and Nicola Coughlan as a couple is that her best friends seem to approve. That's a very good sign that he's a good man,' as another wrote: 'If they really are dating, I really really hope she's happy and loved and that he's a good man. Nicola deserves the world!'

The Love Lives of Other Bridgerton Stars

While Nicola’s love life has been the subject of many rumors, she isn’t the only Bridgerton star who has been making headlines for her relationship status.

Sam Phillips and Bessie Carter

Lord Debling and Prudence Dankworth (née Featherington) may not factor into each other's love lives on the show, but the actors have made a real-life match. And it appears that Carter's mum Imelda Staunton approves.

Phoebe Dynevor

Daphne Bridgerton swapped vows with Regé-Jean Page's Simon Basset, and now the Bridgerton alum plans to take her own stroll down the aisle. Dynevor flashed her engagement ring from producer Cameron Fuller at the 2024 Met Gala.

Regé-Jean Page

The erstwhile Duke of Hastings, Page having left the show after season one, keeps his personal cards close to his vest off-camera, but has looked awfully happy in copywriter Emily Brown's company since 2021. Like Anthony, 9th Viscount Bridgerton, the English actor prefers to stay mum on romantic affairs. But he told The Standard in December 2023 that he was in a not-secret-but-private relationship with a “lovely man.” "Having a private life is, for me, completely critical," the Fellow Travelers star said. "I don't know if I would be able to be as confident to speak out on other things if I felt that my whole life was up for grabs."

Simone Ashley

The Sex Education star, who fit the Vicountess bill for Anthony upon arrival from India, confirmed she was in a relationship with Tino Klein with a March 2023 Instagram post.

Jonathan Bailey

Benedict Bridgerton seemingly just wants to be free to do his thing, as an artist and in the bedroom. Though maybe he's developing some feelings... And Thompson, who's not one to share what he's up in real life, was totally onboard with his character's journey, wherever it took him. "It's lovely to explore," he told Deadline ahead of the season three finale, "but also putting down some roots and choosing something or someone also has huge value and excitement."

Luke Newton

Newton dated actress Jade Louise Davies—her sister Amber Davies won Love Island U.K. in 2017 with then-boyfriend Kem Cetinay—for several years. But he was snapped following Bridgerton's June 2024 midseason premiere in London hand-in-hand with dancer Antonia Roumelioti. Of course, most fans are just disappointed that Colin Bridgerton and Penelope aren't together in real life. "We think it’s really sweet," Coughlan told Extra of the off-camera shipping that goes on for them. "I think because we truly love each other."

Charithra Chandran

The actress who plays Kate's sparkling sister Edwina Sharma may be single at the moment, but she sent hearts soaring with the release of her 2024 rom-com How to Date Billy Walsh, costarring her longtime friend Sebastian Croft.

Claudia Jessie

It turns out the actress destined to play Eloise Bridgerton ended up falling for the non-actor she auditioned with, casting editor Cole Edwards. "I got a job and a fella on the same day," Jessie told The Guardian in April 2024. "It was a great day for me, wasn't it?"

While many are disappointed that Nicola and Luke aren't a couple in real life, it is nice to see that so many of the Bridgerton stars have found love off-screen. We wish all of them the best, including the newly confirmed couple, Nicola and Jake.