BritBox and the BBC have revealed first look photos from The Other Bennet Sister, ahead of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth (December 16th). Based on Janice Hadlow’s acclaimed novel, the new drama brings Mary Bennet - the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice - into the spotlight. Produced by Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials, Industry) in a co-production with the BBC iPlayer and BBC One, the series will stream on BritBox in 2026.

As previously announced, Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife, Bridgerton) leads the cast as Mary Bennet, whilst Richard E. Grant (Withnail & I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey, Stella) will co-star as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Night Manager) and Richard Coyle (Heads of State, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) will play Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, whilst Laurie Davidson (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, The Girlfriend) and Dónal Finn (The Wheel of Time, SAS Rogue Heroes) play potential suitors Mr. Ryder and Mr. Hayward, respectively.

Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen) wrote nine of the ten half-hour episodes, with Maddie Dai (We Were Dangerous) writing one episode. The series, which was filmed in Wales, is directed by Jennifer Sheridan (Extraordinary) and Asim Abbasi (Cake).

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. 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. Iconic settings from Pride and Prejudice, include the Meryton Assembly Ball and the Netherfield Ball, where fortunes and futures are decided under glittering chandeliers.

Quotes:
Sarah Quintrell, Screenwriter, says: “Exploring Jane Austen’s world through the eyes of Mary Bennet for the first time has been a joyful experience - and our incredible cast have added a whole new layer of life to these characters.  Our story is set in a familiar and much-loved world, but we’re coming at it from a completely new angle. Mary’s story is about coming of age when you’re the odd one out - how do you find your place in the world?  As a young girl growing up in Croydon my world could not have been more different to Jane Austen’s - but there is a universality in her work that reaches across generations and class boundaries, and we cannot wait to bring the Bennet family to a new audience. The Other Bennet Sister is true to the spirit of Pride and Prejudice but I hope it will also surprise and delight fans both old and new.”

Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet Sister, says: “It's very exciting to think that Mary Bennet will soon be coming to our screens, taking center stage at last in the story Jane Austen never gave her, played with such feeling by the wonderful Ella Bruccoleri, in the company of a brilliantly empathic cast who bring the whole drama gloriously and poignantly to life.”

The Other Bennet Sister (10x30') was co-commissioned by Robert Schildhouse, Jess O’Riordan and Stephen Nye on behalf of BritBox, and Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Kate Crowther, Becca Kinder and Jane Tranter executive produce for Bad Wolf, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC, with Sarah Quintrell and Janice Hadlow also serving as executive producers. The series has been developed and overseen by Bad Wolf’s Managing Director, Dan McCulloch and Chief Creative Officer, Ryan Rasmussen.

The series will stream on BritBox in North America and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK.

Bad Wolf is supported by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales. Sony Pictures Television will distribute The Other Bennet Sister internationally.

In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday on December 16th, BritBox has curated “Austen Forever,” a six-month programming slate celebrating the author’s enduring legacy. Expanding BritBox’s existing Jane Austen library, available to stream now, the collection will debut film and television adaptations alongside documentaries exploring her life and influence. The lineup will feature works based on or inspired by Austen’s acclaimed, completed novels: Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey.

Press Contacts:

Alana McGaughey
alana.mcgaughey@britbox.com

Natalie Speck
natalie.speck@britbox.com

IDPR
BritBox@ID-PR.com

About BritBox 
BritBox is the leading streaming destination for the best of British television, offering an unmatched collection of expertly curated entertainment. From critically acclaimed dramas and mysteries to comedies, documentaries, and lifestyle programming, BritBox invites audiences to step out of their everyday and into a world of exceptional British storytelling. Launched in 2017 and now owned by BBC Studios, BritBox is available in the US, Canada, Australia, and the Nordics. For more, visit britbox.com, or find the BritBox app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

About Bad Wolf
Since launching in 2015, independent production company Bad Wolf has produced an ambitious slate of award-winning high-end dramas from its base in Cardiff, Wales. This includes three seasons of acclaimed finance drama Industry for HBO/BBC; three seasons of His Dark Materials for BBC/HBO; three seasons of A Discovery of Witches for Sky / AMC; two seasons of I Hate Suzie for Sky /HBO Max and ITV’s hit thriller Red Eye. Between 2023 and 2024 Bad Wolf produced the 60th Anniversary and Christmas specials of Doctor Who and two full seasons with Ncuti Gatwa as the 15^th Doctor – with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television. Recent productions include Dope Girls for the BBC / Sony. Future projects include a fourth season of Industry for HBO, a second season of Red Eye for ITV and new dramas The Other Bennet Sister for BBC and The War Between the Land and the Sea for BBC and Disney Branded Television. Sony International Television acquired a majority stake in the company in 2021.