Published: 05:00 pm, 29 October 2026
Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) and Tom (Dónal Finn) (Image: BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
The BBC has revealed a second look of The Other Bennet Sister three-part specials that air this Christmas, continuing the story of Mary Bennet following the events of the first 10 episodes. Produced by Bad Wolf for the BBC and BritBox North America, production recently wrapped in Wales.
Mrs Bennet (Ruth Jones) (Image: BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
The newly-released images offer a glimpse of the returning cast, including Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey, Runaway) as Mrs Bennet, Tanya Reynolds (Ted Lasso, Sex Education) as Caroline Bingley, Laurie Davidson (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, The Girlfriend) as Mr Ryder, Poppy Gilbert (My Oxford Year, Chloe) as Lizzie Darcy, Maddie Close (Chasing Red) as Jane Bingley, Grace Hogg-Robinson (The Coroner, COBRA) as Lydia Wickham, and Molly Wright (The A Word, APOSTASY) as Kitty Buncock.
(Image: BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
Also revealed is Nerys Amber Stocks (Out There, Mammoth) who joins the cast for the special, playing Lucy, the Haywards’ housekeeper.
The stills also reveal another look at Ella Bruccoleri (Down Cemetery Road, Wicker) and Dónal Finn (Young Sherlock, SAS Rogue Heroes), who return as the newly-wed Mary and Tom Hayward. The tenth episode of the series saw Mary agreeing to wed Tom – but with marriage comes a new identity, and the question remains: who will Mary become as Mrs Hayward? But just as Mary begins this new chapter, an unexpected visitor from her past arrives at her door in need of her help…
(Image: BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
Screenwriter Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen), who wrote 9 of the 10 episodes of the series, has written all three additional episodes based on storylines by author Janice Hadlow. Asim Abbasi (Cake) has returned to direct.
Based on Janice Hadlow’s acclaimed novel, The Other Bennet Sister followed Mary Bennet, the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride & Prejudice, as she navigated the societal pressures of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity. The series was the biggest new drama across all platforms and streamers in the UK since March 2025, with 6.5 million watching in its first 28 days. It’s continued to grow, with episode one now up to 9.5 million viewers (7.3 million over 28-days). The Other Bennet Sister also generated 250 million views across the BBC’s accounts on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
(Image: BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
The Other Bennet Sister special (3×30’) is commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One and Jon Farrar, Chief Content Officer, Direct to Consumer, BBC Studios, for BritBox North America. The executive producers are Kate Crowther, Becca Kinder and Jane Tranter for Bad Wolf, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC, Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar and Jess O’Riordan for BritBox, Sarah Quintrell and Janice Hadlow. The special has been developed and overseen by Bad Wolf’s Managing Director, Dan McCulloch and Chief Creative Officer, Ryan Rasmussen.
Produced by Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials, Industry), the three-part special will air exclusively in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. In the US and Canada, it will be available exclusively on BritBox.
Bad Wolf is supported by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales. Sony Pictures Television distribute The Other Bennet Sister internationally.
LJ
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