Newton, who leads season 3 alongside Nicola Coughlan, got some pointers from past male leads — including Page, who departed the series after season 1

Luke Newton has some big shoes to fill as he emerges as Bridgerton’s newest leading man, so it’s a good thing he had two experts to help him ease the transition.

Prior to taking on season 3 — which will see the 31-year-old’s character, Colin Bridgerton, navigate a long-awaited transition from friends to lovers with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) — Newton sought out his predecessors, Regé-Jean Page and Jonathan Bailey, for advice.

The actor told InStyle that Page, who played the series’ first leading man, Simon, the Duke of Hastings, told him to go on a “big holiday before all the madness starts,” at a recent event.

“[Page] sort of grabbed me, gave me a big hug and was like, ‘Are you ready for this, bro?’” Newton told the outlet of the actor, 36, who departed Bridgerton following season 1 and has never reprised his fan-favorite role as Simon, husband to Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor).

At the news of his exit, Page called the show the “ride of a life time” in an Instagram post. “It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be your Duke.”

Bailey, 36, on the other hand, has become a mainstay in the titular family’s life, and led season 2, which saw him fall in love with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Newton told the outlet that Bailey has “been there kind of the whole way for me,” noting the four years he’s played Colin, younger brother to Bailey’s Anthony.

“We talk all the time, and it was really nice in season 2 seeing how he conducted himself on set knowing that I’d be next,” Newton continued, before praising his costar’s performance in season 2. “It was nice to see someone do it so well.”

While season 2 sees Bailey return as the Viscount — along with Ashley, now his wife and the Viscountess — it will mark the first season without Dynevor, who kicked off the hit Netflix series’ first season four years ago.

Dynevor, 29, confirmed that she would not be returning as the Duchess of Hastings in January 2023, telling Screen Rantthat she was “excited to watch as a viewer” this time around, though she did hint that she could “potentially” return “in the future.”

While some faces will be missing in the new season, there are also some newcomers joining the ranks — including a rival love interest for Penelope: Lord Debling, who is played by Sam Phillips.

In the trailer, Lord Debling cuts right to the chase with Penelope, telling her she looks “especially beautiful” during a dance, while Colin looks on skeptically, despite having agreed to help his friend find a husband during the dating season.

Seeing his friend with another man prompts Colin to ask his mother a rather poignant question, instead: “Do you believe the best foundation for love is friendship?”