Ella Bruccoleri and Dónal Finn reprise their roles as Mary and Tom in the upcoming three-part festive special
© Bad Wolf / James PardonThe BBC has unveiled fresh images from The Other Bennet Sister Christmas Special, giving Jane Austen enthusiasts a first look at the festive return of the period drama, with Christmas now less than two months away.
The three-part special picks up Mary Bennet’s story, bringing the often-overlooked middle sister into the spotlight through a fresh interpretation of Jane Austen’s 1913 classic, Pride and Prejudice.
© Bad Wolf / James Pardon
The newly released images feature Ella Bruccoleri and Dónal Finn back as Mary and Tom Hayward, who are now newlyweds.
Several other familiar faces from the cast also appear in the photos, including Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey, Runaway) as Mrs Bennet, Tanya Reynolds (Ted Lasso, Sex Education) as Caroline Bingley and Laurie Davidson (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, The Girlfriend) as Mr Ryder.
They are joined by Poppy Gilbert (My Oxford Year, Chloe) as Lizzie Darcy, Maddie Close (Chasing Red) as Jane Bingley, Grace Hogg-Robinson (The Coroner) as Lydia Wickham and Molly Wright (The A Word) as Kitty Buncock.
© Bad Wolf / James PardonThe drama made an impressive debut in March last year, attracting more than seven million viewers within its first 28 days and setting a new launch record for BritBox in the US. Its popularity is also reflected in its 98 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, with audiences praising the series as a “masterpiece”. Expectations are therefore high for the festive instalment, which is already shaping up to be a notable addition to this year’s Christmas television line-up.
Filming has recently wrapped in Wales, bringing production on the special to a close. Here’s what viewers can expect when the series returns.
What to expect from The Other Bennet Sister Christmas Special
The three-part Christmas special picks up after the events of the first season finale, when Mary accepted Tom’s proposal of marriage. Rather than ending with the wedding, the new episodes explore “what happens after the wedding bells fade and real life begins.”
© Bad Wolf / James Pardon
The official synopsis revisits the events of the series’ tenth episode, when Mary agreed to marry Tom. However, stepping into married life also means embracing a new identity, leaving her to consider who she will become as Mrs Hayward. Just as she starts settling into this next stage of her life, an unexpected figure from her past turns up at her door, seeking her help.
© Bad Wolf / James PardonNerys Amber Stocks (Out There, Mammoth) is another new addition to the cast, taking on the role of Lucy, the Haywards’ housekeeper, alongside the returning performers mentioned above.
Janice Hadlow, author of the 2020 novel that inspired the series, has developed the storylines for the three-part special. Returning screenwriter Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen) has written the episodes, while Asim Abbasi (Cake) is back in the director’s chair.
The Other Bennet Sister Christmas Special release date
The three-part special is set to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, with viewers in the US and Canada able to watch it on BritBox. However, an official release date has not yet been confirmed.
© Bad Wolf / James PardonThe Other Bennet Sister season one is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
Source: Various
