Ella Bruccoleri, star of The Other Bennet Sister, has confessed her apprehension about the beloved BBC period drama's return for a three-part Christmas special. The actress, known for her role in Call the Midwife, portrayed Mary Bennet—the overlooked middle sister from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice—in the series adapted from Janice Hadlow's novel.
The show chronicled Mary's journey of self-discovery as she left Longbourn for London with her aunt and uncle, breaking away from the conventional path of her sisters. After being largely ignored in Austen's original work, Mary finally took centre stage, and the drama became the biggest debut for a new series in the UK in a year, according to the BBC.
Bruccoleri's Concerns About a Second Season
Just before the BBC announced the Christmas specials, Bruccoleri told Variety: "When something has felt really perfect and is being received in a lovely way, I'm a bit scared of touching it again." The first season concluded with Mary receiving her happy ending, marrying Tom Hayward. Reflecting on her character's future, Bruccoleri said: "I can see them having this beautiful, equitable, quite progressive relationship for the time, where they both make decisions equally, and prioritize each other's happiness. And I can see Mary continuing with her governessing."
She added: "It felt really important to me that Mary wanted to pass something on that she'd learned being a young woman, so I think she would want to pass that on in some way. I could see them being happy together and living a kind of bohemian London life."
BBC and Producers Tease Christmas Specials
The BBC teased: "The final episode of the series saw Mary agreeing to wed Tom Hayward, but fans will be keen to know what challenges the future holds for the happy couple..." Jane Tranter, Executive Producer and CEO of Bad Wolf, said: "We always hoped audiences would fall in love with Mary Bennet's story, but the response to The Other Bennet Sister has exceeded even our most optimistic expectations. These Christmas specials give us the chance to spend a little more time with characters audiences have taken to their hearts, and to explore what happens after the wedding bells fade and real life begins."
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, commented: "It's been incredibly exciting to see Mary Bennet cause such a sensation in 2026, and we could not be happier to announce this new three-part Christmas gift to her millions of fans. Marriage was just the beginning for the no-longer-so-overlooked Bennet sister, and it's a joy to be working with Sarah, Janice and the Bad Wolf team to let viewers discover what comes next." Jess O'Riordan, Commissioning Executive of BritBox North America, added: "We know how much audiences have fallen in love with Mary Bennet, and we're thrilled that her story isn't over yet. We are so pleased Mary's story will continue for three more chapters and to welcome audiences back into the world of The Other Bennet Sister this holiday season."
The Other Bennet Sister is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
