The BBC's smash hit period drama, The Other Bennet Sister, is returning for a three-part Christmas special.
An adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s 2020 novel, the series reimagines Jane Austen's 1813 classic, Pride and Prejudice, shifting the spotlight onto the often-overlooked middle sibling, Mary Bennet.
© BBC/Bad Wolf/James PardonElla Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife) will reprise her title role, with writer Sarah Quintrell – who penned nine of the ten episodes in the first season – returning to script the festive special.
Since its debut, this charming drama has proven to be a massive success for the BBC, drawing over seven million viewers in its first 28 days and securing a record-breaking launch on BritBox in the US. With an impressive track record and a 97 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, the upcoming Christmas special is shaping up to be a festive highlight.
Keep reading to find out more about the upcoming special…
What to expect from The Other Bennet Sister Christmas special
While official plot details remain under wraps, viewers can look forward to seeing familiar faces return alongside Ella, with Asim Abbasi, who directed five episodes of the original series, also back at the helm.
The new episodes will dive into the next chapter for Mary and Tom Hayward (Dónal Finn), who became engaged at the end of season one.
© BBC/Bad WolfTeasing the new episodes, executive producer Jane Tranter said the three-parter will explore "what happens after the wedding bells fade and real life begins," while Director of BBC Drama, Lindsay Salt, noted: "Marriage was just the beginning for the no-longer-so-overlooked Bennet sister."
© BBC/Bad WolfThe special is scheduled to air later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with production primarily taking place in Wales this summer. In the US and Canada, it will be available exclusively on BritBox.
What is The Other Bennet Sister about?
The Other Bennet Sister followed the seemingly unremarkable and often overlooked Mary Bennet as she navigates the societal pressures of Regency England.
© BBC/Bad Wolf/James PardonThe synopsis reads: "The story begins at Longbourn, the Bennet family home, where Mr and Mrs Bennet preside over a lively household of five unmarried daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. As society’s pressures mount, the Bennet sisters navigate the glittering yet precarious world of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity.
© BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon"While her sisters pursue romance and social triumph, Mary embarks on a very different path. Leaving Longbourn behind, she travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street. There, Mary begins a journey of self-discovery, stepping out of the shadows and into her own story."
The Other Bennet Sister is available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on BritBox in the US.
