Penelope Featherington is revealed as Lady Whistledown early in Bridgerton season 1, diverging from the books. The show chose to reveal Lady Whistledown earlier to resolve season 1's biggest question and pay off audience investment. The early reveal impact is seen in future seasons, with Penelope becoming more central and sympathetic to viewers.

Netflix's Bridgerton, based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn, reveals Lady Whistledowns identity much earlier than the books. Each of Quinn's eight books focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling. While all eight alphabetically named Bridgerton siblings appear in season 1 of Bridgerton, the season is primarily based on the first book in the Bridgerton series, The Duke and I, which tells the story of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon, Duke of Hastings. The Netflix show, of course, diverges from The Duke and I in several ways, but one of the biggest moments in the season isnt in the first book.